The Church of England has issued a press release (copied below) to mark the first anniversary of the publication of the Makin Review.
Progress update following publication of Makin Review
04/11/2025
Statement from lead safeguarding bishops Joanne Grenfell and Robert Springett, who chaired the Makin Task and Finish Group
“This week, we mark the first anniversary of the publication of the Makin Review and acknowledge again the deep harm caused by the abuse committed by John Smyth and the failures in the Church’s response.
“We are profoundly sorry for the ways in which the Church failed to protect children and vulnerable adults and for the lasting impact of those failures. Over the past year, we have continued to listen to survivors, offer them support and respond to the recommendations and observations in the independent learning lessons review. These came immediately to the National Safeguarding Steering Group and have continued to be scrutinised and acted on over the year, with implementation now well underway. Survivors are a key part of this work.
“Our commitment is clear: to create a Church that is safe for all, where safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and where survivors’ voices inform our decisions. We know this process will require humility, accountability, and sustained action.
“We want to thank all, particularly those with lived experience, who continue to hold us to account and shape the improvements that are needed. We are committed to transparency, continued progress, and lasting change.”
The National Safeguarding Steering Group has published a paper that will be presented to General Synod in February, setting out progress on the Makin Review recommendations and next steps.
The paper details final approval of the majority of the recommendations from the Makin Review. Of the recommendations, 24 are accepted fully and three in part. The Steering Group will continue to scrutinise the implementation of all the recommendations to support rapid and continuous improvement of safeguarding practice across the whole Church.
This paper updates the work that has gone on during the past year to implement recommendations from the Makin Review.
A new Code of Practice is in place which places anyone working or volunteering in a church under a legal duty to report any safeguarding concern they are made aware of. The Code specifies the process and timescales for reporting. Failure to comply with the Code can result in disciplinary action.
The National Safeguarding Team has sought to bring disciplinary proceedings against 11 members of the clergy who were criticised in the review, eight of which are currently in progress. The Anglican Church of Southern Africa has undertaken and published its own report into the abuse that took place there.
The development of an independent scrutiny body is underway, which will provide external oversight of safeguarding practices within the Church and hold Church bodies to account with powers to require compliance. Alongside this, the strategic and operational independence of the National Safeguarding Team is being reviewed.
A programme of independent safeguarding audits of cathedrals and dioceses is already underway. So far 15 cathedrals and dioceses have been audited and had their reports published, with clear recommendations for action. The Church now has a set of National Safeguarding Standards which provide a framework that aids the consolidation, analysis and implementation of both the Makin recommendations and those from other reviews, including the Future of Church Safeguarding and from the independent audit programme.
Finding support
If you or anyone you are in contact with is affected by the publication of this report and would like to talk to someone independently, please call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or visit safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk.
Alternatively, you may wish to contact the diocesan safeguarding team in your area or the National Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@churchofengland.org.
There are also other support services available.
It is disheartening to see that this document which is supposed to be in reponse to the abuse of Makin has been used to attack the utterly unrelated Seal of the Confessional. I wonder if anyone who practices confession, including survivors, was consulted. Despite two reviews, clear guidelines and no evidence that anyone has ever used confession to conceal abuse in the Church, those who attack it for ideological reasons and because they don’t understand it continue to do so. All reports show that confession has solace to victims and survivors, some of whom utilised it to begin coming to… Read more »