Church Leader's Brutal Abuse Revealed

A Channel 4 documentary, "See No Evil," has brought to light the extensive abuse carried out by former barrister and Christian leader John Smyth. Smyth, who died in 2018, faced allegations of 100 severe abuses against young men and boys at Christian camps and church youth programs. An independent review, the Makin Review, released recently, detailed how Smyth used a sound-proofed shed at his Winchester home for his assaults, which reportedly began as early as 1982.

The documentary features harrowing accounts from victims and even family members, detailing the "brutality" and "savagery" of Smyth's actions. Viewers expressed deep sadness and anger over the revelations. Reports suggest the Church of England was aware of Smyth's crimes but failed to intervene, a failure that has led to significant public shame and prompted resignations, including that of the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who was informed of the abuse in 2013.

Smyth's abuse extended internationally, with documented incidents in Zimbabwe and South Africa where he ran youth programs and summer camps. Despite an internal Iwerne Trust report in 1982 noting "horrific" beatings, Smyth was not publicly named as an abuser until 2017. The independent reviews, including the Makin Review, have detailed the widespread nature of his abuse, with some victims being prominent figures like the Bishop of Guildford.