Zimbabwean victims of the notorious sexual abuser John Smyth have initiated a legal claim against the Church of England, alleging a cover-up that allowed his abusive actions to continue for decades. This action follows the resignation of Justin Welby, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, who stepped down in 2025 amid criticism regarding his handling of the Smyth case.
The legal claim involves seven individuals, including six men who were abused as teenagers at Smyth’s Christian holiday camps in Zimbabwe. Among them is Rocky Leanders, who has bravely shared his experience. The group also includes the mother of Guide Nyachuru, a 16-year-old boy whose body was discovered in a swimming pool at one of Smyth’s camps in December 1992.
The claimants assert that senior clergy and church officials in England orchestrated a cover-up that facilitated Smyth’s ongoing abuse. Smyth is reported to have assaulted over 100 boys and young men in the UK and Africa, employing horrific methods that included forced nudity, beatings, and indecent exposure.
The law firm Leigh Day has filed a letter of claim, linking the Church’s inaction during the 1980s to the abuse that occurred later in Zimbabwe. The letter states that the Church’s failure to report Smyth’s misconduct from 1982 to 1984 enabled his relocation to Zimbabwe, where he continued to exploit vulnerable boys.
The Impact of Smyth’s Abuse and the Church’s Response
Smyth’s abusive practices included inflicting physical harm on boys, leaving them with severe injuries that required medical attention. Leanders recounted a harrowing experience in which he was struck 35 times during a week-long camp with approximately 80 other boys. He expressed that the shame and humiliation he endured have haunted him for years.
“After the Makin report was published, I expected some redress. But none came,” Leanders stated. He emphasized his anger towards the Church for allowing Smyth to operate without accountability in Zimbabwe.
The tragic case of Guide Nyachuru remains a focal point in this legal action. He was found dead shortly after reportedly swimming naked at Smyth’s camp, a practice that was standard at the facility. Smyth officiated at Guide’s funeral and later referred to the incident as an “unfortunate incident.” Despite being charged with culpable homicide for Guide’s death, the prosecution was halted due to alleged conflicts of interest involving Smyth’s legal representation.
Guide’s sister, Edith Nyachuru, voiced the family’s longstanding grief and frustration, stating, “The Church of England had the power to stop Smyth before he ever came to Zimbabwe. Instead, they chose silence. We want truth, accountability, and change.”
The letter of claim has been sent to St Andrew the Great Church in Cambridge, which employed the late Reverend Mark Ruston. Ruston led an internal investigation into Smyth’s abuses in 1982 but failed to report these findings to the police. The claimants allege that Ruston and other church officials actively concealed Smyth’s actions to protect the Church’s reputation, particularly among conservative evangelical circles.
Seeking Justice and Accountability
In light of the Makin report, which concluded that Welby did not adequately respond to the allegations against Smyth, the claimants are demanding an apology, an independent review of the Church’s handling of these abuses, and financial compensation. Rebekah Read, the solicitor representing the claimants, emphasized that this case centers on accountability.
“The Church of England had multiple opportunities to stop John Smyth and protect vulnerable boys. Instead, it chose to protect its reputation,” Read noted. The claimants hope that the current leadership transition within the Church will signal a renewed commitment to transparency and justice for survivors of abuse.
A spokesperson for the Church of England expressed deep regret for the abuse perpetrated by Smyth and acknowledged the failures in the Church’s response. The Church has indicated its willingness to support a review in Zimbabwe and has already conducted its own review in South Africa.
The Makin report, released in late 2024, highlighted the systemic failures within the Church and its complicity in allowing Smyth to continue his abusive behavior. It noted that Smyth’s actions were not fully exposed, enabling him to target additional victims in Zimbabwe and possibly South Africa.
Even after his death in 2018, Smyth’s legacy of trauma continues to affect those he abused. As survivors seek justice, the Church of England faces a critical moment in its history, one that requires accountability for past actions and a commitment to safeguarding vulnerable individuals in the future.
