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IICSA published its final Report in October 2022. This website was last updated in January 2023.

IICSA Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

The Anglican Church

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Summary

An inquiry into the extent of any institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse within the Anglican Church in England and the Church in Wales. (This investigation is now complete.)

The Inquiry welcomed the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Inquiry to investigate, as a matter of priority, the sexual abuse of children within the Church. Allegations of child sexual abuse within the Church of England, the Church in Wales, and other Anglican churches operating in England and Wales (‘the Anglican Church’) are matters of ongoing public concern.

This investigation assessed the appropriateness of safeguarding and child protection policies and practices in the Anglican Church. It considered the adequacy of the Past Cases Review of the Church of England and the Historic Cases Review of the Church in Wales.

Case Studies: 1. The Diocese of Chichester 2. The response to allegations against Peter Ball

As a case study, the Inquiry considered the experience of the Diocese of Chichester, where there have been multiple allegations of sexual abuse, and numerous investigations and reviews. 

The Inquiry also considered the case of Peter Ball, formerly Bishop of Lewes and subsequently Bishop of Gloucester, and investigated whether there were inappropriate attempts by people of prominence to interfere in the criminal justice process after he was first accused of child sexual offences.

Next Steps:

This investigation has now finished. 

The public hearing into the Diocese of Chichester and Peter Ball case studies concluded in July 2018. A report was published in May 2019 and is available here. Responses to recommendations made in this report can be found here.

The public hearing into the overarching Anglican Church investigation concluded in July 2019. A report was published in October 2020 and is available here. Responses to recommendations made in this report can be found here.

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