1. This investigation is concerned with the nature and extent of and the institutional response to allegations of child sexual abuse within the Anglican Church, including the Church in Wales and the Church of England.

2. In March and July 2018 the Inquiry held public hearings in two case studies:

• the Diocese of Chichester (where there had been a number of convictions of clergy and others linked to the Church for child sexual abuse); and
• the response to allegations against Peter Ball (a high-profile figure within the Church of England, who pleaded guilty in 2015 to two counts of indecent assault and one count of misconduct in a public office, relating to the “deliberate manipulation” of 16 vulnerable young men for his own “sexual gratification”, although allegations were first investigated in 1992).^[1]

The Inquiry published The Anglican Church Case Studies: The Diocese of Chichester/The response to allegations against Peter Ball Investigation Report (the Chichester/Peter Ball Investigation Report) in May 2019.^[2]

3. The Inquiry’s third public hearing in this investigation, in July 2019, examined safeguarding in a number of other dioceses and institutions within the Church of England and the Church in Wales. This included current practice in both churches, as well as possible reforms. We considered in particular whether the Church of England and the Church in Wales are currently dealing appropriately with safeguarding and responses to allegations of child sexual abuse.

4. This report considers the evidence heard in that hearing as well as common themes and issues identified by the Inquiry in relation to the Anglican Church as a whole and as set out within the Chichester/Peter Ball Investigation Report.