The Bishop of Norwich has said the Archbishop of Canterbury was right to resign over his handling of an abuse scandal, as the Norfolk cleric was tipped as one of the frontrunners to succeed him.
The Rt Rev Graham Usher said he had been in contact with Justin Welby and supported his decision to step down in the wake of a damning review into John Smyth, the most prolific abuser associated with the Church of England.
Bishop Graham said: "I have been utterly appalled by the contents of the Makin Review into the crimes of John Smyth and the response of those who knew about them.
"Of most concern to me, and the focus of my thoughts and prayers, are the survivors of his horrific abuse.
"I have been in touch with Archbishop Justin over the past few days and support him in his decision to resign. He and his family are in my prayers.
"It is up to all of us working in the Church of England today to ensure that everyone who comes into contact with the church is kept safe.
"That has been and will continue to be my priority as I serve the people and places of the Diocese of Norwich.
"My prayers are with all of those who have come to terrible harm through our failures."
Mr Welby announced his resignation on Tuesday, following the independent Makin Review, which concluded barrister John Smyth, who died in 2018, might have been brought to justice had the archbishop formally alerted authorities in 2013.
Mr Welby had apologised, but a range of people, from the Bishop of Newcastle to abuse victims and members of the General Synod – the Church of England’s parliament – said his position had become "untenable".
In his resignation statement he said the Makin Review "exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth".
He said: "When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.
“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024.”
Mr Welby said he believed his resignation was in the church's best interests, that he was quitting "in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse" and that the past few days had "renewed my long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England".
He said: "I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honoured to serve."
Bishop Graham, 53, who has been Bishop of Norwich since 2019, is among those tipped as a potential successor to Mr Welby.
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The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) will now put forward two names to the prime minister, who advises the King on who should succeed Mr Welby.
When Mr Welby was picked to succeed Rowan Williams in 2012, the CNC had16 voting members.
They included a layperson appointed by the prime minister, a bishop, the Archbishop of York, six representatives elected from the Diocese of Canterbury, six from the General Synod – three clergy and three lay – and a member of the primates meeting of the Anglican Communion.
Once the King has approved the chosen candidate and they have indicated a willingness to serve, 10 Downing St announces the name of the archbishop-designate.
The college of canons of Canterbury Cathedral then formally elects them.
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