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Methodist Church apologises for decades of abuse

Investigation uncovered almost 2,000 alleged abusers

Victoria Richards

Thursday 28 May 2015 15:15 BST

Eleven men are on trial at the Old Bailey, accused of committing sexual offences (Getty)

The UK's Methodist Church has issued a public apology after an investigation revealed evidence of decades of abuse.

An independent inquiry uncovered almost 2,000 alleged abusers, of which 914 involved sexual abuse allegations, dating back to 1950.

Of those, ministers or lay employees were involved in 26 per cent of alleged abuses - but this figure rose to 33 per cent when worship leaders and local preachers were included.

One of the cases involved the grooming of teenage girls on Facebook, and another allegedly involved a minister making sexual advances to children.

One case involved a Methodist youth officer who had indecent images of children on his computer.

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The three-year investigation was commissioned by the Church itself, and looked at its response to complaints and allegations, the BBC reported.

The organisation said it wanted to be "open about the past", and to ensure more stringent safeguarding procedures were put in place in the future.

In total, there were 1,885 cases of alleged sexual, emotional, physical, domestic abuse and neglect. Some of those individual cases involved multiple incidences of abuse, the report said.

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

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1/10In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

A campaigner holds a banner at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, during an event organised by the White Flowers Campaign Group, in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Pictures, messages and floral tributes left at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Jenny Tomlin, the mother of Martine McCutcheon, attends a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the White Flowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Child abuse campaigner Bill Maloney speaks to relatives, supporters, victims and survivors of abuse as they gather at Old Palace Yard in Westminster to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion speaks during a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Simon Danczuk MP speaks during a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

John Mann MP attends a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

A woman leaves a floral tribute at Old Palace Yard in Westminster

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Relatives, supporters and survivors of abuse hold a minutes silence during a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Jenny Tomlin, the mother of Martine McCutcheon (left) supports Esther Grace of Cardiff, a victim and survivor of abuse, during a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, the Church's general secretary, said the revelations were "a deep source of grief and shame to the Church" and said he wanted to express an "unreserved apology for the failure of its current and earlier processes fully to protect children, young people and adults from physical and sexual abuse inflicted by some ministers".

"The abuse that has been inflicted by some Methodists on children, young people and adults is and will remain a deep source of grief and shame to the Church," he added.

One of the abuse survivors told the survey: "My Church did not want a scandal, my parents did not want a scandal.

"I was left to feel worthless and devalued, while the man was left to get on with his life and for all I know repeat the crime with someone else. I was emotionally and physically devastated."

Another said: "I don't want other girls to suffer like I have."

The Church is expected to also make a public apology at its annual conference in June.

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