Justin Welby is preparing for his final day as Archbishop of Canterbury as he will officially quit the role within hours.
Mr Welby anounced his resignation two months ago but his time in the job won’t come to an end until midnight on Monday.
The clergyman has not been seen in public very much in recent weeks and did not deliver Canterbury Cathedral’s traditional Christmas Day sermon.
He was forced to step down after an independent review found the serial abuser and Christian camp leader John Smyth might have been brought to justice had Mr Welby reported him to the police in 2013.
Mr Welby expressed « sorrow » for the victims and survivors of abuse when he announced his departure on November 12 last year.
But he was forced to apologise just days later over remarks he made during his farewell speech in the House of Lords. He urged peers to pity his « poor diary secretary » who he said had seen months of work « disappear in a puff of a resignation announcement ».
The speech was slammed by survivors and bishops, with the Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, saying she had received messages « expressing dismay » at Mr Welby’s speech.
He apologised « for the hurt », noting the « further distress » caused to those who were « traumatised, and continue to be harmed » by Smyth’s « heinous abuse ».
Mr Welby said he didn’t mean to overlook survivors’ experiences or make light of the situation and was « very sorry » for having done so.
Recently, The Children’s Society rejected a Christmas donation from Mr Welby saying to accept it wasn’t consistent with the principles and values which underpin the charity’s work.
Mr Welby is expected to lay down his bishop’s crozier, a ceremonial staff, during a service of Evensong on Monday in an act marking the official end of his role as Archbishop of Canterbury.
His successor will be selected in a process led by the former spy chief, Lord Evans of Weardale, with the public unable to submit names to the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC). Seventeen of its members will vote for Mr Welby’s successor.
Potential candidates can’t nominate themselves, but will be invited to join the process after a « careful period of reflections and discernment » by the CNC, a well-placed source told the Guardian.
The same publication has reported that the CNC is expected to meet at least three times, with an outcome decided by secret ballot.
Whoever wins the vote will then be appointed by King Charles, who is the titular head of the Church of England.
As of Tuesday, most of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s official functions will be mainly delegated to the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, with some duties undertaken by Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London.
Mr Cottrell has himself faced pressure to resign over the handling of a separate abuse case. He has said he was « deeply sorry » action was not taken sooner and he inherited the situation when he became Bishop of Chelmsford.
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