To:
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of York
The House of Bishops
The General Synod of the Church of England

We write with deep concern and sorrow over the serious and ongoing safeguarding and governance failures within the Diocese of London, which have caused deep harm to survivors, clergy, and laity, and continue to erode trust in the Church’s witness. 

In recent years, a number of deeply troubling cases have come to light:

• The tragic death of Fr Alan Griffin, who was named in an internal diocesan safeguarding document despite there being no accuser, no complaint, or investigation, as confirmed in an independent learning lessons review commissioned by the Diocese.
• Reports concerning at least 42 clergy whose safeguarding records were poorly managed or inconsistently handled, contributing to what the same review described as a “culture of fear and mistrust” within the Diocese.
• The case of Martin Sargeant, former Operations Manager for the Two Cities, whose conviction for large-scale fraud revealed serious weaknesses in diocesan financial oversight and accountability.

These are not isolated incidents. Taken together, they highlight systemic issues in leadership, safeguarding culture, and institutional governance that necessitate transparent and independent scrutiny.

We therefore call for:

An independent, external inquiry into safeguarding and governance within the Diocese of London, to be commissioned without delay and to report publicly.

This inquiry must be:

• Survivor-informed, providing safe and confidential avenues for survivors, whistleblowers, and all affected members of the Church community, including presbyters and laity, to contribute.
• Independently chaired, free from influence by senior clergy or diocesan leadership.
• Comprehensive, examining both individual cases and the wider culture, and empowered to make recommendations for accountability, reform, and redress.

The Church cannot afford another moment of institutional denial or delay.
Justice delayed is justice denied, and truth suppressed is never truly silenced.

We urge the Church to act with moral courage and transparency; to tell the truth, to learn, and to begin rebuilding the trust that has been so grievously lost.

Sources:
This petition draws on publicly available information, including the Independent Learning Lessons Review by Chris Robson (commissioned by the Diocese of London, published April 2024), and publicly reported court proceedings relating to the case of Martin Sargeant.