I respect the Archbishop of Canterbury’s, Justin Welby, decision to resign following the findings of The Makin Report.

The Archbishop’s decision to resign is not one he will have reached lightly but in doing so he has shown his deep commitment to his institutional and Church responsibilities and to ensuring high standards in public life.

I have great respect and admiration for his work as the Archbishop of Canterbury to advance progressive causes such as action against climate change and poverty, and addressing the Church’s ancestral links to slavery. Additionally, he has overseen the historic establishment of the Church’s Anti-Racism Taskforce and Commission on Racial Justice, as well as the decision to allow women to become bishops. He has provided stable leadership through uncertain moments in the country’s history and leaves behind a legacy of openness to new discussions and empathy to new ideas.