The Archbishop of York highlighted the need for actions over words as he delivered a Christmas Day sermon at a challenging time for the Church of England as it faces criticism over failures in its handling of various abuse scandals.
Stephen Cottrell will effectively become temporary leader of the Church in England next month in place of the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, but has also faced calls to resign.
Earlier this week, Mr Cottrell acknowledged things “could have been handled differently” after revelations that a priest at the centre of a sexual abuse case was twice reappointed under him while he was serving as bishop of Chelmsford.
But a spokeswoman for Mr Cottrell said no-one had advised him at the time that David Tudor should not continue as an area dean and she added that even had he not continued in that role, it would not have meant he was removed as parish priest.
Victims of the priest have branded Mr Cottrell’s response to the case “insulting and upsetting” and suggested his resignation or him being forced out of his leading role in the Church was “inevitable”.
Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley questioned how Mr Cottrell could have any credibility, and Bishop of Gloucester Rachel Treweek declined to publicly back him.
With Mr Welby out of public view this Christmas and not delivering the December 25 sermon, focus shifted to Mr Cottrell’s words from York Minster.
Hark the Herald Angels sing glory to the new-born King; pray for peace on earth and goodwill to all.
Christmas Blessings from York Minster. pic.twitter.com/5B6o1nRLls
— York Minster (@York_Minster) December 25, 2024
He said the Church must “kneel in penitence and adoration” this Christmas and “be changed”, adding that the needs of others, including victims of abuse and exploitation must be put first.
He said: “Right now, this Christmas, God’s Church itself needs to come again to the manger and strip off her finery and kneel in penitence and adoration. And be changed.
“At the centre of the Christmas story is a tiny, vulnerable child; a child that Herod’s furious wrath will seek to destroy, for like every tyrant Herod cannot abide a rival.
“And I believe that the Church of England – the Church of England I love and serve – needs simply to look at this vulnerable child, at this emptying out of power to demonstrate the power of love, for it is in this tiny, vulnerable child that we are invited to see God.
“If you’re in love, show me. If you have love in your hearts, embody and demonstrate that love by what you do.
“This is what we learn at the manger in Bethlehem. To put the needs of others first – those who are cold and hungry this Christmas.
“Those who are victims of abuse and exploitation. Those who, like the little holy family, have to flee oppression and seek refuge in a foreign land.”
Referring to the musical My Fair Lady, he pointed to the example of Eliza Doolittle who he said is “utterly exasperated by the empty promises” of someone.
Referencing a message for the world, Mr Cottrell raised the importance of deeds over words, adding: “Don’t just talk about justice, don’t just talk about service, don’t just talk about love. Show me.”
Questioned on what he made of the words of Mr Cottrell’s speech that the Church must “kneel in penitence”, the Bishop of Leeds Nicholas Baines told Sky News: “Part of me wants to say ‘what’s new?’ because the Church always has to kneel in penitence.
“Every Anglican service you go to, we did it last night, begins with a confession in which we recognise that we are a mess, that corporately this is about us together, it’s not about just individuals saying ‘I have sinned’.”
Bishop of Dover Rose Hudson-Wilkin is giving the sermon at Canterbury Cathedral in place of Mr Welby and will speak of the birth of Jesus as a triumph of “light and hope” over “fear and darkness”.
The bishop, who visited Calais in recent days to meet asylum seekers and volunteers supporting them, is to say: “The story of Christmas is today’s story – still costly, continuing to reflect vulnerability and the pain of rejection; the pain that comes with repeatedly knocking at the door of the inns of our lives and hearing the words, ‘There is no room’.
“The story of Christmas is today’s story, relevant to the thousands of people in pain due to being abused, dislocated, in refugee camps, fleeing violence, war, climate change, famine.”
Meanwhile, Bishop of Oxford Steven Croft will reflect on a “difficult and eventful year here on planet Earth”, as well as in the Church.
He will say: “We’ve seen a crisis of confidence in many of our institutions, including in our own Church.
“We need to pause and take stock at Christmas time. Underneath all of these crises and difficulties, we find a simple question. What does it mean to be human, to live well, to build a good society?”
Mr Welby announced last month that he would resign, after initially declining to do so, in the wake of the Makin Review, which concluded that barrister John Smyth – the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church – might have been brought to justice had Mr Welby formally reported him to police in 2013.
The process to replace Mr Welby is expected to take months, with an announcement about a new archbishop of Canterbury possible in autumn 2025.
