Archbishop 'appalled and embarrassed' by handling of abuse scandal, says son

THE Archbishop of Canterbury's son last night insisted that he backed his father's decision to resign because his position had become untenable.

- Mark Reynolds

Tim Welby said the Archbishop had been "appalled and embarrassed" by the way the Church of England abuse scandal had been handled.

But he said, despite the uproar this week, he was "so very proud of Dad".

Tim, 40, stressed that his father would now spend much of his remaining time in office helping victims of notorious abuser John Smyth. He would also counsel anyone who suffered sexual, physical or psychological abuse at Smyth's hands.

Barrister Smyth, who ran Christian summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s, abused more than 100 boys and young men and is believed to be the most prolific serial abuser associated with the Church of England.