The Church at the Manger: A Call to Penitence Amid Scandals

In a somber yet deeply reflective Christmas sermon at York Minster, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, the Church of England’s second most senior cleric, called for profound repentance and transformation within an institution reeling from the shadows of child abuse cover-up scandals. His message comes during a season meant to celebrate hope and redemption, yet marked by an outcry over safeguarding failures at the heart of the Church.

“The Church itself needs to come to the manger and strip off her finery and kneel in penitence and adoration. And be changed,” Cottrell urged during his address. These words, delivered to a congregation yearning for renewal, reflected the gravity of a year that has shaken trust in the Church’s leadership.

The season has also been overshadowed by the resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in November. His departure followed a report highlighting his insufficient action to stop John Smyth, a prolific sex abuser, and has left the Church grappling with the implications of institutional failure.

In addition to these events, Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, faces mounting scrutiny over his own past decisions. A BBC report revealed he allowed priest David Tudor to remain in his role despite knowledge of serious safeguarding restrictions, a decision he has since described as “horrible and intolerable.” Tudor was later suspended, but the delay continues to fuel public anger.

Reflecting on the vulnerability at the heart of the Christmas story, Cottrell emphasized, “At the centre of the Christmas story is a vulnerable child; a vulnerable child that [King] Herod’s furious wrath will try and destroy, for like every tyrant he cannot abide a rival.”

He likened the child Jesus to a symbol of God’s ultimate vulnerability and the Church’s call to humility, urging the institution to “empty out power to demonstrate the power of love.” These words struck a poignant chord as the Church faces mounting criticism from a public increasingly disillusioned with organized religion.

The Church of England, which oversees 16,000 parishes across the nation and serves as the mother church for 85 million Anglicans worldwide, is now at a crossroads. Welby’s resignation takes effect January 6, leaving Cottrell to steward the Church in the interim as it seeks a new leader—a process expected to last six months.

David Greenwood, a lawyer specializing in abuse claims, noted that the recent revelations have “shaken trust in the Church’s ability to protect its congregants and uphold its duty of care.” His words echo the sentiment of many who feel the Church must prioritize accountability and radical transparency to regain its moral authority.

As the Church navigates this storm, Cottrell’s Christmas message underscores a pivotal truth: transformation begins with humility. “The Church of England I love and serve needs to look at this vulnerable child,” he said. “For in this vulnerable child we see God.”

For many, this Christmas season has been a sobering reminder of the work still needed to restore the Church’s mission of hope, healing, and justice—a mission that must begin, as Cottrell insists, at the manger.