On 14 July 2025 the Church of England’s General Synod finally approved the long-awaited redress scheme for victims and survivors of abuse in a church context, which has been in planning since 2021. The Synod voted almost unanimously in favour of finally approving the Measure, which passed in a counted voted by Houses: Bishops 26-0, Clergy 129-1 (with one recorded abstention), and Laity 140-0.

The Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, who chaired the board overseeing the redress project, told the Synod that the scheme should never have been necessary. He noted that the failure of the Church to live out the gospel and instead collude in abuse was a “source of shame” and made the scheme essential. 

Some last minute changes to the scope of the planned redress scheme had to be made in the aftermath of the publication of the Makin report on John Smyth’s abuse to ensure that those harmed by Smyth would be entitled to apply to the planned redress scheme.

However, others raised concerns, the Archdeacon of Leeds, the Ven. Paul Ayers, said that he would be unable to vote for the Measure because of his concerns that it might be unfair to alleged abusers. He felt that it was unclear how the redress body could determine whether a claim of abuse was true or not if this had not already been established by a statutory body.

Attempts were made during the debate to provide that the law firm, which will administer the scheme on behalf of the Church of England, could contact alleged perpetrators to give them a right of reply to claims, but this proposed amendment was unsuccessful.

To apply to the planned redress scheme, applicants will have to establish that either the abuser had a “close connection” to the Church of England, or a separate church officer had to have “failed to act” to prevent abuse by a third party. However, there were concerns expressed about the definition of a “church officer” and how some voluntary roles might not be caught be the definition provided.

The debate also saw the rules of the redress scheme amended to ensure that previous payouts from the Interim Support Scheme would not be deducted from any subsequent awards made by the redress scheme.

The redress scheme covers a wide range of abuse perpetrated by someone representing the Church of England including sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, spiritual abuse, neglect, and financial abuse, and provides for financial awards of redress from £5,000 to £660,000 in exceptional circumstances.

The redress scheme still requires parliamentary approval and royal assent before becoming operational and, while no timetable has been provided, it was confirmed at Synod that the infrastructure is now in place to receive applications once legislation is complete.

The Church Commissioners have committed £150 million to the scheme although some experts predict the total cost could be more than £500 million.