Channel 4 News
In a groundbreaking investigation in 2017, Channel 4 News, spearheaded by journalist Cathy Newman, uncovered the harrowing story of John Smyth’s abusive actions against boys and young men. The abuses took place in a garden shed at his home in Winchester. On June 18, Channel 4 announced a documentary produced by Passion Pictures, focusing on Smyth’s life and crimes.
“The documentary will explore the psychology of a prolific abuser and tell the inside story of John Smyth’s sinister world, through exclusive and intimate testimony from those close to him. It will reveal the devastating impact of Smyth’s actions through moving accounts from victims and survivors in the UK and abroad,” the broadcaster stated.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, Smyth targeted victims at the Iwerne evangelical camps, which were mainly attended by pupils from England’s elite boarding schools. He was the chairman of the charitable trust that organized these camps until 1982 when Church of England clergy expelled him due to his abusive actions.
As someone who attended the Iwerne summer camps in 1979 and 1980, I recall Smyth as the camp ‘adjutant’ who managed daily activities and announcements. He viewed me as a negative influence on one of my friends, whom he unsuccessfully tried to mentor.
While studying at Cambridge University in 1985, I served as an ‘officer’ at the camps and continued this role throughout my student years. This involved significant voluntary work, including attending camps during vacations and participating in weekly prayer meetings.
I now reflect on how the Iwerne camps mirrored certain public school cultures, fostering a sub-culture marked by misogyny and elitism. Although not all leaders at the camps embraced this culture, enough did to make it significant. The upcoming documentary aims to shed light on these realities to accurately represent Smyth’s story.
Since leaving the Church of England ministry in 2019, I have dedicated time to investigating abuses within the church’s conservative evangelical sector, an environment I was once part of. This work is crucial for several reasons.
Firstly, sincere Christians within these communities need access to information that can drive positive cultural change in their churches. Secondly, it’s vital to seriously address the abuses committed by leaders within this sub-culture, ensuring victims are not minimized. Some individuals still downplay these abuses, with comments like, “At least he didn’t penetrate anyone,” highlighting a troubling mindset.
Lastly, it’s important to hold accountable those in leadership who prioritize personal agendas over the welfare of their communities. The narrative about the sub-culture enabling Smyth’s abuses should come primarily from the victims themselves, not external commentators.
The risk of becoming cynical after covering such stories is real, but reflecting on the character of Jesus Christ, as depicted in the New Testament Gospels, provides hope. Jesus engaged with and uplifted people across social strata, offering healing and redemption.
On a philosophical note, I believe the authenticity of the Gospels is evident in their portrayal of Jesus, a figure beyond the invention of flawed human nature.
Julian Mann, a former Church of England vicar, is an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
