Church of England ‘directly responsible’ for John Smyth abuse in Zimbabwe, victim says

Rocky Leanders, then 15, was beaten with wooden paddle by Smyth at camp where boys were made to swim naked

When John Smyth gave a presentation at their school about his Christian holiday camps in 1993, Rocky Leanders and his school friends were “blown away”.

“This is Zimbabwe in the early 90s; the technology wasn’t great. These guys set up a projector with colour videos of speed boats … abseiling, golf, tennis, paddle boarding, swimming pools, diving boards,” recalled Leanders, who was 15 at the time. “We insisted we needed to go.”

Topics

John Smyth abuse report triggers ‘existential crisis’ in Church of England
World - The Guardian - 2 hours ago
John Smyth victim calls for more bishops to resign over abuse cover-up
World - The Guardian - 18 hours ago
Mystery surrounds John Smyth after leaving UK and Zimbabwe for South Africa
World - The Guardian - 3 days ago
I blame the Church for my brother’s death, says Zimbabwean sister of UK child abuser's victim
Top stories - BBC News - Yesterday
I blame the Church for my brother’s death, says Zimbabwean sister of UK child abuser's victim
World - Yahoo News - Yesterday
Abuse survivors call for further Church of England resignations
Top stories - BBC News - 2 days ago
Church of England must do more to combat abuse, bishop says after Archbishop of Canterbury resigns
World - ABC News - 2 days ago

Latest in World

Australia v Pakistan: second Twenty20 international – live
World - The Guardian - 18 minutes ago
Middle East crisis live: Israel strikes Beirut after evacuation call
World - The Guardian - 25 minutes ago
Super Typhoon Man-yi Barrels Toward the Philippines
World - The New York Times - 34 minutes ago
ICC prosecutor’s UN ties ‘may jeopardise integrity of sexual misconduct inquiry’
World - The Guardian - 39 minutes ago
‘We’ve become distrustful of each other’: Braiding Sweetgrass author Robin Wall Kimmerer on Trump, rural America and resistance
World - The Guardian - 39 minutes ago

Church of England ‘directly responsible’ for John Smyth abuse in Zimbabwe, victim says

Topics

Related

John Smyth abuse report triggers ‘existential crisis’ in Church of England

John Smyth victim calls for more bishops to resign over abuse cover-up

Mystery surrounds John Smyth after leaving UK and Zimbabwe for South Africa

I blame the Church for my brother’s death, says Zimbabwean sister of UK child abuser's victim

I blame the Church for my brother’s death, says Zimbabwean sister of UK child abuser's victim

Abuse survivors call for further Church of England resignations

Church of England must do more to combat abuse, bishop says after Archbishop of Canterbury resigns

More from The Guardian

ICC prosecutor’s UN ties ‘may jeopardise integrity of sexual misconduct inquiry’

Two Trump cabinet choices in jeopardy over sexual misconduct allegations

Middle East crisis live: Israel strikes Beirut after evacuation call

Jake Paul beats Mike Tyson in manufactured mismatch as Father Time comes calling

Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says war will ‘end sooner’ once Trump enters White House

Latest in World

Australia v Pakistan: second Twenty20 international – live

Middle East crisis live: Israel strikes Beirut after evacuation call

Super Typhoon Man-yi Barrels Toward the Philippines

ICC prosecutor’s UN ties ‘may jeopardise integrity of sexual misconduct inquiry’

‘We’ve become distrustful of each other’: Braiding Sweetgrass author Robin Wall Kimmerer on Trump, rural America and resistance