An advocate for survivors of church abuse has told Premier that attending church is “too painful” for many due to the trauma they have experienced.

Jane Chevous is herself a survivor of church-related abuse.

In light of the Makin review, she told Premier Christian Radio that a culture of silence and shame is prevalent for many who have been abused by church leaders.

She said that the review – and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s resignation - must be a moment of reckoning for church structures and safeguarding:

“The church is hugely broken at the moment, and at great risk of imploding. That’s because the truth hasn’t been recognised.

“Survivors have been pushed aside. We're ‘too embarrassing’, we're ‘too awkward’, we're ‘too angry’, we're ‘too traumatised’. [It seems] people want to avoid us. They don't even want to talk about it, never mind respond with compassion and care, or they want to come in with a quick fix. And there is no quick fix.”

Having faced both church-based and non-church-based abuse, Jane shared that her suffering linked to church affected her more, as it cast a shadow on her personal faith.

“It got between me and God," she said.

"Could I ever trust a faith community again? Now, I've come through that with a very strong relationship with God, but I struggle.

“I can't go to church at the moment. It's too painful. I know many survivors who feel the same.”

As senior church leaders face calls to resign, Jane said that Christians must not see resignations as a solution or “quick fix”.

She likened the need for patience as past hurt is unearthed to the dark moments when Jesus lay in the tomb before his resurrection.

“It’s important not to try and say, ‘Well, it will all be fine. We'll pray and it will all go away.’ Because it's not that easy, and it's not that quick," she said. 

"It's dwelling in the Holy Saturday, being with people, in the anger, in the despair, in the pain.”