The Archbishop of York says there is a 'darkness' in the Church of England because of abuse scandals, but that he's committed to leading change over safeguarding.

Most Rev Stephen Cottrell is now leading the church until a successor to former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is appointed later this year.

In a letter addressed to 'clergy, lay ministers and people of the Church of England' to mark Epiphany, he said he would work to ensure new proposals for independent scrutiny of safeguarding are brought before the General Synod next month.

These proposals are part of a process announced by the CofE in December to assess any ongoing safeguarding risk or new evidence in the light of the Makin Review which found the church had failed in its handling of abuse allegations against the late Christian barrister John Smyth.

Archbishop Cottrell said that while 'significant progress' had been made, the recent events and particularly the Makin Review 'have sometimes felt as though we have been separated from the light and hope of Christ. Reading reports of abuse, cover-ups, and institutional failure, we are confronted with a darkness that has harmed so many. To those who have been hurt, I offer my deepest apologies.

'These painful reports serve as a stark reminder that victims and survivors are asking for – and deserve – more than words of lament. They call us to action.'

While recognising that 'significant progress' in safeguarding has been made by thousands of faithful safeguarding officers and staff, Archbishop Cottrell said more has to be done to make the church 'safer and more accountable and for our processes to be trusted.'

The Archbishop has himself been strongly criticised by victims and survivors for his own handling of some safeguarding cases. In December it emerged that he had twice re-appointed a priest with a known history of sexual abuse to a senior role in his diocese while he was Bishop of Chelmsford. David Tudor remained in post nine years after Stephen Cottrell was first told of concerns about him.

Writing in the letter he says: 'Whether it is my decisions that are called into question or anyone’s within the church, our safeguarding practices must be subject to independent oversight and scrutiny.'

He added that he would work with the lead bishop for safeguarding Rt Rev Joanne Grenfell on several initiatives to improve safeguarding and seek approval for new clergy conduct measures to strengthen the Church’s disciplinary provisions.

He also committed to 'finalising the provisions of the forthcoming Redress Scheme so as to express in tangible ways the Church's heartfelt sorrow and shame for the abuse survivors have suffered.'