Church of England head Justin Welby has resigned after an investigation found that he failed to inform police about serial physical and sexual abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps as soon as he became aware of it.

Welby is accused of not taking sufficient action to stop one of the Church of England’s most prolific serial abusers.

Justin Welby’s predecessors have at times met gruesome fates — being stabbed or burned at the stake — but over 16 centuries the position itself has not only survived but retained its significance and power.