The General Synod has today (11 Feb 2026) voted to approve a new strategy designed to rebuild trust and deliver professional, independent safeguarding across the Church of England.
At the core of the reforms set out in GS2429, is the creation of a new national safeguarding charity. This organisation will operate independently of Church hierarchy, governed by a majority-independent Board.
In a move to ensure greater independence of professional safeguarding decisions, the charity’s lead safeguarding professional will oversee “protected” operational powers. This will ensure that day-to-day safeguarding decisions remain entirely independent of Church leadership.
The Rt Revd Dr Joanne Grenfell, the Church of England’s lead bishop for safeguarding, said: “This is a significant day for the Church. What has been agreed is a single, unified system that brings independence and scrutiny together. This is needed to rebuild trust. It will deliver consistency of practice at every level of the Church – from parish to palace. I am grateful for Dame Christine Ryan’s clear-eyed perspective; the work to turn this vision into reality begins now.”
The reforms are being driven by the Safeguarding Structures Programme Board, led by independent Executive Chair, Dame Christine Ryan. Dame Christine, a specialist in regulation and governance, was appointed in October 2025 to provide the external rigour necessary to deliver the changes.
Dame Christine said: “I am pleased that Synod has today agreed to the strategic vision we have outlined. It builds on existing expertise, whilst inviting the external scrutiny and rigour that will make the Church a safer place. It is the pragmatic and sensible solution that will remove complexity and deliver much needed change, strengthening and restoring trust in Church safeguarding.”
The Safeguarding Structures Programme will now begin its detailed design phase, with extensive stakeholder consultation scheduled for Spring 2026 with operational changes introduced as early as the end of this year.
Read the Archbishop of Canterbury’s speech as part of the debate: Synod: Archbishop of Canterbury’s speech on Church Safeguarding Structures | Archbishop of Canterbury
For further information, visit the Safeguarding Structures Programme webpages.
Synod approved the motion by counted vote:
For 345
Against 1
Abstentions 3
Read Dame Christine’s speech outlining her vision for Church safeguarding