Makin: 'Case closed' on two evangelicals

Two evangelicals have been told their cases are closed in relation to the Makin Report.

Makin's review looked into horrific abuse carried out by the late QC John Smyth, and examined questions of who knew about it at different times, and what action they did or did not take.

The Church of England's National Safeguarding Team announced in February 2025 that it would begin disciplinary proceedings under the Clergy Discipline Measure against a number of church ministers.

Now the outcomes in relation to Roger Combes and Iain Broomfield have been announced. Combes is a former Archdeacon of Horsham, and Broomfield is a former chair of the Titus Trust, which was cited in the review.

Combes told the Makin review that he had been passed a report on Smyth’s abuse in 1982. It states that "he held this unopened on his knee, realised the seriousness and the nature of the report and chose not to read it..."

The new Church of England statement said of him: "Following a formal investigation by the designated officer, the matter was referred back to the President of Tribunals, who has decided that there is no case for the respondent to answer in respect of which a disciplinary tribunal should be requested to adjudicate. This determination brings the matters to a close."

In relation to Broomfield, the Makin report stated that in the late 1990s he informed a younger church minister that "that there was a 'previous issue' regarding John Smyth and that 'something bad' had happened at Winchester College."

The new CofE statement said of him: "On 21 October 2025, the National Director of Safeguarding sought permission from the President of Tribunals to bring an ‘out of time’ allegation of misconduct against the Reverend Iain Broomfield. Having considered the representations of both the Director and the Respondent, the President has decided that permission will not be granted. This determination brings matters to a close."

Rochester Diocese previously gave Broomfield a "rebuke and injunctions" after which he agreed to "undertake appropriate training in anger management and the appropriate recognition of uncontrolled anger," but this was not related to Smyth.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, help is available via: FearFree Support (www.fearfree.org.uk); the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 / safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk; The Samaritans helpline - 116 123; The National Association for People Abused in Childhood napac.org.uk