John Smyth (c. 1554 – c. 28 August 1612) was an English Anglican, Baptist, then Mennonite minister and a defender of the principle of religious liberty.

John Smyth was an English religious libertarian and Nonconformist minister, called “the Se-baptist” (self-baptizer), who is generally considered the founder of the organized Baptists of England. He also influenced the Pilgrim Fathers who immigrated to North America in 1620.

John Smyth was an appalling abuser of children and young men. His abuse was prolific, brutal and horrific. His victims were subjected to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks.

Nov 17, 2024 · For over 30 years police were not told about Smyth’s crimes because of an "active cover up" inside the Church of England, according to the Makin review published earlier this month. It found that...

Feb 4, 2025 · John Smyth, who died in 2018, moved first from the UK to Zimbabwe and later on to South Africa The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (Acsa) has apologised for failing to protect the public from ...

Nov 7, 2024 · John Smyth QC is believed to be the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church of England, a long-awaited independent review found. Smyth QC, who died …

Feb 4, 2025 · JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The Anglican Church leadership in South Africa has admitted to failing to disclose sexual abuse allegations against its former member John Smyth, who mistreated children in the 1970s and 1980s in the U.K. and Zimbabwe before fleeing to South Africa, where he died in 2018.. In November, an independent review found the Church of England covered up “horrific” abuse by ...

Nov 12, 2024 · John Smyth, a barrister who ran Christian summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s, committed physical, psychological and sexual abuse against more than 100 boys and young men.

Nov 12, 2024 · Smyth, who led Christian summer camps, is said to have abused as many as 130 boys and young men in the UK and Africa across five decades, subjecting them to traumatic physical, sexual and psychological attacks. Explainer: Who was John Smyth - the barrister at the centre of the Church of England abuse cover-up?

Aug 8, 2008 · When he was exiled to Amsterdam from his native England, John Smyth gathered three dozen of his followers around him. The former Anglican preacher and Cambridge fellow recited a confession of...