Bleeding for Jesus by Andrew Graystone

DLT https://www.dartonlongmantodd.co.uk/titles/2328-9781913657123-bleeding-for-jesus 

Review by Terry Drummond

The forthcoming election in January and consecration in March of our new Archbishop offers an opportunity for the Church of England to consider the priority and importance of taking the issues linked to safeguarding to be a key area for strategic development. The issues have been discussed and in theory policies developed that are meant to offer sustained action.

The recent Channel 4 programmes on the life of John Smyth (see https://www.channel4.com/news/topic/john-smyth)   highlighted a specific problem that was covered up and ignored for a number of years. Whilst this is an extreme example of a failure of safeguarding its ramifications cannot be underestimated. Not the least failure was the lack of any serious review by Archbishop Welby’s staff at Lambeth Palace.

In the book these issues are described in detail and challenge anyone who declares that safeguarding is well organised in the Church of England.

The agenda on safeguarding is much discussed: the question must be one of outcomes:  Do these discussions lead to positive and creative responses?

In reading this book I was at first overwhelmed by the narrative which is a description of the misuse of the Christian faith in the context of Evangelical Christianity. Whilst its focus is on a particular individual, it also describes and explores other examples of the misuse of faith for personal gratification.

In reflecting on the themes explored, it all too easy to fall into the trap of believing that issues of safeguarding in the Church of England have been fully described and the problems associated with it dealt with. The reality described by Andrew Graystone is every different and his analysis reinforces the perception that a focused approach is needed and is rooted in a centralised approach that ensures that safeguarding issues are taken seriously and the victims given the critical support that is required. 

There has been a plethora of safeguarding news in the Church of England in recent years, often based on complaints from survivors that support has been limited and on occasion non existent.

In this book, we are given a detailed analysis of one of the worst examples of the vicious treatment of boys who attended Iwerne summer camps organised and led by John Smyth, who was a well-known barrister who professed an Evangelical Christian faith.

His legal work included representing Mary Whitehouse in he campaign to ban Gay News, and a campaign to ban the National Theatre’s production of Howard Brenton’s play Romans in Britain which included scenes of homosexual behaviour.  

This book highlights the fact that some of those men most critical of homosexuality were themselves deeply involved in homoerotic behaviour, arguing a conservative theological position on sexuality in all its manifestations whilst hypocritically hiding personal predilections  that were a contradiction of their public announcements.

The first two thirds of the book are in many ways a graphic exploration of the activities of John Smyth in particular. He established links with Winchester School and was a regular speaker at Christian meetings which he used to identify boys who would be invited to attend the Iwerne camps. Through these contacts he went on to identify boys who were given special treatment in exploring the basis of an Evangelical approach to the Christian faith. 

A key focus of the discussions was on all the elements of what constituted sinful behaviour. Whilst these would include what might be described as normal youthful behaviour, others were narrowly defined rules that related to attending the camps. The outcome of the discussions were for a minority a demand that they be punished for all minor errors. 

The punishment (and this is where the book is most disturbing) was regular beatings with canes and twigs. The outcome of which was broken skin and blood that required nappies to control and hide the reality of what had happened.

Smyth also had a predilection for nakedness which he wanted to share with some of the boys, a sure sign of homo-erotic behaviour combined with a sadistic personality. All of which was hidden behind teaching a conservative Evangelical view of morality and sinfulness.

The outcome was a report by the Iwerne Trust in 1982 which identified the problems and whilst the report went into some detail it was to be kept secret and only available to a small group for the next 30 years.

Another outcome of the report was that Smyth moved with his family to Zimbabwe and later South Africa.In both countries he created more camps and continued his sado-masochistic activities. In addition he demanded of his own children obedience and an expectation that they would always abide the strict rules that he established.

The book, in addition to concentrating on Smyth, describes the activities of other leading Evangelicals who whilst they preached a conservative morality, in the privacy of their own homes and elsewhere were exploiting young men and women.

The final third of the  book is a review of the Church of England with a particular focus on Lambeth Palace on issues of safeguarding. Graystone shows that whilst attempts were made to respond to the issues, all too often these were at best half hearted. In particular the importance of supporting victims was often lost in attempts to close down the issues.

Under the Arch-Episcopacy of Justin Welby this was especially noticeable.He had for instance known Smyth: and whilst it is argued that he was briefed on the report into Smyth’s activities he seemed to show selective loss of memory. The issue of safeguarding led to his resignation. 

Graystone ends the book with recommendations for the Church of England and anyone with an interest in the issues surrounding this key area of work and ministry will learn much from his analysis.

To those who say that this topic is overplayed, all I can say is read this book and be shocked!

Revd Dr Terry Drummond