JUSTIN WELBY will step down from his role as archbishop of Canterbury at midnight tonight, leaving the Church of England still mired in criticism over its handling of sexual abuse scandals.

The crisis began when it was revealed that the serial abuses of sadistic priest John Smyth had been covered up before he was sent by the church to Africa, where he continued his activities.

In November last year the independent Makin review concluded barrister and Christian camp leader Smyth — thought to have been the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the church — might have been brought to justice had Mr Welby formally reported him to police in 2013.

Mr Welby announced his resignation as the Church of England’s most senior bishop in November “in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse,” also referring to his “long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England.”

The Church’s problems continued when the cleric chosen to temporarily replace Mr Welby, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, was also found to have been involved in an abuse cover-up when serving as Bishop of Chelmsford.

There have been calls for both archbishops to resign.

In recent weeks charity The Children’s Society, associated with the Church of England, rejected a Christmas donation from Mr Welby, saying that accepting it “would not be consistent with the principles and values that underpin our work.”

Mr Welby’s resignation will be marked at a church service this evening in which he will lay down his bishop’s crozier — ceremonial long staff — in a symbolic act ending his ministry.

From Tuesday, most of the official functions normally held by the archbishop of Canterbury will be delegated to Archbishop Cottrell, while some will go to the Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally and the Bishop of Dover Rose Hudson-Wilkin.

The complex process to replace Mr Welby is expected to take months, with an announcement about a new archbishop of Canterbury possible in autumn.