The Archbishop of Canterbury has been forced to apologise for his "hurtful" final speech in the House of Lords after being accused of "making light" of his scandal-ridden resignation.

The disgraced religious leader referenced a 14th-century beheading in the Lords, which prompted laughter from some peers - but given his resignation over the John Smyth scandal, his words sparked uproar from bishops and abuse survivors alike.

Now, the Archbishop has apologised.

“Yesterday, I gave my farewell speech in the House of Lords, as part of a debate on housing and homelessness.

“I would like to apologise wholeheartedly for the hurt that my speech has caused.

“I understand that my words – the things that I said, and those I omitted to say – have caused further distress for those who were traumatised, and continue to be harmed, by John Smyth’s heinous abuse, and by the far-reaching effects of other perpetrators of abuse.

“It did not intend to overlook the experience of survivors or to make light of the situation – and I am very sorry for having done so.

“It remains the case that I take both personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period after 2013, and the harm that this has caused survivors.

“I continue to feel a profound sense of shame at the Church of England’s historic safeguarding failures.”