In this Christmas sermon on Wednesday, Stephen Cottrell, the Church of England's second-highest-ranking cleric, will call for repentance and transformation within the institution, which has been rocked by scandals surrounding the cover-up of child abuse.

The holiday season has been overshadowed by the resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, following a report that he failed to act on the widespread abuse committed by John Smyth. Cottrell, who is the Archbishop of York, has also faced scrutiny over his handling of priest David Tudor's misconduct, which included known safeguarding failures.

During the sermon at York Minster in northern England, Cottrell will address the need for the Church to humble itself, saying, "God’s Church itself needs to come to the manger and strip off her finery, kneel in penitence and adoration, and be changed."

Cottrell will reflect on the Christmas story, emphasizing the vulnerability of the child Jesus. He will draw parallels between the infant Christ and the Church’s need to embrace humility and the power of love, rather than clinging to power.

Welby, who stepped down in November, will not deliver the main Christmas sermon at Canterbury Cathedral. The process to find his successor is expected to take up to six months, with Cottrell effectively taking charge in the interim.

Amidst these challenges, Cottrell has apologized for his delayed response to Tudor's situation, acknowledging the failure to act sooner. Public trust in the Church has been severely impacted, with many questioning its ability to safeguard its members. David Greenwood, a lawyer specializing in abuse cases, stated that the latest revelations have deeply shaken public confidence in the Church’s duty of care.