Sexual abuse scandals, having caused the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, now threaten to derail another senior cleric, while inviting challenges to England’s primacy in the Anglican Communion.

The Church of England's second most senior cleric Stephen Cottrell will call in a Christmas sermon on Wednesday for repentance and change within an institution reeling from child abuse cover-up scandals.

The Archbishop of York, who is set to temporarily lead the Anglican Church, called for the institution to “repent.” This was made during his Christmas sermon following revelations of several cases of sexual abuse.