the Church

He also said he believed "that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England".

The report found that by 2013, the Church of England "knew, at the highest level" about Smyth's abuse, including Mr Welby who took up the Church's top job that year.

Church abuse survivors have also called for the resignations of other senior members of the church who failed to report Smyth to police.

The “Strip That Down” singer’s dark blue casket arrived at the church in a white horse-drawn hearse carrying floral arrangements spelling the words “son” and “daddy,” the BBC said.

The late singer’s mother wept and his father Geoff Payne — who flew to Argentina to collect the singer’s body — stood stoically as they watched the flower-covered casket go into the church, CNN reported.