THE Church of England has “totally lost” the public’s trust, child abuse survivors said today after bishops voted against moving to fully independent safeguarding.

A motion that would have seen all church-employed safeguarding officers transferred to a new independent body was rejected by the General Synod on Tuesday.

Members of the church’s parliament instead voted overwhelmingly for diocesan and cathedral officers to remain with their current church employers, while most national staff move to a new outside body.