The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will end his official duties in early January, as he steps down amid criticism over an abuse scandal within the Church of England.

Mr Welby announced last week – after days of mounting pressure over failures in his handling of the case of prolific addict John Smyth – that he would be leaving his leadership role in the church.

Lambeth Palace has said he intends to complete his official duties by January 6 and is likely to have “very little public business” between now and that date.

In a statement on Wednesday, Lambeth Palace said: “Following the announcement last week of his resignation as Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Justin intends to complete his official duties at the coming Epiphany (January 6).

“Archbishop Justin intends very little public activity between now and Epiphany, but plans to fulfill a small number of remaining commitments.

“On the Epiphany, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s official functions will be delegated to the Archbishop of York – more information will be provided on this in due course.

“The date on which Archbishop Justin formally leaves office will be determined in agreement with the Privy Council.”

The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell is the second most senior bishop in the Church of England.

Earlier this week, Cottrell admitted he is “the person people will look to” in the coming months as the church seeks to replace Mr Welby, but appeared to rule himself out of the running.

At 66, Cottrell is approaching the Church of England retirement age of 70, and he told the Guardian newspaper: “We need someone who can give at least five years, probably more like 10. So I don’t consider myself a candidate.

“It does not change my commitment in the coming years and I realize that for the next period I am the person that people will look to.”

At the time of announcing his resignation, Welby said he was leaving “in grief with all victims and survivors of abuse” after days of pressure after the independent review concluded that Smyth – the most prolific serial abuser to have been associated with the church – may have been to court if Welby formally reported him to the police in 2013.

He had initially declined to resign when the report was published, saying he had “no knowledge or suspicion of this abuse” before 2013, but he admitted the review had found that, following its wider exposure that year, he had “personally failed to ensure” that it was “vigorously investigated”.

Over five decades in three different countries and involving as many as 130 boys and young men in Britain and Africa, John Smyth is said to have subjected his victims to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks, which permanently scarred their lives.

He died aged 77 in Cape Town in 2018 while being investigated by Hampshire police, and was “never brought to justice for the abuse”, the independent Makin Review said.

The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) is responsible for appointing the next Archbishop, vetting candidates, holding interviews and eventually presenting a name to the Prime Minister, who then forwards it to the King.

It is expected that the process, which begins with a consultation period, is likely to take a few months.