The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, has robustly defended Project Spire, the Church of England's ambitious £100 million initiative aimed at confronting its historical connections to transatlantic slavery. This defence comes in direct response to a critical letter from 24 Conservative MPs and four Conservative peers, who argued that the funds should instead be directed towards struggling parishes across the country.
Mullally's Response to Tory Critics
In her reply, Archbishop Mullally, who was inaugurated just last week, emphasised the church's moral duty to address historic injustices. She stated that Project Spire in no way diminishes the church's ongoing support for parish ministries or clergy. On the contrary, she highlighted that financial backing for dioceses and parishes continues to grow, ensuring that local communities are not neglected.
The Tory critics had expressed concerns, noting that many churches are facing financial hardships and struggling to maintain their operations. They questioned the allocation of such a substantial sum for reparative justice when immediate needs within the Anglican community appear more pressing.
Ideological Divides Within Anglicanism
This controversy underscores deeper ideological rifts within the wider Anglican community. On one side, proponents argue that the church has a profound moral obligation to redress past wrongs, viewing racial justice as central to Christian teachings. They point to the significant contributions of African, Asian, and diaspora communities that have been vital to the church's survival and growth.
On the other side, sceptics worry about the scale of the financial commitment and the potential for the church to become overly politicised. Some right-leaning Anglicans believe that such initiatives are unnecessary or unjustified, preferring a focus on traditional parish support and evangelism.
What is Project Spire?
Project Spire is a reparative justice programme launched by the Church of England to address its historical links to the enslavement and exploitation of African peoples. The initiative traces its origins to 2019, when the Church Commissioners, the body responsible for managing the church's assets, conducted research into the Queen Anne's Bounty endowment fund from 1704.
This research revealed that the fund had direct connections to transatlantic slavery through investments and benefactions. In response, the Church Commissioners committed £100 million to establish an impact investment fund, known as the Fund for Healing, Repair and Justice.
How the £100 Million Will Be Utilised
The funding is designed to create a sustainable financial vehicle that aims to generate both social impact and financial returns. The church hopes that this fund will grow over time, reinvesting profits to ensure a lasting positive legacy. Additionally, it may open opportunities for other institutions to participate, further expanding its reach.
Grant funding from the project will support initiatives focused on improving opportunities for communities adversely affected by historic slavery. Beyond financial investments, Project Spire includes commitments to further historical research, assist dioceses and parishes in examining their own links to slavery, and share best practices with other organisations.
Current Status and Ongoing Debates
As of last year, the Church Commissioners were engaged in informal discussions with the Charity Commission to navigate regulatory approvals required for the project. Meanwhile, the initiative has sparked extensive debate among Anglicans, affected communities, politicians, and historians.
Between January and October 2023, focus groups were conducted in Jamaica, Barbados, Ghana, and England, alongside a global questionnaire. The subsequent report from the independent Oversight Group in spring 2024 highlighted deep concerns among respondents that the church's role in slavery had not been sufficiently acknowledged or repaired. Many felt that £100 million was inadequate relative to the scale of the historical wrongs.
Conversely, conservative think tanks like Policy Exchange have criticised Project Spire as historically uninformed and a deviation from the Church Commissioners' core duties. Some historians and General Synod members have publicly called for the project to be scrapped, echoing the sentiments of the Tory MPs who urged Mullally to abandon it in December.
Additional Church Initiatives
Separate from Project Spire, the Church Commissioners are allocating £730,000 to fund community cohesion projects in the Diocese of London. This includes support for migrants, anti-racism resources, and educational programmes on church buildings' links to transatlantic slavery over three years. These efforts align with the goals outlined in the 2021 report From Lament to Action, which aimed to address racial injustice and lack of diversity within the church hierarchy.
As the Church of England navigates these complex issues, Project Spire remains a focal point of contention, reflecting broader societal debates over reparations, historical accountability, and the role of religious institutions in promoting social justice.
