Fight grows over Church of England's £100m slavery reparations plan

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 20:20 · Archive

The Church of England faces legal and political opposition to its plan to spend £100m on slavery reparations through Project Spire.

The Church of England announced in 2023 that it would establish the Fund for Healing, Repair and Justice to make amends for the church's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, with £100m in funding.

The plan, known as Project Spire, is now facing organised opposition. Two Church of England members—Dr Bijan Omrani, a churchwarden in the Diocese of Exeter, and Revd Dr Jamie Franklin, a rector in the Diocese of Winchester—have applied to the Charity Commission for permission to mount a legal challenge. They argue the transfer of funds to the newly established body is unlawful and that the Church Commissioners' charitable assets should support clergy stipends and parish ministry instead.

The Church Commissioners maintain that their predecessor institution, the Queen Anne's Bounty, had connections to the slave trade, creating a moral duty to make reparative payments. However, the claimants dispute whether the Commissioners' assets were ever significantly 'tainted' by slavery profits, with some distinguished academics rejecting the Church's assessment of these links.

Political opposition has also mounted. In December, 27 MPs and peers wrote to the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, accusing the church of 'legally dubious vanity projects'. The Archbishop has defended the plans, stating that Project Spire does not diminish the church's support of parish ministry and clergy stipends.

How it is being reported

• Church of England faces major legal challenge over its plan to shell out £100m in slavery reparationsTwo Church of England members have applied to the Charity Commission for permission to mount a legal challenge against the Church Commissioners' plan to channel £100million towards slavery reparations. Dr Bijan Omrani, a churchwarden in the Diocese of Exeter, and Revd Dr Jamie Franklin, a rector in the Diocese of Winchester, have brought forward the argument. The initiative, known as Project Spire, was launched by the Church Commissioners following research into the Church of England's historical links to the transatlantic slave trade. Dr Omrani and Revd Dr Franklin argue the proposed…GB News · 13 Oct, 18:55
• Lobbying, lawyers and a media blitz: the fight to kill the Church of England’s £100m slavery compensation fundSome of Britain’s wealthiest financiers, including Sir Paul Marshall, have given a platform to critical coverage or are linked to its leading opponent “This is virtue signalling,” said Nigel Biggar. “These are elites who are trying to demonstrate that they are being progressive.” The target of his scorn was one that has obsessed him for years: the movement to pay reparations for the slave trade, and specifically the Church of England’s plan to spend £100m atoning for its involvement. Continue reading...The Guardian · 13 Oct, 06:00

In this story: Church of England · Church Commissioners · Sarah Mullally · Bijan Omrani · Jamie Franklin · Nigel Biggar · Diocese of Exeter · Diocese of Winchester

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