Church of England Claims It Must Give Away £100MILLION in Slavery Handouts Under Its ‘Christian Duty’

The Church of England has insisted it has to give away £100million in “slavery reparations” payouts because it is its “moral imperative as a Christian investor” to do so.

Church Commissioners, who run the Church’s investment portfolio, say they are “outraged” by its links to the transatlantic slave trade, which Britain abolished in 1807, and its alleged ongoing effects on people today.

And despite fierce opposition to the handouts, they are vowing to press ahead.

Their initiative proposed establishing Project Spire, a “fund for healing, repair and justice” through the Charity Commission.

But they are facing down a legal challenge, according to documents released before the General Synod.

In December, 27 MPs and peers wrote to incoming Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally, urging her to halt the fund.

They argued the endowment is meant to be used to support parish ministry, maintaining its wealth of buildings, and historic records.

The staggering nine-figure fund announced in 2023 responded to what was described as a “historic pool of capital tainted by its involvement in African chattel enslavement”.

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Despite the huge sums of money involved, an independent oversight group concluded in 2024 that the fee was, in fact, not enough.

“The sum of £100million is very small compared to the scale of racial disadvantage originating in African chattel enslavement,” it said.

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When asked whether Project Spire had been abandoned, the Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, responded on behalf of the commissioners.

He said: “No. Project Spire has not been abandoned.”

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The bishop said he had been expecting the legal challenge – and admitted it “must be respected, considered in a disciplined manner, and factored into our planned timetable for progress”.

The December letter, led by Shadow Home Office Minister Katie Lam, challenged the “evidential basis” of Project Spire.

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