The Church of England has insisted it will continue with a £100m slavery reparation fund despite mounting criticism of the initiative.
Project Spire was endorsed by Justin Welby, the former archbishop of Canterbury, after a report found a fund established by Queen Anne in 1704 to support poor Anglican clergy had invested in African slavery.
While it has been welcomed as a belated acknowledgement of the institution’s involvement in slavery, it has been criticised for spending £100m at a time of financial turmoil, especially for local parishes.
Opponents say there is a lack of evidence for the reparation claims and it fails to take into account the Church’s role in efforts to end slavery.
However, responding to written questions submitted to the Synod, which is convening in York, the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham Usher, said: “We continue to be outraged by our historic links to African chattel enslavement and our part in the responsibility for the enduring legacies of this abhorrent past that continue to affect the lives of people today.”
To manage the funds, the Church Commissioners must apply to register a new charity.
Bishop Usher revealed that the Church had planned to apply to the Charity Commission to register the fund, but said it was unable to do so because of legal challenges.
“We have, however, not totally unexpectedly, received a legal challenge in relation to this work,” he said.
“This must be respected, considered in a disciplined manner, and factored into our planned timetable for progress. We take this seriously and, as responsible custodians, we are taking appropriate advice to determine our next steps.”
