The incoming Archbishop of Canterbury has been urged by Conservative MPs and peers to abandon plans for a £100m fund linked to the Church of England’s historical connections to slavery.
According to Sunday Times, the group called on Dame Sarah Mullally to halt the spending, arguing that the money can legally only be used to support churches, maintain buildings and pay clergy wages. They claim the proposed fund risks diverting resources away from struggling parishes.
The Church of England announced the plan in January 2023 after an independent report examined its historic ties to the transatlantic slave trade. The report found that Queen Anne’s Bounty — a fund set up in 1704 to support poorer clergy — invested in and accepted donations derived from African chattel enslavement.
Following the findings, the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, apologised for the Church’s “shameful past” and pledged action.
The Church Commissioners later committed £100m over nine years to support research, engagement and investment in communities affected by the legacy of slavery.
However, MPs and peers writing to Mullally said the Church should instead prioritise strengthening parishes and accused leaders of pursuing what they described as “high-profile and legally dubious vanity projects”. The letter argues that many churches are struggling to stay open or falling into disrepair, making the proposed spending inappropriate.
Among the signatories are MPs Katie Lam, Chris Philp and Claire Coutinho, who wrote that the Church’s endowment must, by law, be used for parish ministry, church buildings and the care of historic records.
In response, the Church Commissioners said the fund was being developed in line with charity law and fiduciary duties. A spokesperson said the investment was intended to support “healing, justice and repair” and was consistent with the Church’s mission to challenge injustice and promote reconciliation.
Dame Sarah Mullally, currently the Bishop of London, will become the first woman to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury. She will formally replace Justin Welby at a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral in January and be enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral in March.
The Church has been without an Archbishop for almost a year following Welby’s resignation over a safeguarding scandal.
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