The Archbishop of Canterbury recently discussed the Church of England's historical ties with chattel slavery during his visit to Jamaica, where research has surfaced a 18th-century donation from Edward Colston towards the church's missionary wing.
During an ongoing trip in the West Indies commemorating the diocese anniversary of Jamaica and Cayman Islands, Archbishop Justin Welby announced plans to use a £100m fund for communities still impacted by slavery. The Church Commissioners published a report last year about its historical connection to chattel slavery through the Queen Anne's Bounty scheme meant for clergy income support.
Archbishop Thomas Secker of Canterbury in the 18th century approved transactions involving enslaved people from sugar plantations in Barbados owned by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG). The Archbishop was among those who received funds from a donation made to SPG by Edward Colston.
Colston, a notable merchant with ties to Britain's slave trade, left £300 in his 1721 will for the SPG and its leaders. This money aimed at promoting their work and missionary efforts. The statue of Colston was later removed from Bristol's plinth due to public outrage over his history but is now on display at M Shed museum, where it joins other historical exhibits regarding protest movements.
The SPG owned sugar plantations in Barbados left by Christopher Codrington, a colonial administrator and owner of such estates. In the society's archive archives held at Oxford's Bodleian Library, records show that an iron collar for a slave was manufactured on site. Various payments for slaves were approved under Archbishop Wake's leadership as the SPG president in the 18th century, including those by Secker and later Welby.
In response to these revelations, Robert Beckford from University of Winchester stressed that such discoveries should be seen as part of ongoing reparative efforts rather than a definitive resolution. Meanwhile, Church officials stated their commitment to further examining the church's historical links with chattel slavery and being transparent about any findings.
The Archbishop is also scheduled to receive an honorary degree from the University of the West Indies in Jamaica during his visit, although this has raised some concerns regarding reparations efforts according to Beckford. Church officials confirmed that they had recognized Colston's contributions through Queen Anne's Bounty and welcomed new research into these historical ties.
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