The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, has defended Project Spire, the Church of England's £100m initiative to address its historical ties to transatlantic slavery. Responding to a letter from 24 Conservative MPs and four peers, she said the church had a 'calling to confront historic justice'.
Conservative critics had argued it was 'wrong to try and justify diverting £100m' while many churches struggle to stay open. However, Mullally insisted the project does not reduce support for parishes, stating that 'support for dioceses and parishes continues to increase'.
The debate highlights ideological divisions within the Anglican community. Some believe the church has a moral duty to redress past wrongs, seeing racial justice as central to Christianity, while others question the scale of the commitment or oppose it on political or principled grounds.
