In a move that’s stirring up quite the storm, the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, finds herself in the crosshairs. A group of Conservative MPs and peers has penned a letter urging her to abandon a bold plan: spending £100 million on slavery reparations. A hefty sum, they argue, that’s legally bound to support parishes and clergy wages, not reparations.

The Controversial Proposal

The Church of England announced this ambitious reparations proposal back in January 2023. This came on the heels of a damning report revealing the Church's historical ties to the transatlantic slave trade. It turns out, a fund set up by Queen Anne in 1704, called Queen Anne's Bounty, had its hands deep in the dirty business of African chattel enslavement. The Church Commissioners, the Church's financing arm, uncovered this unsettling truth, prompting the then-Archbishop Justin Welby to express deep regret.

In response, the Church pledged a £100 million fund, earmarked over nine years to invest in communities harmed by the slave trade. This move aimed to address what was described as the Church's 'shameful past.' But not everyone is on board.

Opposition from Within

A letter, seen by The Sunday Times, reveals the pushback from within. MPs Katie Lam, Chris Philp, and Claire Coutinho, among others, argue that this fund should instead shore up struggling parishes. They describe the reparations plan as a 'high-profile and legally dubious vanity project.' According to them, diverting funds from parish ministry and church maintenance at a time when many churches are falling into disrepair is simply wrong.

The law, they insist, mandates that funds support parish ministry, maintain church buildings, and care for the Church’s historic records. Anything else is a misuse.

The Church's Stand

Despite the uproar, the Church Commissioners stand firm. A spokesperson described the fund as a step towards healing, justice, and repair in light of the Church’s past sins. This, they say, aligns with the Church of England's mission to transform unjust societal structures and pursue peace and reconciliation. Governance for the fund is being crafted transparently, adhering to charity law and moral purpose, ensuring oversight and accountability.

New Leadership Amidst Controversy

As the Church prepares for a change in leadership, Mullally is set to become the first female Archbishop of Canterbury. A former NHS chief nurse, she entered the priesthood in 2006 and became the first female Bishop of London in 2018. Her impending enthronement comes after a lengthy vacancy in the top job, following Justin Welby's resignation over a safeguarding scandal.

Her tenure begins amidst this heated debate over the Church's historical obligations versus its present-day responsibilities. Whether she heeds the call to scrap the reparations plan or stands by the Church’s commitment remains to be seen. But one thing's for sure: the stakes are high, and all eyes are on Canterbury.