The Church of England’s Project Spire, a £100 million plan aimed at addressing reparative justice related to the institution’s historical involvement with enslavement, is facing a legal challenge, according to statements made during the General Synod sessions in York. Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, characterized the initiative as a “work of healing, justice and repair.”
The project was established following research into Queen Anne’s Bounty, a church endowment fund established in 1704. Investigations revealed that the fund had invested in the South Sea Company, which transported more than 34,000 enslaved people across the Atlantic. Additionally, the fund received donations from individuals including Edward Colston, a prominent figure in the Royal African Company. The Church Commissioners, which manages church assets, committed £100 million in funding with the expectation of developing an “impact investment fund” that would support startups in descendant communities with social and environmental objectives alongside financial returns.
Daniel Matovu, a barrister representing the diocese of Oxford, stated that church records indicated the institution generated approximately £5 million annually in current monetary values from operating sugar plantations in Barbados between 1710 and 1838, totaling roughly £640 million over that period. Graham Usher, the bishop of Norwich, acknowledged that no financial sum could adequately compensate for the historical harms of enslavement while affirming the church’s responsibility to address this legacy.
The initiative has drawn opposition from the Policy Exchange think tank and some Conservative politicians, with critics arguing the project is “historically uninformed” and questioning whether funds should be directed elsewhere. Church staff have reportedly endured what Usher described as “vile abuse” from opponents. Usher confirmed the legal challenge exists but stated that further details could not be disclosed at that time due to ongoing legal proceedings.
The Anglican missionary organization USPG established a separate £7 million reparative justice program in 2024 following its own acknowledgment of owning two plantations in Barbados where thousands of people were enslaved.
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