27 MPs Warn Incoming Archbishop Sarah Mullally Against £100 Million Slavery Reparations Plan as Churches Struggle to Keep Doors Open
Twenty seven British MPs and peers urged incoming Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally to abandon the Church of England's £100 million slavery reparations plan, warning the initiative diverts funds legally required for parish ministry while churches across England struggle to remain open.
The parliamentarians sent a letter to Mullally, who becomes the first female Archbishop of Canterbury when legally confirmed January 28, 2026, expressing concern about Project Spire which allocates £100 million from the Church Commissioners' endowment to a separate charitable fund for "healing, repair and justice" for communities historically impacted by African chattel enslavement.
The letter led by Shadow Home Office Minister Katie Lam with signatories including senior Conservatives Chris Philp, Claire Coutinho and Neil O'Brien argued the Church Commissioners' endowment by law must be used to support parish ministry, maintain church buildings, and care for the Church's historic records. The MPs wrote,
"At a moment when churches across the country are struggling to keep their doors open, many even falling into disrepair, it's wrong to try and justify diverting resources away from parishes to fund a politically contentious project."
The parliamentarians challenged the "evidential basis" of Project Spire, stating, "The Church has a long and complex historical record, one that includes both moral failures and courageous leadership in the abolitionist movement. To reduce this history to a simplistic narrative of guilt does a disservice both to truth and to the Church's own legacy."
The group urged Mullally to send "a clear signal" that her leadership will focus on "strengthening parishes, not the pursuit of high profile and legally dubious vanity projects." Conservative MP Neil O'Brien called Project Spire "divisive rubbish," adding the Church faces "unbelievable decline" from pursuing progressive politics over Gospel ministry.
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
Churches closing. Parishes crumbling. And the Church of England wants £100 million for reparations.
Not for struggling congregations. For guilt.
The Church of England led the abolitionist movement. William Wilberforce was an evangelical Christian. Biblical conviction that all bear God's image drove anti slavery campaigns.
But leadership prefers groveling over celebrating Christianity's role ending slavery.
Meanwhile actual Christians watch buildings decay because funds go to progressive virtue signaling instead of ministry.
The MPs are right. Legally dubious vanity project. The endowment exists for parish support. Not political correctness.
Sarah Mullally faces a choice. Strengthen parishes or pursue woke politics.
The Church tried regaining relevance through progressive politics. It failed. They're facing catastrophic decline.
People don't attend church for reparations talk. They come for Jesus.
£100 million could save dozens of churches. Support ministry. Maintain historic buildings.
Instead it funds "healing and justice" meaning progressive projects disconnected from the Gospel.
This is why pews are empty.
TAKE ACTION
Contact Archbishop Designate Sarah Mullally: Lambeth Palace: https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org Urge prioritizing parish support over reparations schemes
Support the MPs' Letter: Contact your MP if British supporting the 27 parliamentarians opposing Project Spire
Redirect Giving: Support individual struggling parishes directly rather than central Church funds diverted to political projects
Start Conversations: Ask: "The Church of England spends £100 million on slavery reparations while churches close. The Church led the abolitionist movement. Why apologize instead of celebrating Christian opposition to slavery?"
