Church of England faces legal challenge over slave trade reparations fund

A church warden and a rector have petitioned the Charity Commission to launch a legal challenge against the Church of England’s Project Spire. The initiative, which proposes allocating £100 million toward reparations for the Church’s historical connections to the transatlantic slave trade, has faced significant opposition from critics who argue the funds should be restricted to parish ministry, building maintenance, and record preservation.

Dr. Bijan Omrani of the Diocese of Exeter and Rev. Dr. Jamie Franklin of the Diocese of Winchester initiated the action, stating that the Church Commissioners have failed to address their legal and moral concerns. Rev. Franklin noted that while 1 Corinthians 6 discourages litigation between believers, he believes it does not justify the misuse of charitable assets. The move has garnered support from various political figures and organizations, including Christian Concern and the anti-racism group Don’t Divide Us, who have questioned the legal and moral basis for the reparations project.