Overview
- The archbishop publicly restated support for the Fund for Healing, Repair and Justice during her visit to Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, a trip that concluded Tuesday.
- The Church of England committed £100 million to the scheme in 2023 and the Church Commissioners say the money will come from investment assets rather than parish collections.
- A General Synod update shows £1.15 million has already been spent on Project Spire, but the scheme’s wider rollout has been delayed by ongoing legal action.
- High-profile critics including Conservative MPs and commentators have urged the archbishop to abandon or redirect the fund toward parish repairs, with Nick Timothy sending a formal letter asking for reconsideration.
- The debate hinges on contested history — researchers point to links between Queen Anne’s Bounty and slave-era investments while some historians dispute that the church profited — and the dispute could affect parish finances, the church’s reputation, and wider Anglican relations.