Dear Members of Parliament,

Re: Project Spire and Church Commissioners’ Fund for Healing, Repair and Justice

Thank you for taking time to send me your reflections in your letter of 17th December 2025.

The Church of England’s historic links to African chattel enslavement are a serious matter, and it is right that they are approached with care, clarity, and respect for the responsibilities entrusted to the Church.

I have passed your letter to the Church Commissioners, who are leading this work. They will also respond to your letter, providing further clarity on the programme of work.

As I said at a racial justice event in St Paul’s Cathedral in February 2024, the Church cannot undo its history, but it can choose how it responds to it. The Commissioners’ work is rooted in the Christian call to repentance, reconciliation and, above all, hope. It seeks to invest in creating a hopeful and positive future, using the lessons of the past and the prosperity of the present, for the benefit of the less advantaged among us now, and those communities which continue to experience the enduring consequences of historic injustice. This project will enable the Church of England to do the work to which Jesus has called it in more places, not fewer.

Recognising that we have grievously fallen short in our past treatment of one another, personally and institutionally, does not diminish the legacy of those within the Church who led the fight for freedom and equality. But as their example endures and inspires, so does our need to recognise the legacy of those evils they campaigned against. Each year in our liturgical calendar the Church of England remembers William Wilberforce, Olaudah Equiano, Thomas Clarkson and the many other anti-slavery campaigners. The Church continues to be inspired by their example to combat modern slavery in all its present-day forms. Our belief that all human beings are made in the image of God is fundamental to our understanding of our Christian obligation to one another and to the common good.

I am deeply committed to local ministry through parishes and chaplaincies. Project Spire does not diminish the Church’s support of or investment in parish ministry or clergy. Far from it, the Church Commissioners’ support for dioceses and parishes continues to increase, reflecting the central importance of local worshipping communities to the life and mission of the Church. While it was not noted in your letter, I am sure you are aware we are making major investments in local churches and parish clergy – with a record £1.6 billion being allocated over the next three years.

Our calling to confront historic injustice and our commitment to sustaining parish life therefore both flow from the same Gospel imperative: to love our neighbour as ourselves and to enable all to flourish.

I am grateful for your appreciation and concern for the established Church, nationally and in your own local communities. Thank you again for sharing this with me.

In Christ,

The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE

Bishop of London and Archbishop of Canterbury-elect

19 Jan 2026