Church of England fights to head off donations slavery backlash

By Alex Ward, Social Affairs Correspondent Published: 17:48 EDT, 4 July 2024 | Updated: 17:55 EDT, 4 July 2024 Church of England leaders were forced to act over fears that anger at their £100million slavery reparations fund would hit income from the collection plate. They admitted working with the Church’s ‘giving advisers’ – responsible for encouraging congregations to donate – to produce ‘myth-buster’ guidance amid the controversy. The C of E announced last year it was establishing a £100million fund for reparations to recognise that it once profited from the slave trade.  It later revealed that there were plans to aim for a far larger target of £1billion by seeking funds from other parties. The latest twist emerged in a written statement, published ahead of the General Synod this weekend, in response to a question submitted by House of Laity member Luke Appleton. He had asked whether the Church Commissioners – who control the C of E’s purse strings – would compensate dioceses and parishes that suffered a loss of donations in response to the reparations fund. The Bishop of Salisbury, Stephen Lake, who sits as deputy chairman of the commissioners, insisted no parish money was earmarked for reparations. But...