New Evidence Links Church of England Clergy to Historic Slave Trade During Archbishop's Ghana Visit
Quick Brief
Newly uncovered historical documents reveal that Church of England clergymen financed the Royal African Company, which trafficked enslaved Africans on numerous voyages. Amid an ongoing debate over reparations, Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally visited Cape Coast Castle in Ghana to confront the institution's history. During the visit, Mullally reaffirmed the church's commitment to repentance for its historical involvement in slavery.
What Happened?
Newly uncovered records from the Register of British Slave Traders show that members of the clergy financed the Royal African Company, an organization responsible for trafficking enslaved Africans across hundreds of voyages. The revelation coincides with a visit by Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally to Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, where she toured the dungeons beneath the chapel once operated by the Royal African Company. The journey also follows the historical advocacy of abolitionist Ottobah Cugoano, who made a Christian case for reparative justice nearly 250 years ago.
Why It Matters
The findings shed light on the direct financial involvement of religious figures in the transatlantic slave trade, adding momentum to ongoing debates surrounding institutional accountability and reparative justice within the Church of England.
Key Facts
- The Register of British Slave Traders revealed that clergymen financed the Royal African Company.
- The Royal African Company trafficked enslaved Africans across hundreds of voyages.
- Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally visited Cape Coast Castle in Ghana.
- Mullally toured the dungeons beneath the castle chapel, which was once run by the Royal African Company.
- The archbishop reaffirmed the Church of England's ongoing "journey of repentance" regarding its role in slavery.
Compiled from 2 outlets
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