Animal rights campaigners have written an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury Designate, asking her to ban church items made using animal products.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) requested that Dame Sarah Mullally “modernise the church,” by swapping leather bible covers for plant leather, and beeswax candles with soy wax.
The group claimed that “candles symbolising Jesus Christ would better represent hope for bees,” with a wax swap.
“Bees can feel stress and pain,” the group said. “To procure beeswax, bees are intensively farmed, and queen bees’ wings are often cut off to disable them.”
They also requested that garments be made from plant wool or linen, saying: “Gentle, clever sheep, who represent God’s people, deserve better than being thrown around wool sheds, stood on, punched and kicked.”
Yet, certain vegan leather products have been criticised for being less durable than cow's leather, with leather book covers lasting for centuries if stored correctly.
The Church of England has already been attempting to “modernise” elements of its traditional services, with members of the General Synod discussing alternatives to wheat flour and alcohol in Holy Communion bread and wine. Current church rules stipulate that some trace of “reduced” alcohol or wheat content is required to constitute communion, but levels are so low that it is often still appropriate for those with intolerances to consume.
Dame Sarah Mullally will officially take up her post as Archbishop in January 2026.