The Church of England is facing calls to increase its reparation efforts, after the Most Rev Justin Welby disclosed that his ancestor owned enslaved people on a Jamaican plantation. 

Richard Reddie, Director of Justice and Inclusion for Churches Together in Britain and Ireland told Premier Christian News that the revelations show how “indelible both the Church and society’s connection was to transatlantic African chattel enslavement.” 

Archbishop Justin revealed that his biological great-great-great grandfather Sir James Fergusson owned enslaved people at the Rozelle Plantation in St. Thomas, Jamaica, and received £3,591 in compensation from the British government after the abolition of slavery in 1836—equivalent to over £3 million today.

This amount was part of a £20 million compensation fund given to slave owners for the loss of their "property" when slavery was abolished.

The archbishop discovered the identity of his late biological father, Sir Anthony Montague Browne, through a DNA test in 2016, and has stated that he had no relationship with him and did not receive any money from his estate.

Reddie told Premier: “We know the archbishop’s ancestor, but we don’t know the story of the enslaved Africans that toiled and often died on his plantation.”

He explained that the compensation fund given to the likes of Fergusson was paid off by British taxpayers up until 2015, while the slaves themselves received nothing.

Reddie says more education on the history of enslaved people is needed, to help “right these historical wrongs.”

In a personal statement, Archbishop Justin expressed deep regret over the revelations and reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the Church of England's historical involvement in transatlantic slavery:

"My recent trip to Jamaica has helped me to confront the legacies of enslavement in the Caribbean and the responsibility owed to those who still suffer from the effects of this evil trade.

"I thank those who have given their time to such tireless research in this field, many of whom are descendants of enslaved people."

The Church initially pledged £100m to address this legacy. Following criticism that the amount was too small, Church Commissioners have since "embraced a target of £1 billion for a broader healing, repair and justice initiative with the fund at its centre".

Archbishop Justin said: "I reiterate the Church Commissioners' commitment to a thorough and accurate research programme, in the knowledge that archives have far more to tell us about what has come before us - often in a very personal way.

"I give thanks to God for this journey towards healing, justice and repair, as we take the path that Jesus Christ calls us to walk."