King Charles and Queen Camilla have attended a church service in Antigua, ahead of an address to Commonnwealth leaders when the monarch is expected to discuss Britain’s role in the slave trade with “unflinching honesty”.
A service at St John’s Pentecostal Church House of Restoration took place on Sunday morning, marking the ceremonial opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which runs until Wednesday.
Themes of unity and partnership were central in the service, the BBC understands, ahead of celebrations marking Independence Day on the island.
The King and Queen were welcomed by Very Rev Dwane Cassius, the Anglican priest leading the service, as well as Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda Rodney Williams and his wife Sandra Williams.
It comes as the King faces renewed calls to formally apologise for British involvement in transatlantic slavery when he speaks at CHOGM on Tuesday. Buckingham Palace said the monarch “will not shy away from confronting the most shameful aspects of the past”.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested yesterday he was “open” to the UK saying sorry, but ruled out reparations as advocated by some Commonwealth nations.
Speaking to Premier Christian News earlier this week, former Pentecostal bishop and ecumenist Dr Joe Aldred said there was a case for a formal apology: “In a Christian way of saying something wrong has been done here. Yes it is in the past, but you are still sitting on some of the benefits. Therefore, the call for some kind of repair is a useful and credible one.”
But he said the question of “to what end” an apology or reparations should go has not been asked; he believed Commonwealth leaders should instead be focused on their own agency and self-determination.
Dr Aldred added: “That energy would be better spent if we were looking to spent if we were looking to build present and future relationships, based on our historic involvement. In light of what has gone before, how can we make the present better?”
Reparations for slavery is a topic the Church of England, of which King Charles is Supreme Governor, has also grappled with. Project Spire, a £100m fund which the Church describes as being for “healing, repair and justice”, is facing a legal challenge.
Church leaders on the islands have united ahead of CHOGM with the aim of “building a wall of prayer around Antigua and Barbuda”, at a special gathering last night. Christians were encouraged to pray for the safety and security of the event, as well as wisdom for world leaders and unity coming from the discussions, according to Antigua News.