Photo Credit|BBC

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, has reaffirmed the Church of England’s commitment to a controversial £100 million fund established to address the legacy of the Church’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.

Speaking during a visit to Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, where enslaved Africans were held before being transported across the Atlantic, Dame Sarah said the visit had deeply moved her and prompted reflection on the Church’s historical involvement in the slave trade.

She acknowledged the Church’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, saying repentance requires action as well as words.

“We played a part in the transatlantic slave trade. That is clear. Part of the Christian belief in repentance is about action, so we are putting in place action to support those communities that feel the legacy of the slave trade,” she said.

The £100 million fund is intended to support communities that continue to experience the lasting effects of slavery, although it has generated debate within and outside the Church over its scope and implementation.

The visit to Ghana is Dame Sarah’s first pastoral visit to Africa since she was installed as Archbishop of Canterbury in March.