Archbishop Sarah Mullally ends 10-day Africa tour calling for church healing over slavery-linked legacy

Archbishop Sarah Mullally ended a 10-day Africa tour on Tuesday with calls for “healing” following renewed scrutiny of the Church of England’s historical ties to the transatlantic slave trade. In her closing remarks during the trip, Mullally said the church must confront its past while helping foster peace and reconciliation in communities affected by conflict and instability across the region.

According to The Washington Times, the visit also included a renewed public commitment by Mullally connected to a controversial Church of England fund of 100 million pounds. The fund has been criticized for its association with the church’s role in slavery, and Mullally’s remarks renewed an apology-focused effort designed to address that legacy.

The Archbishop’s comments came as the Church of England and its leadership have faced renewed public pressure to explain how institutions with historical involvement in slavery are responding in the present. Mullally’s Africa tour, framed as pastoral and community-focused, placed the question of historical responsibility at the center of her message as she met and spoke with church and community figures in multiple locations during the trip.

In describing the end of the tour, The Washington Times reported Mullally called for reconciliation and healing rather than division. Her statement linked the church’s responsibility to the present-day needs of societies trying to move past trauma, emphasizing that addressing historical wrongs is part of maintaining public trust in religious institutions.

The trip’s conclusion also highlighted ongoing efforts within the Church of England to confront its history and to communicate how financial and institutional structures are meant to operate in response to that history. Mullally’s renewed commitment to the slavery-linked 100 million pound fund indicates the church leadership intends to keep the issue in view rather than treating it as settled.

While Mullally’s remarks focused on peace and repair, the controversy surrounding the fund underscores the practical challenge facing large institutions: restoring legitimacy with critics who argue that apologies and financial mechanisms must be accompanied by clear accountability and transparent outcomes. The Washington Times report described Mullally’s stance as renewing the church’s engagement with the issue.

Mullally’s Africa tour concluded Tuesday after the 10-day schedule, leaving the next steps dependent on how the Church of England implements its stated commitments to the fund and addresses ongoing criticism tied to the church’s historical role in slavery. The Washington Times report did not outline specific implementation timelines beyond the renewed commitment and the tour’s closing calls for healing.