Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has recently made a startling revelation about his family history, disclosing his ancestral connection to slavery. In a surprising twist of events, Welby shared that one of his ancestors had owned enslaved individuals on a Jamaican plantation, and had received compensation from the British government following the abolition of slavery.
The Archbishop came across this disturbing information while delving into his family’s past, particularly focusing on his biological father, Sir Anthony Montague Browne, who was a descendant of Sir James Fergusson, the owner of the plantation. Sir James Fergusson notably received compensation from a substantial £20 million British government fund allocated for former slave owners. The Fergusson family itself received over £3,500 in compensation back in 1836, an amount equivalent to more than £3 million in today’s currency.
It has come to light that Browne was the great-great-grandson of Sir James Fergusson, the fourth Baronet of Kilkerran, who oversaw around 200 enslaved individuals at the Rozelle plantation in St Thomas. This unsettling discovery was confirmed through a DNA test in 2016, which revealed that Welby is the son of Browne, who had served as Winston Churchill’s private secretary. The Archbishop had previously believed his father to be Gavin Welby, who married his mother Jane soon after his birth, making this revelation even more surprising.
Expressing deep remorse for his family’s historical ties to slavery, Welby has reaffirmed the Church of England’s commitment to providing financial support for initiatives aimed at addressing the impacts of slavery. The church has pledged £100 million towards this cause, with hopes to eventually reach £1 billion. Furthermore, a report released by the church last year disclosed that part of its £9 billion endowment originated from Queen Anne’s Bounty, a financial scheme established in 1704 with ties to transatlantic chattel slavery.
The Archbishop emphasised the church’s dedication to conducting thorough research to gain a comprehensive understanding of its past, acknowledging that historical archives hold valuable insights into the injustices of the past, often on a deeply personal level. Despite learning about his relationship to Sir Anthony posthumously, Welby expressed gratitude at having the opportunity to meet his half-sister and her son.
Justin Welby’s revelation serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring legacies of slavery and the ongoing efforts needed to address its profound impacts on society.