Archbishop Welby reveals slave owner ancestor
During a recent interview, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby opened up about his deepening understanding of historical injustices, particularly relating to slavery. He revealed that a personal exploration into his family history led him to discover a significant ancestral tie to a former slave owner.
“My great, great, great grandfather, Sir James Fergusson, was an owner of enslaved people at the Rozelle Plantation in St Thomas, Jamaica,” he explained. This revelation came alongside his earlier discovery in 2016 that his biological father was the late Sir Anthony Montague Brown, who served as Winston Churchill’s last private secretary, a truth he uncovered through DNA evidence.
Reflecting on a recent trip to Jamaica, Welby mentioned how it allowed him to confront the enduring legacies of enslavement in the Caribbean. “This journey has helped me acknowledge the responsibility owed to those who continue to suffer from the repercussions of this horrific trade,” he stated.
He expressed gratitude to individuals who have dedicated their time to researching these historical connections, many of whom are descendants of enslaved individuals themselves. Discussing the historical context, he referred to findings from the Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery, noting that at its peak, the Rozelle plantation employed nearly 200 enslaved people. The Fergusson family received financial compensation from the British government after the abolition of slavery, which they referred to as a loss of ‘property.’
In January 2023, the Church of England took a significant step by pledging £100 million to “address past wrongs” linked to slavery—an acknowledgment Welby described as both necessary and overdue. However, a Church Commissioners charity report described this amount as “not enough,” calling for a much larger commitment of £1 billion to truly repair the damage caused.
As he continues to reckon with his family’s past and the broader implications of slavery, Welby remains a committed advocate for justice and healing.
