Church of England 'still deeply institutionally racist', archbishop says
Justin Welby made off-the-cuff remarks after hearing about a woman who was barred from a church because she was black in 1961.
Wednesday 12 February 2020 05:44, UK
The Archbishop of Canterbury has admitted the Church of England remains "deeply institutionally racist".
Justin Welby was speaking as the General Synod voted to apologise for its treatment of black and minority ethnic people since the Windrush generation arrived in the UK.
Mr Welby told the church's national assembly: "Personally, I am sorry and ashamed. I'm ashamed of our history and I'm ashamed of our failure.
"There is no doubt when we look at our own church that we are still deeply institutionally racist. Let's just be clear about that. I said it to the College of Bishops a couple of years ago and it's true."
The archbishop decided to "ditch" a prepared speech and make off-the-cuff remarks after an address by Reverend Andrew Moughtin-Mumby left him "almost beyond words".
Mr Moughtin-Mumby said Doreen Browne's family had been barred from St Peter's Church in Walworth in 1961 "due to the plain fact of the colour of their black skin".
He added: "They eventually found a home in a nearby parish church - but we know that many cradle Anglicans from the Caribbean did not, and simply left the Church of England: that is a scandal of our own.
"Doreen's family suffered a horrible, humiliating racism, which still affects Doreen's relationship with the church even today."
Mr Welby said the "hostile environment" must be transformed into a "hospitable, welcoming one" - and called for "radical and decisive" progress to put an end to institutional racism.
He said: "Unless we are radical and decisive in this area in the future, we will still be having this conversation in 20 years' time and still doing injustice - the few of us that remain, deservedly."
The archbishop also called for ethnic minorities to be better represented on church panels, adding: "It doesn't work when long lists are simply one colour. It does not work."
The General Synod voted to request research on how racism had influenced the fall in member numbers and the increase in church closures over the years.
They also voted to appoint an independent person to assess the current race and ethnicity situation in the church.