By outdoor-nature-child.com In a recent interview, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, shared a significant revelation about his family history, revealing that one of his ancestors owned enslaved people on a plantation in Jamaica and received compensation from the British government following the abolition of slavery.
Welby made this announcement in a personal statement that underscored his ongoing commitment to confront the lasting impacts of transatlantic slavery. He explained that he recently learned about his ancestral connections through his late biological father, Sir Anthony Montague Browne, who served as a private secretary to Winston Churchill. The archbishop disclosed that this connection to the enslavement of people in Jamaica and Tobago was a surprise to him.
“I discovered in 2016 that I was conceived during a brief relationship between my mother and Browne, and that Gavin Welby, whom she married shortly afterward, is not my biological father. I never had a relationship with Browne, who passed away in 2013,” Welby stated.
According to his remarks, Browne was the great-great-grandson of Sir James Fergusson, the fourth Baronet of Kilkerran, who owned enslaved individuals at the Rozelle plantation in St. Thomas. Upon the abolition of slavery, Fergusson received a portion of a £20 million compensation package from the British government for the loss of what was then deemed “property.”
Research from the Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery indicates that the Rozelle plantation was home to around 200 enslaved individuals at its peak. The Fergusson family collectively received £3,591 in compensation in 1836, an amount that would equate to over £3 million today. However, Welby clarified that he did not receive any financial benefit from Browne, either during his lifetime or through his estate after his death.
Welby has been a vocal advocate for the Church of England’s acknowledgment of its historical benefits derived from transatlantic slavery. In a report released last year, the church traced the origins of its £9 billion endowment fund, partly to Queen Anne’s Bounty, a financial scheme initiated in 1704 that was linked to the profits from slavery.
“I am deeply sorry for these connections. It is time for us to take action and address our shameful past,” Welby remarked at that time. The Church has committed to investing £100 million to tackle the legacies of enslavement, with plans to raise this amount to £1 billion alongside contributions from co-investors, following recommendations from an oversight group led by Bishop Rosemarie Mallett.
In his recent statement, Welby reaffirmed the Church’s dedication to conducting thorough and accurate research, understanding that archives can provide crucial insights into past injustices, often in personal ways. He reflected on the joy of connecting with his half-sister and her son after discovering his relationship to Browne.
The awareness of his biological father came to light after Welby took a DNA test, revealing a 99.98% probability of being Browne’s son. His late mother, Jane, expressed that this discovery was an “almost unbelievable shock.”
Sir Adam Fergusson, the 10th baronet, commented on behalf of the Fergusson family about their ancestral involvement in slavery, calling it a “horrible part” of their history. He acknowledged the archbishop’s connection to the family as surprising, noting the sobering reality that many people today may have known or unknown ties to this dark chapter of history.
In addition, Alex Renton, a descendant of Fergusson and author of “Blood Legacy – Reckoning with a Family’s Story of Slavery,” shared that he and other relatives had made personal contributions toward reparatory initiatives since becoming aware of their family’s past.
Welby also referenced his visit to Jamaica in July, during which he received an honorary degree from the University of the West Indies and apologized to Jamaicans for the Church’s complicity in the enslavement of their ancestors. He expressed heartfelt remorse, stating, “I cannot speak for the government of the United Kingdom, but I can speak from my own heart. We are deeply, deeply sorry. We sinned against your ancestors, and I wish I could change the past, but that is not possible.”
This disclosure comes at a time when discussions about reparative justice are becoming increasingly prominent, particularly with pressure mounting on UK leaders, like Keir Starmer, regarding reparations during upcoming Commonwealth meetings.