BRIDGETOWN, Sept 8 -USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) today announced at a press conference in Barbados that it will be seeking to address the wrongs of their past by committing to a long term project, ‘Renewal & Reconciliation: The Codrington Reparations Project’ in partnership with Codrington Trust / Church in the Province of the West Indies (CPWI), in Barbados.
The work will include four areas of work in collaboration with the descendants of the enslaved; community development and engagement; historical research & education; burial places & memorialisation, and family research. USPG has pledged, in response to proposals that Codrington trust have advanced, 18M Barbadian dollars – (£7M) – to be spent in Barbados over the next 10-15 years to support this work.
“USPG is deeply ashamed of our past links to slavery” stated Rev’d Duncan Dormor, General Secretary of USPG, “We recognise that it is not simply enough to repent in thought and word, but we must take action, working in partnership with Codrington where the descendants of enslaved persons are still deeply impacted by the generational trauma that came from the Codrington Plantations”.
USPG has long been aware of its disgraceful links to the slave trade. In 1710, The Society of the Propagation of the Gospel (former name) received a bequest from Sir Christopher Codrington for two plantations in Barbados. Between 1710 and 1838, SPG benefitted from the labour of enslaved persons on the Codrington Estate. This newly announced project in Barbados is part of USPG’s ongoing commitment to engaging critically with its shameful history.
“It is our hope that, through this reparations project, there will be serious reckoning with the history of the relationship between The Codrington Trust and USPG, but also a process of renewal and reconciliation that will be healing of the pain of the past,” stated Archbishop Howard Gregory, Primate and Metropolitan of The Church of the Province in the West Indies.
The project will begin from spring 2024 and regular updates will be available. Full statement from USPG available here: [insert link to website]
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INTERVIEW REQUESTS:
Interviews are available on request between 11-13th September 2023 with Rev’d Dr Duncan Dormor or Rev’d Dr Carlton Turner.
Contact details:
Email: communications@uspg.org.uk for all media related enquiries
Telephone: 07849 083 128 or 07557 561 455
About USPG
USPG is the Anglican mission agency that partners with churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential and champion justice. USPG has played a significant role in worldwide Christian mission since its foundation in 1701. USPG has a global perspective and long-established relationships with churches of the Anglican Communion. USPG has over 60 programmes across the global church working in partnership and supporting churches across their communities and contexts.
About Codrington Trust
The Codrington Trust was established in 1983 by an Act of Parliament of Barbados. The Trust serves as the Governing Body of the Codrington Estate, with the power to manage the affairs of the Estate, govern Codrington College and conduct & administer the affairs of the College. The seven Trustees, appointed by the Anglican Church in the Province of the West Indies and the Government of Barbados, are advised on academic matters by a College Board of Governors.