Archbishop says statues will have to be reviewed

Archbishop Justin Welby

The Archbishop of Canterbury has suggested that some statues in the Church of England's places of worship "will have to come down" following global unrest over racism.

Justin Welby was speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme when he said that the Church was looking into statues in its buildings and how to put them "in context".

"Some names will have to change," he said, although he added that it was not his decision. 

Asked whether forgiveness should be extended to people remembered in the form of statues as an alternative to tearing them down, he said: "I mean, the church, goodness me, you know, you just go around Canterbury Cathedral, there's monuments everywhere, or Westminster Abbey, and we're looking at all that, and some will have to come down.

"But yes, there can be forgiveness, I hope and pray as we come together, but only if there's justice.

"If we change the way we behave now, and say this was then and we learned from that, and change how we're going to be in the future, internationally, as well."

Black Lives Matter protests have been held across the UK following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. 

The protests have forced local councils and institutions to review statues and monuments after some were toppled, like that of Bristol slave trader Edward Colston. 

Following the outbreak of protests in the UK, the Church of England apologised for its ties to slavery, saying they were a "source of shame". 

News
Can the Anglican Communion unite?
Can the Anglican Communion unite?

Joaquin Philpotts, who was on the Crown Nomination Commission for the new Archbishop of Canterbury, on whether there is any hope for unity in the fractured Anglican Communion.

Archbishop of Canterbury calls for peace in first Easter sermon
Archbishop of Canterbury calls for peace in first Easter sermon

Dame Sarah Mullally has used her first Easter Day sermon as Archbishop of Canterbury to renew calls for peace in the Middle East. 

Easter Sunday and the hope of resurrection
Easter Sunday and the hope of resurrection

The hope of the resurrection is especially precious in a world filled with grief, violence, uncertainty, and pain.

Activists warn Syriacs being erased in Syria
Activists warn Syriacs being erased in Syria

The Syriacs are mostly Christian.