The has officially apologised for its historical involvement in slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, admitting that some of its past leaders and members benefited from and defended the brutal system that oppressed millions of Africans.
The apology was delivered during the church’s General Assembly held in in May 2026, marking what many observers describe as a historic moment of reflection, repentance, and accountability.
According to the church, it is “grieved beyond telling” over the suffering caused through both its actions and silence during centuries of slavery. Church leaders acknowledged that theology and scripture were at times wrongly used to justify the enslavement of African people during the colonial era.
The church further admitted that several individuals connected to the institution profited directly and indirectly from the slave trade, while the long-term effects of slavery continue to contribute to racial inequality and injustice across the world today.
Leading the apology, Reverend Sally Foster-Fulton described the moment as an opportunity for truth-telling and reconciliation. She stressed that acknowledging the past is necessary in confronting modern racial divisions and healing historical wounds.
The apology follows years of internal research into the church’s historical ties to slavery. In 2023, the Church of Scotland voted to prepare an official acknowledgment after evidence revealed financial and institutional connections to the transatlantic slave trade.
The transatlantic slave trade remains one of the darkest chapters in human history, during which millions of Africans were forcibly taken from the continent and transported to Europe and the Americas under inhumane conditions. Many never survived the journey, while generations suffered exploitation, violence, and cultural destruction.
The announcement by the Church of Scotland has sparked discussions globally, especially among African and Caribbean communities, about reparations, historical accountability, and the role religious institutions played during colonialism.
For many observers, the apology represents an important symbolic step, though some activists believe words alone are not enough without meaningful action and educational reforms.
As conversations around slavery, colonialism, and racial justice continue worldwide, the Church of Scotland’s statement adds to growing calls for institutions to confront uncomfortable truths about their past.
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