History often holds truths that are difficult to face, yet essential to understand. New and detailed research published by the Church of Scotland reveals the deep, complex, and undeniable connections between the organisation, its ministers, and the system of human enslavement that shaped much of the world’s economy in the 18th and 19th centuries.

This was not merely a distant or accidental association — it involved a broad array of activities woven directly into the life, wealth, and structure of the Church itself. Records confirm that ministers and church leaders actively benefited from enslaved labour. Profits generated by enslaved people were used to fund major architectural features in church buildings, establish long‑standing financial legacies, and secure endowments. Even funds received from wealthy slave owners, donated explicitly for philanthropic and charitable causes, carried with them the weight of their origin.

The reach of this history extended far beyond Scotland’s shores. Documents point clearly to the presence of Church of Scotland ministers living and working on plantations across the Caribbean — in places like Jamaica, Grenada, and Guyana. There, they ministered to Scottish workers and settlers, but also lived alongside and engaged with the enslaved population, within a system that denied millions their freedom, dignity, and human rights.

Beyond the institution itself, this research paints a wider economic picture of 18th‑century Scotland. It demonstrates conclusively how the nation’s infrastructure, its growing financial systems, its banking networks, and its trade fortunes were intricately bound to the labour and suffering of enslaved people. The wealth that built cities, funded industries, and supported communities was, in very large part, wealth extracted through slavery.

Perhaps most importantly, this work helps us understand the mindset of the age. For generations, slavery was not seen as an abomination — it was accepted, normalised, and embedded in both the Church and wider society. It was a system supported by law, by commerce, and sadly, by religious institutions that should have stood for justice. Only over time, through growing awareness and moral challenge, did attitudes shift toward abolition and reform.

Today, by acknowledging and publishing this history, the Church of Scotland takes a vital step: facing the past openly. It is a reminder that understanding where we come from — even the painful parts — is the only way to build a fairer, more honest, and more inclusive future. You can read the full investigation and findings here: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about-us/departments/faith-action-programme-committees-and-departments/equality-diversity-and-inclusion-group/legacies-of-slavery