The Bones of Contention: A Church Confronts its Past

The debate over what to do with Edward Colston’s remains in Bristol’s All Saints church revolves around the symbolic weight they carry, rather than their physical fate. As the diocese considers repurposing the church as a community space, the question of whether to leave Colston’s remains undisturbed or rebury them elsewhere has sparked a wider conversation about confronting troubled pasts.

The Very Rev Mandy Ford, dean of Bristol, acknowledges that there are different understandings of the theological and spiritual significance of human remains. However, given the overwhelming evidence of Colston’s involvement in slavery, it’s hard to argue with her assertion that his burial place should be preserved as a matter of Christian conscience.

Ford’s expertise in reinterment, gained from her involvement in the Leicester project to rebury Richard III, is certainly relevant to this situation. But what’s striking is not just the practical considerations but also the emotional and psychological ones. For many people in Bristol, particularly those from communities directly affected by transatlantic slavery, Colston’s presence is a painful reminder of the city’s dark history.

The potential for All Saints to become a place of truth-telling, reconciliation, and learning is immense. As Ford noted, this could be part of a broader effort to build a better future in Bristol through honest engagement with its past. The diocese has been consulting with locals, including those from white working-class areas who may not have been aware of the church’s existence.

Views on what to do with All Saints are varied and understandable. Some see it as an opportunity for healing and redemption, while others are wary of revisiting painful memories. Rev Anjali Kanagaratnam observed that there has been a “huge range of views” from those who want nothing to do with the building to those eager to reclaim its space.

As Bristol contemplates the future of All Saints, it’s essential to consider what this means for other cities grappling with their own histories of slavery and oppression. The story of Edward Colston’s remains serves as a powerful reminder that we cannot erase our pasts without acknowledging them first. By preserving his burial place, the church in Bristol is creating a space for difficult conversations about the past.

In doing so, they may be paving the way for a more authentic and inclusive understanding of their city’s identity. Ford said, “I think one can see it as part of a much bigger picture, which I think is really important if Bristol’s going to have a peaceful and flourishing future as a civic space and as a city.” The fate of All Saints church will undoubtedly be decided in the months ahead, but for now, it serves as a poignant symbol of the ongoing struggle to come to terms with our collective past.