Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Wednesday, 11 February 2026

The Spire Project


Another friend sent me today this online article from Psephizo about the virtue-signalling Church Commissioners Spire Project for slave trade reparations.

Anyone who follows the news will be aware that this scheme has attracted a lot of grass roots criticism both for its effect on the funding of the Church of England at national and, more particularly, at parish level, and because of the secrecy which has surrounded the decision-making process. This week these matters were being raised in the General Synod, with the Bishop of Salisbury, as Deputy Chairman of the Church Commissioners trying to bat them away whilst giving no new information.

The whole project is indicative of the woke state of mind of the leadership of the CofE these days under its ‘Most Reverend Mother in God’ [sic], the one-time national District Nurse.

The very basis of the whole scheme is effectively deconstructed - not least in demonstrable historical errors - in a set of linked pieces in the article I was sent, and which can be seen at The problems with the C of E’s ‘reparations’ project (‘Spire’)

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