THE Church of Scotland became the latest institution to issue a formal apology for its historic role in slavery at its general assembly in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Acknowledging that some members of the church had not only benefited from indirect and direct participation in the trade in human beings but also attempted to offer theological justification for it, the Kirk said it was “grieved beyond telling by the extraordinary suffering we have inflicted — through our actions and our inaction — on our brothers and sisters.”

Presenting the apology to the assembly, its former moderator the Very Rev Sally Foster-Fulton (pictured with John Swinney) said: “The history we consider today continues to shape our world in ways we cannot ignore.

“Its consequences touch communities near and far, influencing the structures, attitudes and inequalities that persist around us.

“Naming that is not about blame but about faithfulness — about recognising that healing begins where truth is spoken.”

Welcoming the move, United Church in Jamaica & the Cayman Islands general secretary Rose Wedderburn said: “While the process has understandably evoked deep emotions, the effort invested in truth-telling and honest engagement is worthwhile.”