C of E warned over influence of ‘extreme views’ after cuts to anti-racism funding

Arun Arora, the bishop of Kirkstall, said extreme views from abroad and at home were starting to leak into the C of E’s decision-making bodies. Photograph: Church of England

The Church of England is susceptible to the influence of “extreme views from abroad and at home”, a bishop has warned after church officials made a “brutal” cut in funding to tackle racism.

There were people in the C of E who were “deeply resistant to any funding for racial justice”, said Arun Arora, the bishop of Kirkstall and joint leader of the church’s racial justice work.