What is Project Spire and why is it dividing the Church of England?

The archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has defended the project in response to a letter from Tory critics. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

The new archbishop of Canterbury has defended Project Spire, the Church of England’s £100m project to address its historical connections to transatlantic slavery.

Responding to a letter sent by 24 Conservative MPs and four Conservative peers, Dame Sarah Mullally, who wa inaugurated last week, said the church had a “calling to confront historic justice”.