Animal rights campaigners want the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, to phase out using animal-derived materials in churches, including leather-bound Bibles, beeswax candles and wool vestments.
In an open letter to the Archbishop-designate, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called for what it described as a “modern and compassionate” approach to church furnishings and traditions.
The group said that leather Bible covers ought to be replaced with plant-based alternatives, while beeswax candles ought to be substituted with soy wax versions.
According to the letter, “candles symbolising Jesus Christ would higher represent hope for bees” if constituted of plant-based wax. PETA claimed that bees “can feel stress and pain” and alleged that “to acquire beeswax, bees are intensively farmed, and queen bees’ wings are sometimes cut off to disable them”.
The organisation also criticised using wool in clergy garments, saying that the Church should adopt fabrics comparable to linen or plant wool. “Gentle, clever sheep, who represent God’s people, deserve higher than being thrown around wool sheds, stood on, punched and kicked,” the statement read.
The proposal has divided opinion amongst church members and conservationists. While supporters say the changes would align Christian worship with modern environmental ethics, critics argue that the sturdiness and symbolism of traditional materials mustn’t be evenly discarded.
Leather, particularly, has been valued for its longevity, with many leather-bound Bibles surviving for hundreds of years. Some vegan leather alternatives are considered less durable and fewer biodegradable because of their synthetic content.
A Church of England spokesperson said that while the Church “continues to explore ways to modernise and make worship more sustainable”, any future changes “would wish to respect each theological tradition and practical considerations”.
Dame Sarah Mullally, currently Bishop of London, is ready to be formally installed as Archbishop of Canterbury in March 2026.
The debate over ethical materials adds to ongoing discussions throughout the Church about modernising points of worship.
Earlier this yr, the General Synod explored the use of other ingredients for Holy Communion to accommodate those with wheat or alcohol sensitivities, though current canon law still requires the presence of some wheat and fermented grape content.
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