| March
marks the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery. Events
are planned across the country to commemorate the anniversary
on 24th March.
Suffolk
will be at the centre of the celebrations as two brothers,
prominent in the
anti-slavery movement, Thomas and John Clarkson, lived in
the county.
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The
People
John Clarkson, buried in St Mary’s Woodbridge, was
responsible for taking over 1,000 freed slaves from Nova
Scotia to Africa and became the first governor of Sierra
Leone. His memorial has recently been restored and a BBC2
docudrama about his life will be screened on 25th March.
Thomas
Clarkson devoted his whole life to the cause and is buried
in Playford. Thomas is one of six campaigners featured in
a set of commemorative stamps which will be issued by the
Royal Mail on 22nd March. |
John
Clarkson's Memorial |
Special
Events
Across the diocese, a number of events under the banner “Unlocking
Freedom” will mark the bicentenary. The St Nicholas
Centre Ipswich, played host to the opening night of “Stop
the Traffik” on 9th March. This national tour organised
by the charity World Vision brings together a global coalition
of organisations working halt the traffic in human beings
in the 21st century. The audience will be asked to add their
hand print to a freedom wall which will be taken around all
the events and will work its way to Downing Street www.stopthetraffik.org
. Later the church marquee at the Suffolk Show will pick up
the theme. |
Replenish - Stop the Traffik |
Special
Services
Elsewhere Bishop Richard will give the address at a special
service in St Mary’s Playford on 25th March. On the
same day, Cathedral Evensong will be devoted to the anniversary
with Terry Waite preaching and St Margaret’s Ipswich
host a celebration of African Gospel music by the Royal
School of Church Music.
If you
are aware of any events across the diocese this year then
please email lowena@stedmundsbury.anglican.org
as I am compiling a list of events for this page. |
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Links
The Church of England commemoration and resources www.makingourmark.org.uk
Stop the Traffik www.stopthetraffik.org
Set All Free www.setallfree.net |
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