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set
all free was established by Churches Together in
England to commemorate the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade
Act in 2007 in ways which challenge modern society to engage with Christian
values. The project aims to highlight how the abolitionists’ values
can transform our relationships on an individual, community and society
level.
Staffing
and funding - set
all free had
the following staff:
Richard Reddie,
Project Director (full-time)
Kate
Yates, Project Officer (part-time)
Lloyd Evering,
Web Master (part-time)
The set
all free project
was independently financed by the churches, charities and donations; it
received no funds from Government or the Heritage Lottery Fund. |
We are
focusing on three main elements to describe the work of set all free:
REMEMBER
• the horrors
of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
• the
abolitionists – Black,
white, male, female
• the
role of the Church in both slavery and abolition
REFLECT
On the consequences of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and slavery,
e.g.
• racism
• under-development
• the
impact on commerce
RESPOND
• to legacies of slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
• by taking action to end modern forms of slavery
• by working to
effect healing and reconciliation
© National Maritime Museum |
25
March 2007 marked 200 years to the day that a Parliamentary Bill was
passed to abolish the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the British colonies. |
© Peter
Pattisson |
Although
slavery was finally abolished in the Western Hemisphere in 1888, it
is estimated that there are tens of millions of people still in forms
of servitude today. |
Freedom for
enslaved Africans did not take place in 1807. Slavery itself was not
abolished in the British colonies until 1834, with full emancipation following
in 1838. Slavery in the US ended in 1865, and in Brazil in 1888.
- 25 March 1807 – the
Act to abolish the slave trade became law in the British
colonies
- 29 August 1833 – the
Act to abolish slavery was passed, with effect from 1834
and providing for up to six years' 'apprentice'
- 1 August 1838 – enslaved
men, women and children in the British colonies became free
- 21st century – the
legacies of the slave trade and slavery live on through racism, underdevelopment
and contemporary forms of enslavement
Core
Themes
set all
free is
focusing on slavery – both historic and contemporary – and
encouraging Church and society to be as prophetic and courageous as the black
and white abolitionists of yesteryear in tackling the legacies of transatlantic
slavery such as racism, cultural loss and poverty in Africa and the Diaspora,
as well as modern forms of slavery such as bonded labour, people and sex trafficking
and migrant working. Using the ethos that ‘the truth sets all free’ set
all free will provide an opportunity for an honest retelling of the history
of Britain’s part in the slave trade and facilitate an honest dialogue
on healing, reconciliation and reparations. It will also explore the role of
the Church during transatlantic slavery and find out why many denominations
turned a blind eye to the plight of enslaved Africans during centuries of Transatlantic
slavery. By doing this set all free will draw comparisons to modern forms of
exploitation which are legal (as transatlantic slavery was at the time), but
morally reprehensible and call on the church to take action.
set all free has produced materials to make everyone aware of the significance
of the bicentenary and help them to use this event as the basis for reflection,
change and action. The project aims to engage people in sharing our vision for
2007 and allow them to participate in events that make a real difference both
in their lives and those for whom slavery and enslavement is still a reality.
The project had
a clear message for 2007 which promotes and supports theological reflection
on redemption, justice, reconciliation and reparation. set all free is
liaising with government, statutory bodies and community groups and is eager
for a faith-based dimension to all aspects of the commemoration.
Partnership is at
the heart of the set all free agenda and it is willing to work with those
who are comfortable with its explicitly Christian ethos. It sustains a network
of over 500 groups and individuals – many
of whom have an interest in commemorating the bicentenary to some degree.
set
all free worked
to co-ordinate events for 2007 to ensure best practice, strategic planning
and the avoidance of duplication.
set all free
Churches Together in England: http://www.cte.org.uk
27 Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9HH
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7529 8141
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7529 8134
info@setallfree.net
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