On the 30th July the church remembers the work of William Wilberforce, Olaudah Equiano and Thomas Clarkson, who campaigned for the abolition of slavery in England.
In recent months we have had cause to remember that the evils underlying slavery- racial prejudice, a disrespect for the freedom of others, a preference for wealth and privilege over justice, still remain in our society.
As Kath Johnson was discussing with Paul Wilcox recently (see the interview here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/
As we pray today, giving thanks to God for the freedom which we enjoy, let’s also commit ourselves to actively working- and if need be changing our behaviour- to end slavery for the estimated 40 million people living in slavery today. These people are our brothers and sisters. And the call for freedom is just as urgent as it was when this medallion was first struck- over 200 years ago in 1788.