Service planned to mark bicentenary of end of slave trade
People are being urged to pack the Cathedral for a service to celebrate the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade.
On March 25, 1807, the slave trade was abolished in the British colonies including Bermuda — a move which ultimately led to the outlawing of slavery itself.
To mark the 200th anniversary, people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds are invited to the service featuring presentations from community leaders and prayers and hymns symbolising the anti-slavery movement.
It comes as support continues to grow for The Royal Gazette's Break The Chains campaign, which asks people to sign an on-line petition launched by Anti-Slavery International to mark the anniversary.
More than 17,000 people have the petition, which demands world leaders take action to help free at least 12 million modern day slaves.
Last night, the Bishop of Last night, the Bishop of Bermuda, the Rt. Rev. Ewan Ratteray called for everyone to remember the significance of March 25.
"This anniversary marks the beginning of the end of slavery," said Bishop Ratteray. "It was a necessary first step.
"The people who achieved it were people who didn't have to do anything, but wanted to make a difference. We should celebrate what they did and give thanks.
"Slavery still isn't over even today. The Break The Chains campaign has been making very clear that it's still very much alive. People have got to realise that action needs to be taken today to end slavery, in the same way action was taken 200 years ago.
"People of Bermuda have to come out and share in this experience, whatever ethnic group they come from. If one person hurts, we all hurt.
"This is especially true in Bermuda, where the issue of race has reared its head again. We need to confront this and deal with it openly. Now is an excellent time to do that because it's very much on people's minds.
"In some small way, we hope the service can help do that."
Bishop Ratteray said the service was open to people of all religious backgrounds.
"In the early days, when they were fighting for abolition, people from all kinds of religious backgrounds were involved, whether Quakers, Methodists or Anglicans. Christianity is all about loving your neighbour."
Bishop Ratteray has issued a full statement to this newspaper (see Page 4). In it he praises the efforts of those who helped end the slave trade.
"It was in 1807 that this momentous event occurred after the strenuous efforts of many people for a number of years to achieve the ending of an evil trade in men, women and children," his statement says.
"It took some very courageous Christians along with others, who realised that slavery was an abomination, to bring about a radical change in the society in which they lived."
He also pays tribute to Mary Prince, the Bermudian slave whose book, published in England in 1831, helped unify the anti-slavery movement
During the service, hymns will include Amazing Grace and And Can It Be, both of which symbolised the movement.
It is being organised by the Mr. Nick Dill, pastor at St. John's Church, Pembroke. Mr. Dill is a committee member of Imagine Bermuda 2009, a community initiative aiming to lay the foundations for the 400th anniversary of the settling of the Island.
Mr. Dill said last night: "It is so important to recognise this anniversary. It would be great to have the Cathedral full."
Imagine Bermuda co-chairman Glenn Fubler will be giving a talk about the way forward for communities today.
To sign the petition, go to www.antislavery.org/2007/actionsign and fill in your details. To comment on the campaign, call 278-0153 or email tsmith[AT]royalgazette.bm
Slavery service
