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Christians from across the capital are preparing to converge on a South London church and Whitehall, as the final details are arranged for the staging of the Church of England’s Walk of Witness on Saturday 24th March to mark the Bicentenary of the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

One of the start points for walkers marking the landmark anniversary will be William Wilberforce’s church, Holy Trinity Clapham Common, where a short act of worship will take place at 1pm before walkers set off for Kennington Park led by Bishops from the Diocese of Southwark. The walkers from Clapham will join those starting from Whitehall earlier in the afternoon led by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, when the two groups will meet at the park for an open-air act of worship.

The Walk of Witness will weave down Clapham High Street, around the triangle at the junction with Lambeth Road and Stockwell Road, back onto Clapham Road and straight across the Oval and Camberwell junction into Kennington Park Road and then into the park.

Holy Trinity is renowned as being the home to the ‘Clapham Sect’, a group of Christians who gathered together at the beginning of the nineteenth century, sharing common views on the liberation of slaves and the reform of the penal system. The group's name originates from the area, where both William Wilberforce and Henry Thornton - the group’s two most influential leaders - lived and where many of the group's meetings were held. Their tireless campaign helped lead to the 1807 Act to Abolish the Slave Trade.

Walkers are welcome at Holy Trinity from 11.45am on the day of the anniversary event, when there will be a screening of the new film 'The Walk'. Produced for the Bible Society by acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Murray Watts, the film captures Wilberforce’s passion to change the lives of millions and resonates with issues of justice and slavery today.

The Rt Revd Tom Butler, Bishop of Southwark, comments: “Southwark Diocese was responsible for the motion that was passed at General Synod in February 2006 concerning the bi-centenary of the abolition of the Slave Trade, so we are delighted to host the Walk of Witness and the act of worship in Kennington Park on the 24th March. William Wilberforce worshipped at Holy Trinity Clapham and so it is fitting that the Southwark Walk of Witness should start from there. I urge you to come and join the Bishops of the Southwark Diocese at this important event.”

The event is designed as an opportunity to remember the lives of the millions of Africans lost on their journey on slave ships or through hard labour, and also to reflect on the wide-ranging legacies of the slave trade and modern forms of slavery. The Walk, organised by the Church of England’s Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns (CMEAC), aims to form a basis for the Church to move forward with a renewed thirst for justice.

The act of worship in Kennington Park will blend a range of performances - ranging from the choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields Girls’ School to Nu4rm, a gospel and jazz group comprising of ten singers and a five piece band – with a specially-written liturgy that will focus on remembrance, repentance and restoration. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York will each offer a reflection on the themes of the Walk, while the gathered crowd will sign postcards as part of a campaign organised by Anti-Slavery International calling for measures to better understand the Transatlantic Slave Trade, redress its legacies, and end modern day slavery.

A dedicated website, www.makingourmark.org.uk, contains full details of the routes, answers to frequently asked questions and the opportunity for people to sign up to join the walk.

Making our Mark is benefiting from funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The venture is also supported by Anglican mission agency USPG, who today continue to work with churches in the Caribbean and West Africa. Making our Mark is the Church of England’s national contribution to Set All Free, a project of Churches Together in England working to commemorate the bicentenary.

ENDS

Notes to editors
For requests for the Bishop of Southwark or one of his area bishops, please contact Wendy Robins, the Bishop of Southwark’s Press Officer tel 07831 694021

For further information on the Walk of Witness contact Ben Wilson at the Church of England Communications Office tel 020 7898 1326
 

Diocesan Communications Officer
Tel: 020-7939 9400
Mobile: 07831-694021
Fax: 020-7939 9468