Thought for the Week with Canon Michael Storey: All people are equal in the eyes of God
2017 was The Year of Culture in Hull. So, in that year, a friend and I went along to Hull; it is always worth a visit.
We looked at William Wilberforce's statue and had a tour of his museum. He was much influenced by Charles Wesley and, especially, Christian ethics, in particular the issue of slavery.
He decided to use his faith by becoming a member of Parliament, which he became, aged 21 in 1780.
In those distant days, slavery was very much part of the seemingly right of various nations, of all faiths, to 'ship' East Africans to the West Indies.
The sugar plantations benefitted, with this cheap 'slavery' labour.
William Wilberforce believed, as a Christian, that all people are equal in the eyes of God.
Through his influence the trading in slaves was made illegal in the British Empire in 1807.
The abolition of slavery itself became law on July 30, 1833, just before he died.
Slavery still exists in 'hidden' forms.
We can all help to raise the standards of many people working on cheap labour in many countries today – by buying goods which bear a Fairtrade label.