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York Minster remembers William Wilberforce
Published: on 21st February 2007 by Alix Peacock in Press Releases
York Minster is to host a service to commemorate Yorkshire born parliamentarian William Wilberforce and the 200th Anniversary of the passing of the Slave Trade Abolition Bill. The Better Hour, will be held on Sunday 25th February 2007 at 2.00pm. The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York will be preaching at this special service. The Right Honourable William Hague, MP will also be in attendance.
The Better Hour will give thanks for the life of William Wilberforce and celebrate his work towards the passing of this momentous act. The service will include performances from the pioneering Riding Lights Theatre Company, the Trans-Global Drummers – an ensemble of drummers aged between 11 and 19, and Pocklington School Choir.
York Minster is also to host an exhibition between 25th February and 2nd March that will commemorate the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The exhibition, Free at Last, organised by the Centre for Global Education at York St John University will tell the story of the 18th Century Slave Trade and Contemporary Slavery. Free at Last will focus on York and Yorkshire’s involvement in the Slave Trade and in the movement towards its abolition 200 years ago.
Events to commemorate the Bicentenary will be happening across the Diocese of York throughout 2007. Contemporary issues of slavery will be discussed at the KC Stadium in Hull on Friday 23rd February between 9.30 and 16.30. The Wilberforce lectures will be given by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. The Archbishop of Canterbury will talk on Wilberforce and his Legacy on Tuesday 24th April at 19.00 in Hull City Hall. The Archbishop of York will talk on Freedom and Slavery on Tuesday 30th October at 19.00 in Hull City Hall. Entrance to the Wilberforce lectures is free but by ticket only. Tickets can be obtained from Hull City Hall Ticket Office, telephone 01482 226655.