Black Country News: Tribute to campaign preacher; WEST BROMWICH: Bishop remembered during events to mark abolition anniversary.Byline: By Adam Smith THE role of a Midland preacher in the abolition of slavery is being marked this month. Francis Asbury Francis Asbury (August 20, 1745 – March 31, 1816) was one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. Born at Hamstead Bridge, Staffordshire, England of Methodist parents, Asbury became a local preacher at eighteen and was ordained , who become America's first Methodist Bishop, lobbied the British Government along with the Earl of Dartmouth The title of Earl of Dartmouth was created in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1711 for William Legge, 2nd Baron Dartmouth, who was then Secretary of State for the Southern Department. to end the slave trade slave trade Capturing, selling, and buying of slaves. Slavery has existed throughout the world from ancient times, and trading in slaves has been equally universal. Slaves were taken from the Slavs and Iranians from antiquity to the 19th century, from the sub-Saharan . And to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the trade, events will be held at his Newton Road home in Great Barr during Black History Month in October, along with an exhibition at West Bromwich Town Hall West Bromwich Town Hall is a Grade II listed town hall in West Bromwich, West Midlands, England. It is part of the Walk West Bromwich Heritage Trail. The West Bromwich Town Improvement Commissioners (1854-1882) purchased prime land, previously part of West Bromwich Heath, . The Sandwell Slavery Remembrance will be launched by choir Dreems and poet Akila Jeffers at a free event at the town hall at 12.30pm, on International Slavery Day, August 23. Sandwell Council's culture and leisure boss, Coun Linda Horton, said: "The anniversary offers us a chance to commemorate people whose lives were torn apart by slavery and acknowledge the historic links between slavery and industry and commerce, which helped to create some of Sandwell's wealth. "Sandwell has a long tradition of anti-racism and there will also be a chance to highlight the role played by Sandwell figures in slavery abolition." The scheme is being funded by the European Regional Development Fund “ERDF” redirects here. For eRDF, see Embedded RDF. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is a fund allocated by the European Union. Scope and Sandwell Council's Children and Young People's Services and Art Service. Francis Asbury was born at Hamstead Bridge in 1745 and lived at Newton Road before becoming a preacher at 18 and being ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. four years later. In 1771, he volunteered to go to America and travelled across the country on horseback giving sermons. He eventually became the head of the Methodist Episcopal Church The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784. Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke were the first bishops. of the USA. He campaigned for the abolition of slavery on both sides of the Atlantic when it was an unfashionable cause but lived to see it abolished in his country of birth in 1807. CAPTION(S): HONOUR... arts service manager Garry Morris with Coun Linda Horton at Bishop Asbury's cottage in Great Barr. |
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