Would you like to be part of the idea to create The Equiano Way which will be a route between Sheffield and Hull, via villages and towns like Epworth? The route will honour and re-tell the story of Olaudah Equiano. He was an African Prince who was enslaved at the age of eleven. By his own education and endeavours Olaudah bought his freedom.
Olaudah wrote a book telling the story of his life and experiences in enslavement, and went on a book tour in Britain to tell his story and promote his book. The book strengthened the anti-slavery and abolitionist movements, and influenced William Wilberforce.
The places Olaudah visited included Hull. He came to Sheffield, in August 1790, a visit arranged by the Rev Thomas Bryant, a local Methodist Minister. In Sheffield Olaudah had the support of radicals like James Montgomery, and Wincobank based May Anne Rawson who formed the Sheffield Ladies Association for the Universal Abolition of Slavery.
John Wesley was reading Olaudah’s book in his final days, and refers to the book in a letter to William Wilberforce written on 24 February 1791, aged 88, six days before he died, urging Wilberforce to sustain his anti-slavery campaign.
Equiano Way will tread some of Olaudah’s route. It will pass Epworth, and the area remembered as the home of some of the “Pilgrim Fathers” who left Britain to escape religious persecution and find sanctuary elsewhere 400 years ago.
Completing the Walk will require support from individuals, organisations and local authorities along the way.
If you would like to assist, please get in touch with me through my website at www.inderjitbhogal.com
Rev Dr Inderjit Bhogal, Minister, Wincobank Chapel, former president of the British Methodist Conference, founder of City of Sanctuary, originator of Wilberforce Way