Impact of Christianity on Slavery in the UK

The influences of Christianity can be seen in regional regeneration, various charitable acts, community outreach, politics and in securing the right to freedom of speech and religion throughout the United Kingdom.

One of areas most impacted by Christianity is seen in the slave trade throughout Europe. William Wilberforce was a British politician and philanthropist who began his career in parliament 1784. In 1785 he experienced a conversion and became a Christian which began to change the way he thought and lived his life. His conversion made him realize the error of his past ways and gave him resolve to live the rest of his life in work and service to God.

In 1787 Wilberforce encountered a group of men who were anti-slave activist and soon, became one of the leading abolitionists in England. Seeing in justice he felt was against God’s principles, he went on to head the parliamentary campaign against British Slave Trade and saw it through to passage in 1807.

William was also concerned about the moral and social reform of his country. At Wilberforce’s suggestion, along with two other men, that the Archbishop of Canterbury requested King George III to issue a proclamation for the Discouragement of Vice in 1787. The idea being to combat the rising tide of various vices and immorality.

Wilberforce’s Christian beliefs gave him a strong sense of protecting not only people, but God’s creatures as well. He was a founding member of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is still in existence today as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Although in ill health by now, Wilberforce continued to fight for his causes and in 1833 Wilberforce supported another campaign that would lead to the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833 and this Act led to complete abolition of slaves. Three days after passing the Act, Wilberforce died leaving behind a legacy that continues to impact Britain today.