This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6490625.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Archbishops to lead slavery walk Archbishops leading slavery walk
(about 1 hour later)
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are to lead a procession through London to mark the 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of the slave trade. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are leading a procession through London to mark the 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of the slave trade.
Dr Rowan Williams and Dr John Sentamu will be joined by foreign dignitaries and leaders of other churches for the Walk of Witness. Dr Rowan Williams and Dr John Sentamu have been joined by foreign dignitaries and leaders of other churches for the Walk of Witness.
Dr Williams said it was a way Anglicans could try to heal "historic injustices inflicted in the name of the Church".Dr Williams said it was a way Anglicans could try to heal "historic injustices inflicted in the name of the Church".
Last year the Church of England made a formal apology for its role in slavery.Last year the Church of England made a formal apology for its role in slavery.
'Hope, not anger''Hope, not anger'
The Church held slaves on plantations in the Caribbean.The Church held slaves on plantations in the Caribbean.
An amendment "recognising the damage done" to those enslaved was backed overwhelmingly by the General Synod in February 2006.An amendment "recognising the damage done" to those enslaved was backed overwhelmingly by the General Synod in February 2006.
We need to rediscover a new faith-based movement for social and economic justice Dr John SentamuArchbishop of York Church sorry for slave trade The Church said the archbishops wanted people to reflect on the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade and use the anniversary to tackle the impact of its legacies, including "examples of human trafficking and oppression across the globe".We need to rediscover a new faith-based movement for social and economic justice Dr John SentamuArchbishop of York Church sorry for slave trade The Church said the archbishops wanted people to reflect on the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade and use the anniversary to tackle the impact of its legacies, including "examples of human trafficking and oppression across the globe".
The bicentenary of the 1807 act that banned the slave trade in the British Empire falls on Sunday.The bicentenary of the 1807 act that banned the slave trade in the British Empire falls on Sunday.
Dr Williams writes in the walk's programme: "This important anniversary, when we recall both the shameful history of the slave trade and its modern legacies, presents us with an opportunity to open up that past to the healing power of Christ."Dr Williams writes in the walk's programme: "This important anniversary, when we recall both the shameful history of the slave trade and its modern legacies, presents us with an opportunity to open up that past to the healing power of Christ."
Dr Sentamu added: "We need to rediscover a new faith-based movement for social and economic justice, which has hope - rather than anger - at its core."Dr Sentamu added: "We need to rediscover a new faith-based movement for social and economic justice, which has hope - rather than anger - at its core."
Yokes and chainsYokes and chains
The walk will go from Whitehall, past the Houses of Parliament, and across Lambeth Bridge to Kennington Park, where there will be a service of commemoration. The walk is going from Whitehall, past the Houses of Parliament, and across Lambeth Bridge to Kennington Park, where there will be a service of commemoration.
Among the walkers will be a group who have walked 250 miles from Hull - the parliamentary seat of the abolitionist MP William Wilberforce - in yokes and chains.Among the walkers will be a group who have walked 250 miles from Hull - the parliamentary seat of the abolitionist MP William Wilberforce - in yokes and chains.
At Lambeth Pier, the archbishops will lead prayers while holding a wreath marked 2,704 - the number of ships that left London destined to carry slaves during the transatlantic slave trade.At Lambeth Pier, the archbishops will lead prayers while holding a wreath marked 2,704 - the number of ships that left London destined to carry slaves during the transatlantic slave trade.
The Archbishop of the West Indies, Drexel Gomez, who will symbolically release the Hull walkers, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he believes an apology is in order.The Archbishop of the West Indies, Drexel Gomez, who will symbolically release the Hull walkers, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he believes an apology is in order.
He said: "We have to acknowledge our past if we are to build a future, and such acknowledgement will pay attention to the degradation and the inhumane ways in which persons have acted in the past, which forms part of our history and heritage whether we like it or not.He said: "We have to acknowledge our past if we are to build a future, and such acknowledgement will pay attention to the degradation and the inhumane ways in which persons have acted in the past, which forms part of our history and heritage whether we like it or not.
"By acknowledging what's happened in the past we own up to what has gone wrong and chart a way forward for us to avoid such acts for the future.""By acknowledging what's happened in the past we own up to what has gone wrong and chart a way forward for us to avoid such acts for the future."
No apologyNo apology
However, Christopher Madres-Smedley, a descendant of plantation owner John Pinney, says he does not propose to apologise.However, Christopher Madres-Smedley, a descendant of plantation owner John Pinney, says he does not propose to apologise.
He said: "I feel very strongly that an apology is a great human act, and a very good act, but you apologise for what you have done.He said: "I feel very strongly that an apology is a great human act, and a very good act, but you apologise for what you have done.
"Slavery stopped 200 years ago, that's quite a lot before I was born, I am therefore in no position to apologise.""Slavery stopped 200 years ago, that's quite a lot before I was born, I am therefore in no position to apologise."
Some 21m Africans were transported across the Atlantic by Europeans during the slave trade.Some 21m Africans were transported across the Atlantic by Europeans during the slave trade.
The wreath will be transported by boat towards the docks before being taken to Westminster Abbey for Tuesday's national service to mark the bicentenary.The wreath will be transported by boat towards the docks before being taken to Westminster Abbey for Tuesday's national service to mark the bicentenary.