Sam Wilberforce, the 3 x great grandson of Britain’s leading anti-slavery campaigner, is one of the speakers at a special church service in Melplash, near Bridport, on Sunday, December 1.

The anti-slavery service, Sing A Song for Freedom, coincides with Advent Sunday and marks the United Nations International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on December 2.

The church was built in the 1840s on the profits of dismantling the slave trade.

Beaminster Team Vicar Rev Canon Jo Neary, who will be leading the service, said: “Melplash church has a connection to slavery abolition through a man named James Bandinel, who was a civil servant who worked as a clerk in the Foreign Office and was the right-hand man of William Wilberforce, who steered the anti- slavery Bill through Parliament.”

William WilberforceWilliam Wilberforce (Image: Supplied) Bandinel’s father was the rector at nearby Netherbury, whose great desire was to build a church at Melplash.

So the civil servant bought land in Melplash to build the church with government money he received for his work around slavery abolition.

Reverend Jo Neary Reverend Jo Neary (Image: Supplied) Rev Jo Neary said: “The service will recall the historic connection with abolition and also consider modern slavery and shine a light on the continued patterns of racism and discrimination around the world and our desire to live better as humans, valuing everyone's freedom and equality.

“Dr Peter Nardone will play the organ and there will be songs to sing including Amazing Grace, We Shall Overcome and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.

“Salway Ash school will join in with reflections on modern slavery and the Rev Tim Biles will speak, alongside Sam Wilberforce.

"The service will be led by Rev Canon Jo Neary, Team Vicar in the Beaminster Team.

“Coming together to remember the abolition of slavery and to consider the legacy of slavery is important work.

"And there is still work to be done. Together with the children at Salway Ash school, we have explored how people are still exploited and held captive in modern slavery.

“Through this service and act of remembering we will also commit ourselves to equality and justice for all humans, so that everyone is free."

The service, which starts at 11am and is expected to last less than an hour, will be followed by a light lunch provided by the Taj Mahal restaurant in Bridport.

The event is free but a collection will be made for Anti-Slavery International.

For more information please contact Rev Jo Neary revneary@gmail.com 07939 062409 or Peter Jones on 07771 810381