It is believed that John Wesley was reading the book by Olaudah Equiano (aka Gustavus Vassa, c.1745–1797) while on his deathbed; a book by an enslaved Nigerian prince who, by his own learning and enterprise, bought his own freedom. Equiano wrote his book to share his story and travelled widely to promote it and expose the scandal of the transatlantic slave trade. Wesley read the book to inform himself, and six days before he died, he wrote a letter to William Wilberforce, urging him to sustain his campaign to abolish the slave trade. Wilberforce was inspired by Equiano.
Keen walkers are being sought to test parts of a new pilgrimage route designed by a Past President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd Dr Inderjit Bhogal, to be launched in honour of this pioneering Black abolitionist and aimed at encouraging conversations about faith and justice, equality and inclusion.
The 80-mile Equiano Way is due to open next March and runs from Sheffield to Hull via the Epworth Old Rectory. Mr Bhogal and Sarah Maltby, the manager of Epworth Old Rectory, are asking walkers to scope sections of the route ahead of its opening. The trail currently passes through a variety of different communities, urban landscapes and follows the Humber estuary.
The supporting signage, leaflets and online content will aim to encourage engagement, discussion and spiritual reflection along the way about our hidden histories and the injustices that echo down the centuries as a result.
To find out more, view the proposed route and discover how you can be part of establishing this unusual, new pilgrimage route, visit: