First Church Freedom Festival 17-19th June 2022

We stood against slavery in the past –

we must act to stop it now

In 1786 Thomas McCabe, liberal thinker, humanitarian, radical Presbyterian, United Irishman, founder of Belfast Charitable Society and parishioner of First Church stopped the formation of a slave ship company in Belfast, saving our city from the mark of shame that hangs over Bristol, Glasgow and Liverpool. First Church in Rosemary St Belfast is proud of it’s history of radical liberal thought and with inequality more rife than ever in our society, we intend to highlight the problems of modern slavery, human trafficking, debt slavery, racism and homophobia.

First Church Freedom is a series of events to highlight the loss of freedom experienced by many in our society today. Talks, panels discussions, photographic exhibition and musical events focused on the subject of freedom will take place over the weekend of Juneteenth, which traditionally marks the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans in the United States. From Friday 17 to Sunday 19 June 2022, First Church Belfast, with Flourish NI, Christians Against Poverty and other organisations will highlight the plight of those unseen around us who live oppressed by debt, human trafficking, racism and homophobia.

Dr Aidan McQuade MBE, an expert in slavery will deliver the keynote talk on slavery past and present and the BBC’s Richard Yarr will be coordinating the musical events throughout the weekend.

Thomas McCabe would be the first to point out that slavery in many forms is still all around us, just below the surface out our comfortable lives; it’s time for the McCabe in all of us to stand up and challenge this. Everyone is very welcome to learn about those around us everyday who are denied the freedoms we take for granted and what we can all do to eradicate slavery from our city today.

Guest UserMay 7, 2022