Bishop of Durham - Durham Cathedral
Meet the presenter
Historical novelist Philippa Gregory turns detective as she presents 'the hidden slave trail'. Follow the path of her own journey, from history studies to today's acclaimed writer in about the presenter.
Taking it further
Inspired by the history of England's northern slave past ? Like to learn more about history? The Open University has a range of history courses. Take a look at our selection of courses.
Even the Church of England was directly involved in the slave trade.
Thomas Thurlow, Bishop of Durham was directly associated with the slave trade and as such was one of the Bishops who sat on the Society for the Propagation of The Gospel Abroad, which owned a plantation on Codrington Estate in Barbados. The mortality rate among slaves on this plantation was unusually high. 40% within three years of arrival died and they were branded with the word "society" using a red hot iron. The Church continued to own the plantation until 1833 and several clergymen were compensated when the slave trade was finally abolished.
Hands on History - Primary Sources
The local records office in Oxford was used to find the information of the Church's involvement with the slave trade. Philippa found the plantation accounts, a list of the slaves held on the plantations and also a letter which describes the state of life in the plantation.
Content last updated: 21/09/2006
