Church of England sheds light on ‘shameful’ slave trade ties


              Church archivist Giles Mandelbrote looks at the handwritten letter from 1723, left, – whose author says they are remaining anonymous for fear they will "swing upon the gallows tree" if exposed, at the exhibition in the Lambeth Palace Library, in London, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. Three centuries ago, an enslaved person in Virginia wrote to a leader of the Church of England, begging to be released from "this cruel bondage." There was no reply from the church, which at the time was accumulating a tidy profit from the trans-Atlantic slave trade. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
            
              Church archivist Giles Mandelbrote looks at a "slave bible" published in 1808, center, at the exhibition in the Lambeth Palace Library, in London, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. A letter written by an enslaved person in Virginia 300 years ago seeking freedom is part of a new exhibition exploring the Church of England's historic links to slavery. It's part of efforts by the Anglican church to reckon with its historic complicity in slavery.  (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
            
              A letter to John Newton, the captain of a slave ship, from a trader in the late 18th century, left, and a "slave bible" published in 1808, right, are displayed at the exhibition in the Lambeth Palace Library, in London, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. A letter written by an enslaved person in Virginia 300 years ago seeking freedom is part of a new exhibition exploring the Church of England's historic links to slavery. It's part of efforts by the Anglican church to reckon with its historic complicity in slavery. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
            
              The handwritten letter from 1723 – whose author says they are remaining anonymous for fear they will "swing upon the gallows tree" if exposed, is displayed at the exhibition in the Lambeth Palace Library, in London, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. A letter written by an enslaved person in Virginia 300 years ago seeking freedom is part of a new exhibition exploring the Church of England's historic links to slavery. It's part of efforts by the Anglican church to reckon with its historic complicity in slavery. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
            
              Church archivist Giles Mandelbrote introduces the exhibition of documents exploring the institution's role in the slave trade, at the Lambeth Palace Library, in London, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. A letter written by an enslaved person in Virginia 300 years ago seeking freedom is part of a new exhibition exploring the Church of England's historic links to slavery. It's part of efforts by the Anglican church to reckon with its historic complicity in slavery. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
            
              A book written in 1680 by Anglican clergyman Morgan Godwyn, who argued endorsing the slave trade amounted to making a deal with the Devil, is displayed at the exhibition in the Lambeth Palace Library, in London, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. A letter written by an enslaved person in Virginia 300 years ago seeking freedom is part of a new exhibition exploring the Church of England's historic links to slavery. It's part of efforts by the Anglican church to reckon with its historic complicity in slavery. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
            
              Church archivist Giles Mandelbrote introduces the exhibition of documents exploring the institution's role in the slave trade, at the Lambeth Palace Library, in London, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. A letter written by an enslaved person in Virginia 300 years ago seeking freedom is part of a new exhibition exploring the Church of England's historic links to slavery. It's part of efforts by the Anglican church to reckon with its historic complicity in slavery. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
            
              An account books recording the profits of human bondage, center, is displayed at the exhibition in the Lambeth Palace Library, in London, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. A letter written by an enslaved person in Virginia 300 years ago seeking freedom is part of a new exhibition exploring the Church of England's historic links to slavery. It's part of efforts by the Anglican church to reckon with its historic complicity in slavery. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
            
              A "slave bible" published in 1808, right, with all references to freedom from slavery removed, is displayed at the exhibition in the Lambeth Palace Library, in London, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. A letter written by an enslaved person in Virginia 300 years ago seeking freedom is part of a new exhibition exploring the Church of England's historic links to slavery. It's part of efforts by the Anglican church to reckon with its historic complicity in slavery. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
            
              The handwritten letter from 1723 – whose author says they are remaining anonymous for fear they will "swing upon the gallows tree" if exposed, is displayed at the exhibition in the Lambeth Palace Library, in London, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. A letter written by an enslaved person in Virginia 300 years ago seeking freedom is part of a new exhibition exploring the Church of England's historic links to slavery. It's part of efforts by the Anglican church to reckon with its historic complicity in slavery. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Church of England sheds light on ‘shameful’ slave trade ties