Church hosts service of "remembrance and repair" as Jamaica pursues reparatory justice 
 

New Park Road Baptist Church in South London hosted Carry Wi Story, Lest We Forget (400 Years), a service bringing together remembrance, worship and a commitment to justice and repair

Organised by the Racial Justice Advocacy Forum (RJAF) in partnership with the Jamaican High Commission, the event on Sunday 6 September gathered church leaders, activists and public representatives as Jamaica prepares to take a significant step in its pursuit of reparatory justice.

Among those present was The Hon. Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (pictured above), who is leading a government delegation to the UK.

The service took place close to the anniversary of the 1781 voyage of the Zong, when 132 enslaved Africans were murdered at sea so that slave owners could claim insurance payments.

Worshippers also reflected on the witness and sacrifice of Sam Sharpe, the Baptist deacon whose leadership of the 1831 rebellion in Jamaica became a defining moment in the struggle against slavery.

The service highlighted the important role that Christian faith has played in the pursuit of freedom and justice. Scripture readings included Revelation 21:1-8, read in Jamaican Patois, and Luke 19:1-10. These were accompanied by reflections on the lives of Sam Sharpe and Mary Prince, whose stories continue to challenge us to confront injustice and seek a better future.

The sermon was preached by the Revd Karl Johnson, the former General Secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union and current chair of the Baptist World Alliance.



Others involved in the services were Bishop Mike Royal of Churches Together in England and the Revd Nathan McGuire, minister of New Park Road Baptist Church. Music and storytelling were led by Sharlene Monique, who served as the griot, helping the congregation engage with the theme of remembering and carrying forward the stories of those who suffered under slavery.

The service also marked an important moment in Jamaica’s campaign for reparatory justice. On Monday 7 September, the delegation submitted a petition to King Charles III. As Jamaica’s Head of State, the King is being asked to refer three legal questions concerning the transatlantic slave trade to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

The questions seek clarification on whether the enslavement of Africans in Jamaica was lawful under English common law, whether it breached international law, and whether the UK Government has a legal responsibility to provide redress for the harms caused by slavery. If accepted, this would be the first time a Commonwealth nation has used this legal route in pursuit of reparatory justice.

Throughout the service, speakers reflected on the responsibility of churches and institutions not simply to remember history but to engage honestly with its continuing impact. The call for repair was presented as a matter of Christian witness, accountability and reconciliation.

As part of the wider programme of events, the Sam Sharpe Project announced that the 2026 Sam Sharpe Lecture will be delivered by the Revd Merlyn Hyde Riley, General Secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union. Speaking at the Houses of Parliament on 27 October and in Bristol on 28 October, she will explore the theme Subverting Empire: Lessons from Sam Sharpe on Institutional Injustice and Church Responsibility.

The Jamaican delegation’s visit will also include discussions with the British Museum concerning the repatriation of Jamaican artefacts, alongside a number of meetings with political leaders and policymakers in Westminster.