Abolition lecture in Cullybackey

The talk, entitled ‘The Abolition Church: Covenanters and Antislavery in America’ and will be delivered by Dr William Roulston.

Dr Roulston is a Member of Council of the Presbyterian Historical Society and the Convener of the Reformed Presbyterian Church History Committee.

His talk will examine how Covenanters in America met the challenge of slavery in the early 19 century.

In 1800 the Reformed Presbytery ruled that no-one who owned slaves could be a member of the church. The stand that the Covenanters took on this issue was stronger than that of virtually every other denomination in America and was certainly in advance of the other Presbyterian churches at this time.

The talk will also show that there was a strong local connection in the fight against slavery.

William Gibson, who was one of the founders of the Reformed Presbytery of America, had been the minister of the Covenanter Church in Cullybackey until he was forced to escape to the United States on the eve of the 1798 Rebellion.

Two others who accompanied him to America were Samuel B. Wylie of Moylarg and John Black of Portglenone. Both men became Covenanter ministers in America and played prominent roles in the campaign to abolish slavery.

The talk starts at 8pm and everyone is welcome to attend.