All Hallows Memorial To Slaves

From the South River Source:

All Hallows Parish to Dedicate Memorial to Enslaved Laborers

 

Four Episcopal Bishops will visit historic All Hallows Episcopal Church on Saturday, November 1 to commemorate the first baptism of an African in the Diocese of Maryland on January 22, 1698.  This event is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland’s Truth and Reconciliation Pilgrimage which is planned to coincide with the 150^th anniversary of Maryland’s Constitutional Amendment of 1864 which abolished slavery in Maryland.

This event will also honor All Hallows’ first official rector, Joseph Colbatch (served 1697-1734), who broke tradition as he baptized hundreds of free and enslaved blacks and conducted inter-racial marriages and burials of slaves.  Rector, Alistair So, will conduct a brief church service, focusing on the importance of truth, reconciliation and our commitment to the future.  Senior Warden, Kathy Kenney, will address the guests, providing a summary of All Hallows’ past relationship to slavery.  The historical baptismal documents will be on display as well.

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland will dedicate and bless a memorial monument honoring the enslaved laborers who helped build and maintain All Hallows Parish.

There is no admittance fee or pre-registration required to attend this event at All Hallows.  All are welcome to attend.  The visiting prelates are Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church; Eugene Taylor Sutton, Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland; Heather Cook, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Maryland; and Mariann Budde, Bishop of the Diocese of Washington. This is the first visit by a presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States and overseas to All Hallows in its 350-year history.   

Numbering about 100 people, the pilgrimage is part of the Diocesan Commission on Truth and Reconciliation to recognize the role of slavery in Episcopal Church history.  After visiting All Hallows, the pilgrimage will continue to All Saints Church in Sunderland, to Grace Church in Silver Spring, and finally to the Bishop Claggett Center in Buckeystown.  For information about the pilgrimage visit http://trailofsouls.org/.

All Hallows Parish is an historic church that began in 1692.  All Hallows is part of the Episcopal Church, Diocese of Maryland, and serves the greater community of Anne Arundel County in Maryland.

All Hallows Parish to Dedicate Memorial to Enslaved Laborers
9:00am-10:00am, Saturday, November 1, 2014
All Hallows Parish, The Brick Church, 3600 Solomon’s Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037