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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Racist memorial to slaver to be removed from Dorchester church | Racist memorial to slaver to be removed from Dorchester church |
| (10 days later) | |
| A cover was placed over the plaque in September 2020 while the church sought permission to remove it | A cover was placed over the plaque in September 2020 while the church sought permission to remove it |
| A judge has given a church permission to remove a memorial to 18th Century slave owner, John Gordon. | A judge has given a church permission to remove a memorial to 18th Century slave owner, John Gordon. |
| The plaque at St Peter's, Dorchester has been partially covered up for nearly two years while the church sought approval to take it down. | The plaque at St Peter's, Dorchester has been partially covered up for nearly two years while the church sought approval to take it down. |
| The church took steps to remove the stone, which commends the plantation owner and bears a racist term, after calls from anti-racism campaigners. | The church took steps to remove the stone, which commends the plantation owner and bears a racist term, after calls from anti-racism campaigners. |
| It will be removed from the wall and stored in Dorset Museum. | It will be removed from the wall and stored in Dorset Museum. |
| In a statement the church said: "The memorial explicitly commends the action of brutally quelling a slave rebellion, using a totally unacceptable racist term, so it contradicts our aim to be an inclusive church, welcoming everyone as made equally in the image of God." | In a statement the church said: "The memorial explicitly commends the action of brutally quelling a slave rebellion, using a totally unacceptable racist term, so it contradicts our aim to be an inclusive church, welcoming everyone as made equally in the image of God." |
| Church warden Val Potter said: "We are delighted. We didn't want to destroy it but on the church wall is not the place for it." | Church warden Val Potter said: "We are delighted. We didn't want to destroy it but on the church wall is not the place for it." |
| The stone commemorates John Gordon's part in the deadly suppression of slaves in Jamaica and bears offensive language | The stone commemorates John Gordon's part in the deadly suppression of slaves in Jamaica and bears offensive language |
| Campaign group Stand Up To Racism Dorset previously described the plaque as "a blatant and explicit glorification of white domination and the suppression of enslaved people". The group said: "It is offensive and has no place in public view." | Campaign group Stand Up To Racism Dorset previously described the plaque as "a blatant and explicit glorification of white domination and the suppression of enslaved people". The group said: "It is offensive and has no place in public view." |
| The plaque was installed in the church after the 18th Century slaver died in Dorchester in 1774, aged 46, during a visit to England - he was Scottish by birth. | The plaque was installed in the church after the 18th Century slaver died in Dorchester in 1774, aged 46, during a visit to England - he was Scottish by birth. |
| It hails his "bravery" and "humanity" for his "instrumental" part in quelling the 1760 uprising by slaves across Jamaica, whom it uses offensive language to describe. | It hails his "bravery" and "humanity" for his "instrumental" part in quelling the 1760 uprising by slaves across Jamaica, whom it uses offensive language to describe. |
| Up to 500 slaves were killed as colonial forces sought to put down the uprising. | Up to 500 slaves were killed as colonial forces sought to put down the uprising. |
| A new memorial to John Gordon to acknowledge that he was buried at St Peter's will be placed in the church. | A new memorial to John Gordon to acknowledge that he was buried at St Peter's will be placed in the church. |
| Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Jamaica | Jamaica |
| Slavery | Slavery |
| Dorchester | Dorchester |
| Racism | Racism |
| The Church of England | The Church of England |