The Episcopal Church remembers William Wilberforce today, the day of his death in 1833. You may remember him as the main character in the film Amazing Grace.
Lesser Feasts and Fasts notes that Wilberforce was born into an affluent family in Hull, York, England, on 24 August 1759. He was educated at St. John’s College, Cambridge. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1780 where he served until 1825.
Wilberforce was a child of the Evangelical movement within the Church of England which was started in large part by John Wesley, an Anglican clergyman and missionary to Georgia, who is credited with founding “Methodism.” Wilberforce converted to the Evangelical life within the Anglican Church in 1784, prior to his entry into public life in Parliament. The influence of his faith in his work within the political system is evident. Wilberforce was dedicated to his single-minded crusade for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade. The slave trade was accomplished in the United Kingdom in 1807, and slavery itself just one month before Wilberforce’s death.
Wilberforce gave himself to the promotion of overseas missions, education for all people, and the reformation of public manners and morals.
The Collect for the Day:
Let your continual mercy, O Lord, kindle in your Church the never failing gift of love, that, following the example of your servant William Wilberforce, we may have grace to defend the poor, and maintain the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of him who gave his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Lesser Feasts and Fasts notes that Wilberforce was born into an affluent family in Hull, York, England, on 24 August 1759. He was educated at St. John’s College, Cambridge. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1780 where he served until 1825.
Wilberforce was a child of the Evangelical movement within the Church of England which was started in large part by John Wesley, an Anglican clergyman and missionary to Georgia, who is credited with founding “Methodism.” Wilberforce converted to the Evangelical life within the Anglican Church in 1784, prior to his entry into public life in Parliament. The influence of his faith in his work within the political system is evident. Wilberforce was dedicated to his single-minded crusade for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade. The slave trade was accomplished in the United Kingdom in 1807, and slavery itself just one month before Wilberforce’s death.
Wilberforce gave himself to the promotion of overseas missions, education for all people, and the reformation of public manners and morals.
The Collect for the Day:
Let your continual mercy, O Lord, kindle in your Church the never failing gift of love, that, following the example of your servant William Wilberforce, we may have grace to defend the poor, and maintain the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of him who gave his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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