This Sunday is a special time in St Andrew’s calander. Each year in July, we gather together for a Family Service at 10 am followed by a commemoration outside in honour of Anna Maria Vassa and her family. This year will be the first year we will gather around the footstone of her grave.

Anna Maria, the daughter of Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797) a celebrated author and campaigner against the transatlantic slave trade in 18th -century England, died young and was buried in St Andrew’s Churchyard. It is now an annual traddition that the congregation of St Andrew’s and members of the surrounding community gather to reflect on the legacy left by Equiano – including that of his daughters, the above mentioned Anna Maria and her sister Joanna.

If you are interested in reading more about Olaudah Equiano or finding out more about the Equiano Family Project, visit these pages: Olaudah Equiano and The Equiano Family Project.