Youngsters’s art work brings the historical past of the Church’s legacy of slavery to life

Aberlour Parish Church hosted a particular one-day exhibition celebrating the creativity of native youngsters whereas exploring the city’s historic hyperlinks to transatlantic slavery.

Pupils from native faculties showcased art work developed throughout earlier workshops that invited them to mirror in town’s previous and picture a fairer, extra simply future.

Central to this historical past is the church tower, whose basis stone was laid on 22 April 1839. The tower and the enlargement of the church have been funded by Alexander Grant of Aberlour, who amassed his fortune as a planter and service provider in Jamaica, cashing in on the labour of enslaved African individuals and receiving compensation of over £24,000 (round £2,900,000 in 2023) from the British authorities after abolition. Grant returned to Scotland round 1838 and commissioned the work, designed by Elgin architect Mr Robertson.

The occasion constructed on workshops led by Dr Jim MacPherson of the College of the Highlands and Islands, which explored how the city’s wealth and buildings have been formed by empire.

It additionally featured contributions from Lisa Williams, founding father of the Edinburgh Caribbean Affiliation, curator of schooling programmes, arts occasions, and strolling excursions selling consciousness of Black Scottish historical past and hyperlinks between Scotland and the Caribbean.

She was joined by Very Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, former Moderator of the Normal Meeting, who’s now convener of the Church’s Legacies of Slavery process group. Their reflections explored Aberlour’s native historical past throughout the Church of Scotland’s wider efforts to confront its involvement in transatlantic slavery.

The Church’s Legacy of Slavery Process Group has been visiting presbyteries throughout the nation, sharing historic analysis, modern tales from companions in Jamaica, and sources to assist native work on this space. The group is getting ready an announcement of acknowledgment and apology for presentation on the 2026 Normal Meeting.

Reflecting on the position of younger individuals and their means to mirror on this historical past, Sally Foster-Fulton mentioned:

“Youngsters are uniquely capable of look unflinchingly at tough histories. They ask the questions adults typically shrink back from and assist us all think about our duty to mirror, repent, and act. By seeing the previous clearly by means of their eyes, we’re challenged to assume severely about what justice and restore imply at present. The Church of Scotland is dedicated to dealing with this historical past overtly — as a result of the legacy of slavery continues to form society, and we should reply faithfully to that actuality.”

The exhibition demonstrates how historic analysis, inventive expression, and religion reflection can work collectively, exhibiting how native communities can confront tough legacies whereas imagining a hopeful and simply future.

Aberlour Parish Church hosted a particular one-day exhibition celebrating the creativity of native youngsters whereas exploring the city’s historic hyperlinks to transatlantic slavery.

Pupils from native faculties showcased art work developed throughout earlier workshops that invited them to mirror in town’s previous and picture a fairer, extra simply future.

Central to this historical past is the church tower, whose basis stone was laid on 22 April 1839. The tower and the enlargement of the church have been funded by Alexander Grant of Aberlour, who amassed his fortune as a planter and service provider in Jamaica, cashing in on the labour of enslaved African individuals and receiving compensation of over £24,000 (round £2,900,000 in 2023) from the British authorities after abolition. Grant returned to Scotland round 1838 and commissioned the work, designed by Elgin architect Mr Robertson.

The occasion constructed on workshops led by Dr Jim MacPherson of the College of the Highlands and Islands, which explored how the city’s wealth and buildings have been formed by empire.

It additionally featured contributions from Lisa Williams, founding father of the Edinburgh Caribbean Affiliation, curator of schooling programmes, arts occasions, and strolling excursions selling consciousness of Black Scottish historical past and hyperlinks between Scotland and the Caribbean.

She was joined by Very Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, former Moderator of the Normal Meeting, who’s now convener of the Church’s Legacies of Slavery process group. Their reflections explored Aberlour’s native historical past throughout the Church of Scotland’s wider efforts to confront its involvement in transatlantic slavery.

The Church’s Legacy of Slavery Process Group has been visiting presbyteries throughout the nation, sharing historic analysis, modern tales from companions in Jamaica, and sources to assist native work on this space. The group is getting ready an announcement of acknowledgment and apology for presentation on the 2026 Normal Meeting.

Reflecting on the position of younger individuals and their means to mirror on this historical past, Sally Foster-Fulton mentioned:

“Youngsters are uniquely capable of look unflinchingly at tough histories. They ask the questions adults typically shrink back from and assist us all think about our duty to mirror, repent, and act. By seeing the previous clearly by means of their eyes, we’re challenged to assume severely about what justice and restore imply at present. The Church of Scotland is dedicated to dealing with this historical past overtly — as a result of the legacy of slavery continues to form society, and we should reply faithfully to that actuality.”

The exhibition demonstrates how historic analysis, inventive expression, and religion reflection can work collectively, exhibiting how native communities can confront tough legacies whereas imagining a hopeful and simply future.

Aberlour Parish Church hosted a particular one-day exhibition celebrating the creativity of native youngsters whereas exploring the city’s historic hyperlinks to transatlantic slavery.

Pupils from native faculties showcased art work developed throughout earlier workshops that invited them to mirror in town’s previous and picture a fairer, extra simply future.

Central to this historical past is the church tower, whose basis stone was laid on 22 April 1839. The tower and the enlargement of the church have been funded by Alexander Grant of Aberlour, who amassed his fortune as a planter and service provider in Jamaica, cashing in on the labour of enslaved African individuals and receiving compensation of over £24,000 (round £2,900,000 in 2023) from the British authorities after abolition. Grant returned to Scotland round 1838 and commissioned the work, designed by Elgin architect Mr Robertson.

The occasion constructed on workshops led by Dr Jim MacPherson of the College of the Highlands and Islands, which explored how the city’s wealth and buildings have been formed by empire.

It additionally featured contributions from Lisa Williams, founding father of the Edinburgh Caribbean Affiliation, curator of schooling programmes, arts occasions, and strolling excursions selling consciousness of Black Scottish historical past and hyperlinks between Scotland and the Caribbean.

She was joined by Very Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, former Moderator of the Normal Meeting, who’s now convener of the Church’s Legacies of Slavery process group. Their reflections explored Aberlour’s native historical past throughout the Church of Scotland’s wider efforts to confront its involvement in transatlantic slavery.

The Church’s Legacy of Slavery Process Group has been visiting presbyteries throughout the nation, sharing historic analysis, modern tales from companions in Jamaica, and sources to assist native work on this space. The group is getting ready an announcement of acknowledgment and apology for presentation on the 2026 Normal Meeting.

Reflecting on the position of younger individuals and their means to mirror on this historical past, Sally Foster-Fulton mentioned:

“Youngsters are uniquely capable of look unflinchingly at tough histories. They ask the questions adults typically shrink back from and assist us all think about our duty to mirror, repent, and act. By seeing the previous clearly by means of their eyes, we’re challenged to assume severely about what justice and restore imply at present. The Church of Scotland is dedicated to dealing with this historical past overtly — as a result of the legacy of slavery continues to form society, and we should reply faithfully to that actuality.”

The exhibition demonstrates how historic analysis, inventive expression, and religion reflection can work collectively, exhibiting how native communities can confront tough legacies whereas imagining a hopeful and simply future.

Aberlour Parish Church hosted a particular one-day exhibition celebrating the creativity of native youngsters whereas exploring the city’s historic hyperlinks to transatlantic slavery.

Pupils from native faculties showcased art work developed throughout earlier workshops that invited them to mirror in town’s previous and picture a fairer, extra simply future.

Central to this historical past is the church tower, whose basis stone was laid on 22 April 1839. The tower and the enlargement of the church have been funded by Alexander Grant of Aberlour, who amassed his fortune as a planter and service provider in Jamaica, cashing in on the labour of enslaved African individuals and receiving compensation of over £24,000 (round £2,900,000 in 2023) from the British authorities after abolition. Grant returned to Scotland round 1838 and commissioned the work, designed by Elgin architect Mr Robertson.

The occasion constructed on workshops led by Dr Jim MacPherson of the College of the Highlands and Islands, which explored how the city’s wealth and buildings have been formed by empire.

It additionally featured contributions from Lisa Williams, founding father of the Edinburgh Caribbean Affiliation, curator of schooling programmes, arts occasions, and strolling excursions selling consciousness of Black Scottish historical past and hyperlinks between Scotland and the Caribbean.

She was joined by Very Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, former Moderator of the Normal Meeting, who’s now convener of the Church’s Legacies of Slavery process group. Their reflections explored Aberlour’s native historical past throughout the Church of Scotland’s wider efforts to confront its involvement in transatlantic slavery.

The Church’s Legacy of Slavery Process Group has been visiting presbyteries throughout the nation, sharing historic analysis, modern tales from companions in Jamaica, and sources to assist native work on this space. The group is getting ready an announcement of acknowledgment and apology for presentation on the 2026 Normal Meeting.

Reflecting on the position of younger individuals and their means to mirror on this historical past, Sally Foster-Fulton mentioned:

“Youngsters are uniquely capable of look unflinchingly at tough histories. They ask the questions adults typically shrink back from and assist us all think about our duty to mirror, repent, and act. By seeing the previous clearly by means of their eyes, we’re challenged to assume severely about what justice and restore imply at present. The Church of Scotland is dedicated to dealing with this historical past overtly — as a result of the legacy of slavery continues to form society, and we should reply faithfully to that actuality.”

The exhibition demonstrates how historic analysis, inventive expression, and religion reflection can work collectively, exhibiting how native communities can confront tough legacies whereas imagining a hopeful and simply future.