A BRASS plaque has been installed next to a memorial to the 17th-century slave trader Thomas Corker, in King Charles the Martyr, Falmouth, by “a lone individual” who did so without the permission or knowledge of the PCC.
A collection of statements about the incident has been issued by the diocese of Truro with its approval and those of the PCC, Black Voices Cornwall, and Clinton Sealy, the operations director for Transformation Cornwall, who was one of the original campaigners concerning the memorial in the Grade II* listed building.
The vice-chair and secretary of the PCC, Pip Horton, who is also a member of the sub-committee tasked with the Corker work, said: “We understand that a lone individual, who purports to be ‘the people of Falmouth’, has taken it upon themselves to enter the church and erect a plaque without our knowledge or the proper permissions.
“Quite frankly, we don’t feel this is helpful at all and detracts from the very good and inclusive work we are doing in partnership with others, including Black Voices Cornwall. We understand that some people may have concerns about what they see as a delay, but this is not helpful to our efforts, and has caused unnecessary distress.”
The new plaque reads: “Thomas Corker was England’s Chief Agent for the Royal African Company on York Island. He oversaw and profited from the kidnap, enslavement and sale of slaves. The Royal African Company shipped more enslaved men, women and children to the Americas than any other trading company in the world.”
A general statement from the church said: “Any works to the fabric of a church building are covered by law and must follow the faculty process. Given that this plaque has been erected without any permissions by persons unknown, we are investigating what action might need to be taken.”
The statement acknowledged that the Corker memorial “is an offence to many people. There are different views on how best to respond to its presence in an ancient, historic building which is strictly governed by legislation.”
The diocese, church, and campaign groups, among other interested parties, had, it continued, “been working closely together to find the best solution, including an honest description of the history of Thomas Corker’s involvement in slavery.
“We also hope to tell the story of Joseph Emidy, a black musician and composer, who was a freed slave who settled in Cornwall and already has a smaller memorial in the church, and to describe and challenge the evils of modern slavery.”
The statement continued: “Part of the discussion around what is displayed in relation to this memorial includes a trigger warning because of the sensitive nature of the topic and we have a duty of care to all visitors. Our consultations have made clear that there are a range of views across Falmouth, and we have been listening and working with all perspectives.”
The sub-committee for the work were “mostly volunteers” working through the proper legal processes. “We have not been giving regular updates on the process because we were waiting until we had tangible news to share but we recognise that as a result some people may have thought the process had stopped.”
In 2021, the Church Buildings Council and the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England issued guidance for parishes and cathedral chapters on what to do about contested heritage in their buildings (News, 14 May) — statues, inscriptions, and other monuments that are commemorate people who have been associated with racism and the slave trade.
The Acting Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Hugh Nelson, who is the Suffragan Bishop of St Germans, said: “The slave trade was a great evil which continues to cause harm to millions of people today. The presence of a memorial to a man who benefited from trading human beings in a building that points to the God of justice and freedom is deeply troubling. I have been encouraged by the careful work and close partnerships that have been built up as solutions are found.”