Feb 8, 20060
Church apologises for slave trade
The Church of England has voted to apologise to the descendents of victims of the slave trade.
An amendment "recognising the damage done" to those enslaved was backed overwhelmingly by the General Synod.
Debating the motion, Rev Simon Bessant, from Pleckgate, Blackburn, described the Church’s involvement in the trade, saying: "We were at the heart of it."
The amendment was supported by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Archbishop of York John Sentamu.
Dr Williams said the apology was "necessary".