The Church of England and Slavery in the Early Eighteenth Century: Freedom of Christian Slaves

Abstract

The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, the SPG was established in 1701 in order to send the missionaries converting the American heathen. The Missionaries tried to instruct the black slaves in the plantations, however, their masters were against the SPG. The planters thought that the slaves were their property and feared that the baptism would make the slaves free. The SPG insisted that baptism did not make any alteration in civil property and that after being Christians, the slaves would be more obedient to their masters. Although the Church of England admitted the slavery, it is important that they promoted the instruction in the Christian faith for the slaves in the eighteenth century.