Church removes memorial plaque to Scottish lawyer who put down slave rebellion

The memorial plaque was dedicated to Scots lawyer John Gordon, a plantation owner known for his violent role in quashing a slave rebellion in Jamaica.

The plaque has been covered temporarily since September 2020 when the parish council decided to remove the commemorative stone. The church has described the inscription on the plaque, which contains a grossly offensive racial term, as “utterly unacceptable”. As a result, the plaque will be relocated to the Dorset Museum.

This action is believed to be the first instance of disputed heritage being removed from a Church of England and transferred to a museum.

Local campaign group Stand Up To Racism Dorset had previously criticised the plaque, calling it “a blatant and explicit glorification of white domination and the suppression of enslaved people”. The group said that such an offensive object should not be on public display.

John Gordon died in Dorchester in 1774 at the age of 46, during a trip to England. The inscription on the stone, which states that his remains are nearby, praises him for his “bravery” and “humanity” in playing a “pivotal” role in suppressing the 1760 slave revolt in Jamaica. This brutal suppression resulted in the death of up to 500 enslaved people as colonial forces attempted to quell the uprising.

The church will replace the original plaque with a simpler one that only provides details about Gordon’s life and death, a decision made after consulting with his descendants.

Penny Sayer, Archdeacon of Sherborne, said: “Local people were asking if it was appropriate to have such a monument in a church, or is it more appropriate to have it somewhere else.

“It is really important that the story is told, particularly because it mentions Tacky’s revolt which represents hidden voices, people whose stories are not often told.

“There were very careful steps taken by the church to ensure the monument was researched and the right process followed.”

The relocated plaque will be held on loan at the Dorset Museum and can be viewed upon request.