You've Got To See This Movie!!!

Photos taken from www.amazinggracemovie.com

Yesterday I saw the movie "Amazing Grace" at a private viewing and it was amazing. It will change your life after watching it and really strengthen your beliefs (whatever they may be). You will be moved, strengthened, renewed, and stretched. I cried at one point and so did the two people with me. The movie is all about William Wilberforce who helped abolish the slave trade that ended in 1883. If you enjoy history at all you will get a lot out of this movie. It will air in theatres on March 23rd and has already aired in the States.

The reason I'm talking about it here is that I want as many people as possible to support this movie and it's message. The acting is superb and I have to say it is the best movie I've seen to date. To see the main trailer as well as many more clips from the movie go to this site: www.amazinggracemovie.com

To learn more about Willam Wilberforce read below (taken from www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/wilberforce_william.shtml:

William Wilberforce (1759 - 1833) William Wilberforce © Wilberforce was a deeply religious English member of parliament and social reformer who was very influential in the abolition of the slave trade and eventually slavery itself in the British empire. William Wilberforce was born on 24 August 1759 in Hull, the son of a wealthy merchant. He studied at Cambridge University where he began a lasting friendship with the future prime minister, William Pitt the Younger. In 1780, Wilberforce became member of parliament for Hull, later representing Yorkshire. His dissolute lifestyle changed completely when he became an evangelical Christian, and in 1784 joined a leading group known as the Clapham Sect. His Christian faith prompted him to become interested in social reform, particularly the improvement of factory conditions in Britain. The abolitionist Thomas Clarkson had an enormous influence on Wilberforce. He and others were campaigning for an end to the trade in which British ships were carrying black slaves from Africa, in terrible conditions, to the West Indies as goods to be bought and sold. Wilberforce was persuaded to lobby for the abolition of the slave trade and for 18 years he regularly introduced anti-slavery motions in parliament. The campaign was supported by many members of the Clapham Sect and other abolitionists who raised public awareness of their cause with pamphlets, books, rallies and petitions. In 1807, the slave trade was finally abolished, but this did not free those who were already slaves. It was not until 1833 that an act was passed giving freedom to all slaves in the British empire. Wilberforce's other efforts to 'renew society' included the organisation of the Society for the Suppression of Vice in 1802. He worked with the reformer, Hannah More, in the Association for the Better Observance of Sunday. Its goal was to provide all children with regular education in reading, personal hygiene and religion. He was closely involved with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He was also instrumental in encouraging Christian missionaries to go to India. Wilberforce retired from politics in 1825 and died on 29 July 1833, shortly after the act to free slaves in the British empire passed through the House of Commons. He was buried near his friend Pitt in Westminster Abbey. Until next time, S.