Wulfstan

We are watching the process of history being written.  Yesterday, protesters in Bristol, England, tore down a statue of Edward Colston, who made his fortune through slavery and was on the board of the Royal African Company in the 17th century.

Today, the British band Beak> announced they are giving away a free download of an early EP that was originally a vinyl-only limited release.  The EP is named Wulfstan for England's St. Wulfstan.  In a statement, the band said:

"This is to show our solidarity with the protestors that pulled the statue of Edward Colston, the vile Bristolian slave trader, down from its plinth and tossed it in to Bristol Docks. This was not erasing history, this was a reminder to us all that slave traders should not, and shall not be celebrated but made an example of so our future generations will not repeat it. 

The title track Wulfstan was named after St Wulfstan - ‘The Bishop of Worcester’ who in Norman times was a pioneering anti-slavery campaigner. 

In an age where clergy in general and Bishops in particular could enjoy the good life, Wulfstan was something of a social campaigner. It's said he once invited a host of civic dignitaries to a banquet and then turned up with hundreds of poor people, and insisted that the nobles serve them. He also had a daily ritual of washing the feet of poor people. 

He also campaigned vigorously against the slave trade based in the city of Bristol. At the time people who could not pay their debts were being sold into slavery in Ireland. Wulfstan spent time in Bristol, preached sermons attacking slavery and eventually slaves held captive in Bristol were released. At the time slavery wasn’t considered immoral, so his stand was a brave one."