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It should offer food for thought to our churches in Belfast that this city – too often a modern byword for sectarianism and violence – was once a radical, progressive town where, in the 1780s and 1790s, opposition to the slave trade was vocal and widespread. Amongst those who were most opposed to this infamous traffic in human beings were the leaders of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland who, at this time, passed yearly motions in their General Assembly, supporting the campaigning work of William Wilberforce.

However, support for the anti-slavery lobby by local Christians was not merely confined to yearly assent to the work of Wilberforce. Many men and women in Belfast refused to consume the produce of those parts of the Americas where slaves were employed. Tobacco was frowned on for this reason, as was rum, which was made from sugar cane grown on the slave plantations of the West Indies. One famous resident of the town, Thomas Russell, refused to eat "sweetmeats" at society functions, declaring that, "On every lump of sugar I see a drop of human blood".

A women's anti-slavery committee busied itself in the town during the 1790s and the organisation encouraged the sale and the wear of Josiah Wedgwood's fashionable jasper cameo brooches, which were decorated with the picture of a chained negro salve and the caption, "Am I not a man and a brother?". Amongst those involved was the famous Presbyterian lady Mary Ann McCracken, who, even in her later years, was to be seen standing at the docks handing out political leaflets to the sailors and passengers who were heading for the southern ports of the USA, where slavery was still rife.

Amongst the surprising features of the social life of Belfast at that time was the presence in the town of the freed American slave Olaudah Equiano, whose recently published autobiography told the horrific story of his capture, his enforced journey to the West Indies and his labour there as a slave, before he managed to escape and make his way to Europe. Equiano stayed for several months with the Belfast businessman and journalist Samuel Neilson and Equiano's story of enslavement, conversion to Christianity and subsequent liberation was an inspiration to many of Belfast's more open-minded inhabitants.

However, the financial lure of the West Indies' plantations was too much for some Belfast businessmen to resist and amongst the local men who made a profit from negro misery was one entrepreneur who traded in barrels of salted Irish fish, sent off for consumption by the slaves in Jamaica and Barbados. Another local business-owner made special footwear, suitable for the use of the workers on the sugar plantations. Fortunately, due to the vigorous protests of men and women such as Samuel Neilson, Thomas Russell and Mary Ann McCracken, attempts to found a slave-shipping company in Belfast never got off the ground and the town retained its deep interest in the international anti-slavery movement.

The question for us today is whether we are living up to this fine standard or not? Slavery is, arguably, more prevalent than ever in the 21st century world. Ethical consumption is as relevant as ever. The use of fairly traded produce is surely our Christian duty and support for Tearfund and Christian Aid a crucial commitment. Let us remember that over 200 years ago, local believers saw it as their task to oppose exploitation and injustice. We should follow in their path.

Philip Orr