A memorial stone commemorating an 18th century slave trader, and hailing his ‘bravery’ in quelling slave rebellion in Jamaica, has been covered up because of its offensive meaning.
A white board has been placed over the plaque in St Peter’s Church in Dorchester, Dorset, which was dedicated to plantation owner John Gordon, who died in 1744.
The wording on the 5ft memorial praises the Scottish slaver’s work in suppressing an uprising of slaves in the Caribbean, in which 500 of them were killed.
It states: ‘He was signally instrumental in quelling a dangerous rebellion in that island (Jamaica), in the year of 1760.
‘A large body of n*****s whom his bravery had repulsed, finally yielding to their confidence in his humanity.’
A white board has been placed over the plaque in St Peter’s Church in Dorchester, Dorset, which was dedicated to plantation owner John Gordon, who died in 1744
The wording on the 5ft memorial hails the Scottish slaver’s ‘bravery’ and ‘humanity’ in suppressing a slave rebellion in Jamaica in which 500 of them were killed
The plaque sparked complaints from anti-racism campaigners in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests.
Last week the church authorities voted to remove the memorial but that decision must go through an ecclesiastical planning process which will take several months.
In the meantime workmen had put up a temporary cover to censor the controversial text.
The cover is made from foam board that is held in place by friction without having any impact on the ancient walls or monument.
It covers the section about the slave rebellion but leaves exposed the name and details of John Gordon.
A notice explaining why the rest of it is covered has also been displayed. It states that the wording underneath ‘commemorates actions and uses language which are totally unacceptable to us today’.
The church’s 15 committee members have voted for it to be moved to a museum, but it is legally obliged to put the decision to a public consultation before the memorial can be removed.
The other options considered were for it to be left in place with accompanying material giving its historical context or moved to a less prominent spot in the church.
Church warden Val Potter said: ‘After the Parochial Church Council decision to add a temporary cover our practical people suggested a cover made from foam board which we have put in position.
‘It is temporary and there is no impact on the walls or monument so we did not need formal permission for it.
‘The cover leaves exposed the name and details of John Gordon but not the section about his role in the rebellion.
‘The notice on the cover states why the monument is covered and outlines the decision by the PCC.
‘We are very grateful to the Black Lives Matter campaign for raising the urgency of the issue, we’ve been thinking about what to do about it for some time.
‘The only negative comments we get in our visitors box are about this memorial.’
Once the plaque is removed it will be displayed in a museum.
Last week authorities at the church, pictured, voted to remove the memorial but that decision must go through an ecclesiastical planning process which will take several months
John Gordon was born in Sutherland, Scotland, in 1728.
He was a lawyer for the Ellis family in the 1750s and, jointly with another attorney, took over administration of the Greencastle and Newry Plantations in Jamaica which produced sugar, rum and molasses.
He used that position to establish his own business as a plantation owner, possibly buying or leasing land from John Ellis.
In 1760 slaves staged a rebellion over their ill-treatment, leading to one of the most brutal suppressions of its time.
Some rebels were killed on the spot while others were taken prisoner and then executed in gruesome ways.
Gordon returned to Britain and died in Dorchester in October 1774, aged 46.
The plaque in his honour is on the wall opposite the south door entrance to the 15th century church and is quite prominent, with a carved urn on top and the family coat of arms below.
David Rhodes, of Stand Up To Racism Dorset, said: ‘We congratulate the church council for this decision, and especially the efforts of the church warden in steering a course through the church decision-making process.
‘We believe that the council has made the right decision. It is good that the church is taking steps to acknowledge our ‘shameful past’.
‘The Gordon Plaque commends and celebrates the actions of John Gordon in suppressing a rebellion by enslaved people fighting for their freedom in Jamaica in 1760.
‘It is a celebration of white supremacy and racism.’