Leicester Friends spotlight Elizabeth Heyrick

'Elizabeth Heyrick, a member of our Meeting over 200 years ago, demanded the immediate emancipation of slaves in all of Britain and her colonies.'

Leicester Friends learnt about the historic local archivist Elizabeth Heyrick last month. Heyrick campaigned for the release of enslaved people.

Leicester Quaker Angela Walker told the Friend that the Meeting was prompted to hold the event as ‘social justice has always been a concern. We are a Meeting of Sanctuary and have heard the stories of refugees who have had to flee from oppressive regimes which often had their roots in colonialism. Elizabeth Heyrick, a member of our Meeting over 200 years ago, demanded the immediate emancipation of slaves in all of Britain and her colonies. We wanted to find out more about our Quaker foremother.’

The talk was delivered by Jess Jenkins, a local archivist, who was invited to speak after Friends saw an event at Leicester Guildhall entitled ‘Elizabeth Heyrick: An uncompromising friend of liberty’. ‘When we asked Jess if she could give the talk at the Meeting house, she didn’t hesitate to agree,’ said Angela Walker, ‘and subsequently did a great deal more research about Leicester Quakers at the time, particularly the Women’s Meeting, who supported her campaigns. The highly successful sugar boycott was organised by Elizabeth with the help of other Quakers, particularly her friend Susanna Watts, another influential Quaker. We saw how her Quaker faith supported and sustained her life-long values of equality, truth and integrity.’

The talk covered Elizabeth’s early life in a prosperous family; her education in a Quaker school; and her social concerns for people and animals, which started at an early age. ‘We also found out about her strong character, her love of fashion, her disastrous early marriage and her friendship with Elizabeth Fry and the Gurney family. Her many achievements were set against a background of women’s restricted place in society.’

The talk was well attended, followed by a lively discussion. A book by Jocelyn Robson is coming out later this month called Elizabeth Heyrick: The making of an anti-slavery campaigner.

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