We’re marking Black History Month by launching Black History in Church Spaces, an inaugural exhibition founded by Vitalis Ngwambi.
Churches have always been places of memory. They tell stories through stained glass, memorials, monuments, plaques, paintings and even through the names and lives we choose to remember and honour. These spaces speak to us about faith, sacrifice, courage, hope and community.
This year, the Diocese is using its own local history and context to tell and celebrate the stories, witness and legacy of Black men and women whose lives are woven into the history of our Diocese and the wider Anglican Communion.
The exhibition opened at St Luke’s Prestonville on Saturday 3 October 2026 and closes with a commemorative service at St Mary’s Slindon on Sunday 25 October 2026 at 11:00 am, after which there shall be a dedication of the plaque of Roque Ferdinand at St Mary Magdalene Church, Madehurst at 3pm. (book here) marking the historic memorial to Roque Ferdinand, a servant and formerly enslaved man whose memorial is one of the very few surviving eighteenth century memorials to a Black man in a Sussex parish church.
An Exhibition of Stories, Faith and Memory
The exhibition at St Luke’s Prestonville explored a number of significant stories that connect Black history, faith and church spaces.
One of these is the story of the SS Mendi, the troopship that sank in 1917, resulting in the deaths of more than 600 Black South African servicemen. Their sacrifice is remembered through a memorial plaque at St John the Evangelist Church, Newtimber. Newtimber story blog here
The exhibition also explored Project Spire, the Church of England’s work for healing, justice and repair, reflecting on the Church’s responsibility to confront difficult histories and pursue a more just future.
The life and witness of Olaudah Equiano, the Black abolitionist and Christian, also featured. Equiano’s experiences and his campaign against slavery reminded us of the powerful role that Christian faith and church communities played in shaping the movement for the abolition of slavery.
The exhibition shared the story of Roque Ferdinand, a servant and formerly enslaved man whose eighteenth century memorial provides a rare and significant record of Black presence within a Sussex parish church. His story invited us to ask who has been remembered in our churches, whose stories have been overlooked and how we can broaden the stories we tell.
The exhibition also remembered the Uganda Martyrs, 45 Christian converts, including 23 Anglicans and 22 Catholics, who were executed for their Christian faith. Their story is one of courage, conviction and sacrifice. It also connects with the life of Bishop James Hannington, who was killed in Uganda. The Uganda Martyrs were later recognised as saints.
Concluding Services at St Mary Slindon and St Mary Magdelene Church Madehurst
Black History Month will conclude with a Commemorative Service at St Mary’s Slindon at 11:00 with special guests, followed by African and English cuisine, before making our way in the afternoon at St Mary's Madehurst nearby at 15:00 to witness the unveiling and installation of the interpretive panel next to the Roque Ferdinand memorial plaque in the church. This will be followed by prayers, and a blessing of the memorial and interpretation as a way of marking and remembering this important history. Please do book here for catering purposes.
Together, these stories demonstrate that Black history is not separate from the history of the Church. It is part of our shared story of faith, witness, struggle, sacrifice and hope. You can view and download the programme here
Keynote Speakers for Black History in Church Spaces
The keynote speaker for the exhibition will be Kwesi Ochosi, Project Coordinator and Archivist at Lambeth Palace Library, who will help us explore the importance of archives, memory and the stories preserved within the Church.
The service at Slindon will feature Professor Alan Lester of the University of Sussex as guest speaker, alongside Alysia Lara, Interim Deputy Director of Racial Justice. Together, the service will provide an opportunity for prayer, remembrance and reflection as we consider how the Church remembers its past and how that memory can shape its future.
The specially prepared display boards for the Black History in Church Space exhibition can be downloaded here:
Further contact about Black History in Church Spaces
If your parish would like to hear more about Black History in Church Spaces and the work of Racial Justice in the Diocese, please contact: Vitalis Ngwambi, the Diocesan Racial Justice Co-ordinator - he can be reached on his email: vitalis.ngwambi@chichester.anglican.org