We also looked at – in the city where it happened – the 'Peterloo Massacre', where on August 16, 1819, cavalry were ordered by the authorities to charge a peaceful crowd of 60,000 who had gathered to support electoral reform. 18 died and over 650 were injured – some horribly – yet the churches, believing the poor should be "resigned to their God-given lot" mostly took the side of the authorities. This dark day has its 200th anniversary in 2019 and we looked at how Christians today could mark this significant anniversary.
A big thank you to our hosts the Nazarene Theological College for their hospitality.