This week in Christian history: Jonathan Edwards married, Wilberforce dies, Pope Leo XIII

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, July 28, 2019

William Wilberforce dies - July 29, 1833

This week marks the anniversary of when William Wilberforce, the devout Christian member of Parliament who was integral to abolishing slavery in the British Empire, passed away.

In 1780, Wilberforce joined Parliament and later became an evangelical Christian, which inspired to campaign for various social reforms, including abolition and better working conditions for factories.

Get Our Latest News for FREE

Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

Subscribe

“Wilberforce was persuaded to lobby for the abolition of the slave trade and for 18 years he regularly introduced anti-slavery motions in parliament,” noted the BBC.

“Wilberforce retired from politics in 1825 and died on 29 July 1833, shortly after the act to free slaves in the British empire passed through the House of Commons.”