At today's Merchant Venturers' Charter Day Service in Bristol Cathedral the Bishop of Bristol The Right Reverend Michael Hill made the extraordinary statement to hundreds of schoolchildren in his sermon that rumours Bristol born seventeenth and eighteenth century merchant and MP Edward Colston made money from the slave trade are just 'speculation'.
It is not known how much the former slave trading Society of Merchant Venturers pay for the exclusive hire of Bristol Cathedral every year for their November Charter Day service which brings together pupils of Colston Boys' School, Colston Girls' School and the new Merchants' Academy in Withywood, but the sum is believed to be considerable.
The comments about Edward Colston's involvement with the slave trade being 'speculation' start here http://youtu.be/tNHBdpvGYHc?t=28s
Bristol bishop says slave trader remarks 'misinterpreted' 12 November 2014 Last updated at 11:42 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-30016789
Edward Colston, slavery and moral ambiguities Posted on November 11, 2014 by Bishop Mike On Monday I spoke at the annual Charter Day service in Bristol Cathedral to a gathering of young aspiring people. Some of my words about Bristol Merchant Edward Colston have been seized upon, particularly regarding the morality of Colstonâs business dealings. http://www.bristol.anglican.org/2014/edward-colston-slavery-and-moral-ambiguities/
Dirty money? The Society's investments
Controversial comments begin 28 seconds in: "And I think of Edward Colston. I think he was a man who lived a life of significance, and Ive found there may be still some speculation however, on some of the circumstances around his business roots right here. It is speculation. "