Support and praise for drive to commemorate the end of the transatlantic slave trade and to free 12 million modern day slaves came from a council of churches this week.

The Executive Committee of the Wesleyan Methodist Churches of Bermuda Synod has agreed to support Break the Chains Campaign and commended for bringing the historic event to the attention of the public. Break the Chains Campaign backs Anti-Slavery International's on-line petition, which demands world leaders take action to help free the 12 million modern day slaves.

Reverend Margaret Sangar of the Ebenezer Methodist Church in St. George's said the four Wesleyan Methodist Churches of Bermuda would be encouraging their congregations to sign the petition.

The Wesley Methodist Church in Hamilton will also hold a five-week special Bible Study called "Set All Free" the first of which was on March 1 and all of the Wesleyan Methodist Churches of Bermuda will have a moment of silence on March 25, the 200 year anniversary of the end of the slave trade.

"John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, was a strong denouncer of slavery," added Rev. Sangar, "so the petition to recognise the end of the transatlantic slave trade and forms of contemporary slavery is keeping with the churches social activism."

One of the first missionaries for the Methodist Church to Bermuda, John Stephenson, was also adamant about ending slavery.

Rita Smith, of the Wesleyan Methodist Churches in Bermuda Synod, said: "In 1799, John Stephenson arrived in Bermuda and was adamant in preaching to slaves.

"He was arrested in violation of a new act passed to inhibit him, yet he persisted in preaching through the bars of his jail cell in St. George's.

"His commitment lives on among Methodists today."

Furthermore, Rev. Sangar said: "The Wesleyan Methodist Churches of Bermuda are affiliated with the United Church of Canada which has been very active on contemporary slavery issues such as trafficking in women and children and child labour.

"So the Wesleyan Methodist Churches are part of that and the slave trade had such a huge impact on the history here we felt we needed to draw attention to it."

The Break the Chains campaign has won support since it was launched byin December last year from community leaders, churches and charities across the Island.

Anti-Slavery International ? the world's oldest human rights organisation ? started the petition to increase pressure on leaders around the world to end all forms of slavery that continue to exist. Two centuries ago, tens of thousands of people signed similar petitions as part of the campaign to abolish the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

The outcry they generated led to the Slave Trade Act, which made capturing, transporting and selling slaves illegal in Britain and its colonies.

The trailblazing British politician who went against the opinion of many of his peers to tirelessly campaign for the abolition of slavery in the British Empire 200 years ago, William Wilberforce, will also be honoured this month.

"Amazing Grace," a movie which tells the story of his struggles to end the slave trade is now playing at the Little Theatre in Hamilton. Campaigners at Anti-Slavery International hope enough people will sign their petition to recreate a similar level of momentum as that of Mr. Wilberforce's and the original petition.

To sign up, visit www.antislavery.org/2007/actionsign and fill in your details. To comment on Break the Chains, email tsmithroyalgazette.bm or telephone 278-0153.