News 3rd October 2024
New memorial to dedicated to John Isaac to be unveiled
A new memorial dedicated to John Isaac is being unveiled at Bristol Cathedral next week. John Isaac was born into chattel slavery on a plantation owned by Thomas Daniel (1762-1854). There are numerous monuments to Thomas Daniel and his family in Bristol Cathedral but this new memorial is the first dedicated to the people they enslaved.
New memorial to dedicated to John Isaac to be unveiled
A new memorial dedicated to John Isaac is being unveiled at Bristol Cathedral next week.
John Isaac was born into chattel slavery on a plantation owned by Thomas Daniel (1762-1854). There are numerous monuments to Thomas Daniel and his family in Bristol Cathedral but this new memorial is the first dedicated to the people they enslaved.
The new plaque, located under the rose window at the west end of the Cathedral, honours John Isaac and acknowledges the lives of at least 4,424 African and Caribbean people who were enslaved and exploited by the Daniel family. The Daniel family claimed financial compensation from the British government under the Abolition Act of 1833, after decades of profiting from money lending, banking, and the sugar trade. The rose window, under which the new memorial will be located, was originally raised to honour Thomas Daniel the 3rd and his wife, Augusta Louisa Daniel (née Bridges), who profited from the enslavement economy for over two centuries.
Commissioned by TTEACH Plaques and skilfully crafted from Welsh Blue Slate by Sculptor and Stonemason Marcia Bennet-Male, the memorial represents the culmination of 4.5 years of dedicated advocacy led by Gloria Daniel, founder of TTEACH Plaques, with support from her family, including her father Uriel and uncle Hallam, John Isaac’s great-grandsons. Their lives in England serve as a testament to how closely intertwined this history is with the present, and how deeply its impact resonates. This effort builds on decades of advocacy by countless individuals working towards reparative justice.
The unveiling of this plaque is more than a symbolic gesture—it is a critical step in confronting the erased and forgotten histories of those who endured the horrors of slavery. By honouring John Isaac, we honour all who were forcibly trafficked and enslaved, ensuring their stories are remembered and they’re legacies acknowledged.
Gloria Daniel, founder TTEACH Plaques and the great great granddaughter of John Isaac, says:
“The memorial highlights the historical ties imposed upon our ancestors. While global conversations about reparative justice continue, this memorial provides a concrete gesture of acknowledgement and respect. It underscores the vital role descendants of enslaved people have in leading the efforts for reparative justice.”
The Very Rev’d Dr Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol, says:
The unveiling of this corrective memorial is an important catalyst in healing relationships between human beings as we come to terms together with the impact of transatlantic chattel slavery on our histories and lives. I am deeply grateful to Gloria Daniel for her willingness to assist us in our learning and for this beautiful, truthful and challenging addition to the fabric of the building.
The new, permanent memorial will be unveiled at a private event on the 9th of October 2024 and will be for the public to view from Wednesday 10th October 2024. It will be available to view whenever the Cathedral is open.
You can find out more about the Cathedral’s connection with the trade enslaved people in the All God’s Children exhibition.
