Clapham Saints
The so-called Clapham Saints (also Clapham Sect ) were an influential group of members of the Church of England who were active as social reformer in England between 1790 and 1830. It was founded by John Newton (1725-1807), who had worked for many years as the captain of various slave ships and later wrote the hymn Amazing Grace about his change of heart .
The name is derived from the town of Clapham, south of London (now a district in south-west London). Clapham was home to the most prominent and influential members of the group, William Wilberforce and Henry Thornton. The group did not name themselves, the designation as a sect (then value-neutral as elimination of one of the great churches understood!) And ironically as saints ( Saints ), she was awarded the nickname of contemporary opponents.
The members, all of whom were prominent and wealthy Anglicans , advocated the abolition of slavery and the slave trade, and reform of the penal system .
The group found support from London Bishop Beilby Porteus, among others . Other prominent members included Granville Sharp , lawyer and founder of the British abolitionist movement, and William Smith, Mayor of Norwich and grandfather of Florence Nightingale , and John Venn .
The group published its own magazine, the Christian Observer . The chief editor was Zachary Macaulay, who later became the colonial governor of Sierra Leone . Some members have also helped found various missionary organizations, including the British Bible Society and the Church Mission Society .