Protesters have illegally installed a large blue heritage sign outside a Cornwall church, warning that the place of worship houses a controversial monument to a slave trader.
The 1.2-metre sign was placed in front of King Charles the Martyr Church in Falmouth in the early hours of Sunday.
The church contains a marble memorial to Thomas Corker, a slave trader from the town, which anonymous activists have called "a blot on our town" and want removed.
The anonymous group had previously installed an illegal brass plaque in 2024 "to give context" to the memorial, which was criticised by the church for damaging community work.
Protesters have illegally installed a large blue heritage sign outside a Cornwall church, warning that the place of worship houses a controversial monument to a slave trader
'The People of Falmouth'
The latest sign was funded by private donations from local residents.
It was installed to coincide with the enthronement of the new Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd David Williams.
The activists said they wanted to appeal to the bishop "to proactively address the harm the Falmouth slave trader memorial continues to cause," in an email to CornwallLive signed "Sincerely, the people of Falmouth".
Thomas Corker was born in Falmouth but moved to Africa at 14, becoming chief agent for a slave trading company.
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The 1.2-metre sign was placed in front of King Charles the Martyr Church in Falmouth in the early hours of Sunday
'The People of Falmouth'
He died in 1700 while visiting his hometown on a business trip.
In 2023, a consultation was held on the memorial's future, with the church deciding it would remain but be used as "a focus for racial reconciliation".
However, a March 2025 report by historian Dr Alice Kinghorn stated that the memorial glorifying a slave trader is "inappropriate in a place of worship."
He agreed that "churches are not the most appropriate space to teach people about chattel enslavement".
Thomas Corker was born in Falmouth but moved to Africa at 14, becoming chief agent for a slave trading company
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A spokesperson for the anonymous group warned: "The Falmouth slave trader memorial is a blot on our town. As such, we will continue to escalate our actions until the church addresses the ongoing harm it causes."
The activists stated they would take "further action" if the memorial isn't "either removed or displayed alongside a clear, prominent and uncensored acknowledgement of Corker's atrocities".
They added: "We the people of Falmouth welcome the new Bishop Williams and look forward to his proactive leadership in this matter."
