Tolpuddle and Trade Unions

The revival of the Christian faith that gave birth to the Methodist Church also inspired men and women to understand the dignity of work, the decency of a fair wage, and the right to express their views freely.

In 1834 six farm workers from the village of Tolpuddle in Dorset were convicted of taking part in ‘unlawful oaths’ and were sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia. Their ‘crime’ was that they had organised the Tolpuddle Friendly Society of Agricultural Workers to improve their wages from seven shillings (35 pence) a week!

All six men were convinced Christians and five belonged to the Methodist Church; two of them were lay-preachers. George Loveless spent every Sunday, his only day off, preaching in local chapels. In prison he wrote a poem to express his faith; here is part of it:

God is our guide! No swords we draw.
We kindle not war’s battle fires:
By reason, union, justice, law,
We claim the birthright of our sires:
We raise the watchword, liberty,
We will, we will, we will be free!

Their sacrifice inspired others. In 1934 the Trades Union Congress placed this inscription on the grave of one of the six ‘James Hammett, Tolpuddle, Martyr, Pioneer of Trades Unionism, Champion of freedom’. Many early trades union officials came from local chapels. George Lansbury was a devout Methodist and Labour Party leader in parliament during the 1930s. He was typical of many who continued this tradition by their tireless efforts for better working conditions.

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