Dear colleagues,

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912). Yep, you may rightly pause! Please read again – carefully.

You’re correct if you think I typed the second two names in the wrong order. You’re correct if you think I got the dates wrong. However, you’re only correct if you think my introductory reflection is about Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772 – 1834), our famous poet, literary critic, philosopher, theologian, son of a CofE vicar, and founder of the Romantic Movement with his friend William Wordsworth.

However, you’re incorrect if the above paragraph applies to your thinking. This reflection really is about Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912). Born in Holborn, London, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s mum was a young white woman. His dad, Daniel Hughes Taylor was a doctor from Sierra Leone, who he never met. Aged five, Samuel was given a violin by his grandad and when he played, everyone listened.  With an outstanding gift for musical appreciation his Headteacher urged him to join a local choir. Aged 15 he became a student at the prestigious Royal College of Music.

Samuel excelled as a pianist, violinist and composer. The famous composer Sir Edward Elgar (whose famous orchestral works include the Enigma Variations, the Pomp & Circumstance Marches and his choral work, The Dream of Geronitus) hailed Samuel as ‘by far and away the cleverest fellow going amongst the young men’. In 1900 the first ever Pan-African Conference was held in Westminster Town Hall. Samuel was the youngest delegate to attend, and arranged music for the momentous event, that campaigned for the Liberation of Black people, and African independence from colonising European nations.

Sadly, Samuel was only 37 when he died of pneumonia - his death is often attributed to the stress of his financial situation, as composers and performers were far from rich. His excessive work commitment led to exhaustion.  King George Vth granted Jessie Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel’s young widow, an annual pension of £100, evidence of the high regard in which the composer was held – shown by the several thousand people who attended his funeral.  

As a teacher of Secondary history at GCSE and A level, examiner and inspector over a significant period, I was acutely aware from undergraduate days and beyond, that much of our received and published British history, was / is from a predominantly male, white perspective. This therefore often by-passed, intentionally, and unintentionally, the perspective and focus on both women and those people of Global Majority Heritage. Hence our narrow and partial history in books and curricula – but things have got better. Thankfully, and to address an incomplete picture of our shared and received past, things continue to be revised and updated for a better perspective that is more factual, representative and real.

Next week the annual Black History Month begins; offering insights into areas that are generally not known or noted; offering opportunities for enlightenment and education; celebrating the lives and contributions of many GMH Britons, both current and historic. When we are talking ‘history’ we can slip into thinking ‘historical events’, which is understandable. But events of course always involve, are initiated and completed by real people. These real people are in the famous words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu ‘the rainbow people of God’. I commend to you the opportunity this month to intentionally take time to add to your knowledge, to notice how our multicultural country has a rich and beautiful past that many more than predominantly white, middle and upper-class men have helped realise. It’s also a time for Christians to remind ourselves of the Biblical messages of equality , respect and fundamental fact that we are all God’s children and all made in His image – regardless of our age, colour, background.

Thank you for your presence and all you are and do in our communities.

Best wishes

Jeff