ROADS were packed, tents were pitched, and crowds wearing their Sunday best were out in droves, as thousands of people gathered in Jamaica to hear the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, speak to mark the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

One of Britain's most influential church leaders, Dr Sentamu was the preacher at Jamaica's bicentenary celebration of the abolition of slavery.

Dr Sentamu spoke to the crowds in Jamaica's National Arena against the evils of the transatlantic slave trade and sent out a message to work with humility and for the grassroots.

"God rejoices in the fact that he created each one of you. That is the greatest message of the sermon this morning, be yourself and don't try and be somebody else," he said.

Quoting a sermon from the Archbishop of Zanzibar, he asked the people to reach out and work at the grassroots: "Go out to the highways and byways look for the people who have lost hope and those who are struggling to make good.

"Have Jesus on your lips and the world in your heart, you have been called to freedom to work with justice and to embrace responsibility."

The Right Reverend Dr Alfred Reid, Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, said the visit of Dr Sentamu highlighted the significance of the Anglican Church in the abolition of slavery.

"It is common to invite people to speak, but he is a person who embodies freedom, he is a champion for justice," he said.

"We are very fortunate that the second most senior Primate of the Communion is a native of Africa. This will give us an opportunity of linking with our roots."

Dr Sentamu was a guest of the Diocese of Jamaica and was awarded an honorary doctor of law degree at the University of the West Indies at a convocation at the university's Mona campus.

The Archbishop's talk on slavery follows his "walk of witness" earlier this year where he led thousands of pilgrims' carrying a giant cross through London to repent for the Church of England's complicity in the slave trade.

Primate adds his voice to album

MEET York's latest music star - none other than the city's Archbishop!

Dr John Sentamu took a break from the day job to provide the lyrics for a track on Christian band Psalm Drummers' latest album. He recites a passage from chapter 3 of Ephesians, against a jazz-style backing, with cymbal and piano.

The Press's arts reporter Charles Hutchinson said: "Since his arrival in York, the Archbishop has been spreading the message in diverse, novel, exciting and memorable ways and this is another imaginative leap of faith - pun intended. He sure has rhythm as well as a message in that wonderful sonorous voice."

The track appears on the album Rhythms Of Fire on One Voice records.