Southwark Cathedral hosts interfaith evening.

On Thursday 26^th September the Dean, in partnership with Living Bankside, welcomed local people of many faiths to the Cathedral for a reading of poetry, a statement of joint commitment, and a tasty supper, kindly donated by local businesses.

Students Sahra Issa and Mehmet Diyenli read poems, including Sasa Akil’s ‘I grew up in a home of Allahuakbars and Amens’, and Arif Hussain led the gathering in saying:

Together we continue to commit ourselves to the values of hope over fear, unity over division and compassion over hatred.

Together we continue to commit ourselves to one another as friends, brothers and sisters.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

In his welcome, the Dean, Mark Oakley, said:

‘We all know that the world is a frightening place in many ways at the moment, and we also know that global hostilities can quickly become national hostilities, tensions on the other side of the world can, almost without noticing, become local. This means that those of us who live and work together in a locality need to do all we can to foster healthy and honest relationships, where we have, as it were, open doors to each other, nurturing friendships, and developing solidarity with each other even, and especially, in our difference, including people of all faiths and of none.

Here at the Cathedral we are fully committed to this important working together for the sake of Southwark and wider London, for the quality of the lives we lead and the relationships we can enjoy in such a richly diverse part of our city. Our new vision we have been developing at the Cathedral is focused on ‘making space’ for each other, and that tonight is exactly what we want to offer, space - space to be who you are, space to share that with each other, space to make new friends, making space for a future together.’

It was a pleasure to welcome Mrs Lynn Cooper, a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London, the Mayor of Southwark, Naima Ali, local councillors, and many representatives of faith communities and community organisations from Southwark and south London.