William & Mark, UAL Chaplains, would like to offer our prayers and friendship to our Muslim brothers and sisters at UAL at this time of horror and sorrow, in the aftermath of the Christchurch attack.
As people of faith we stand with you in solidarity and are committed to working to bring about peace and respect between people of all faiths in our communities.
Prayers for peace were said on Wednesday 20 March in a special service in the Activities Studio at 272 High Holborn where we were joined by members of UAL Islamic Society and many other staff and students.
An open letter from clergy and faith representatives in Westminster, London to the worshippers of the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand
We are a group of clergy and faith representatives from seven world religions, including Islam, in Westminster, London that have been meeting regularly for over three years. Members of our interfaith forum meet in each other’s centres to foster good inter-religious relations and promote community cohesion. Our meetings are convened under the auspices of Interfaith Matters, a United Kingdom based registered charity.
All members of our forum categorically condemn the murderous and merciless attack on Muslim worshippers attending their Jumu’ah (Friday) prayers.
We express our respect to the emergency services and gratitude to all who have offered sympathy and support since. At this time of suffering and sorrow, we add our heartfelt comfort and condolences to all that have been touched by this tragedy.
As clergy and faith representatives, this heinous act of hatred does nothing other than reinforce our resolve to work together. We ask only that the memory of those who died serves as a blessing that we may all live by the ways of peace.
They are us
Bhava Bhakti devi dasi, Radha and Krishna Temple, ISKCON London
Brother Ivan Vodopivec, Notre Dame de France Roman Catholic Church, London
Canon Pat Browne, Roman Catholic Duty Priest to the UK Parliament and Parish Priest of the Holy Apostles Church, Pimlico, London
Fr Michael Donaghy, Chaplain, Westminster Cathedral, London
Imam Abdul Haque, former Imam to Westminster Muslim Cultural Centre, London
Jai Nitai dasa, Radha and Krishna Temple, ISKCON London
Lesley Taherzadeh O’Mara, Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Westminster
Meeno Chawla, City Sikhs Ambassador
Rabbi (Emeritus) Dr Thomas Salamon, Westminster Synagogue
Rabbi Barry Lerer, Central Synagogue, London
Rabbi Benji Stanley, Westminster Synagogue
Rabbi Helen Freeman, West London Synagogue of British Jews
Rabbi Sam Taylor, Community Rabbi, Western Marble Arch Synagogue
Sheikh Alomgir Ali, Founder, Tawfiq Online Learning and former Imam of the Victoria Islamic Cultural and Education Centre
Sister Catherine Jones, Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary, Notre Dame de France Roman Catholic Church, London
The Revd Anthony Ball, Canon Steward and Almoner, Westminster Abbey
The Revd Catherine Duce, Assistant Curate, St Stephen’s Rochester Row
The Revd Matthew Catterick, Vicar, St Saviour’s Church, Pimlico
The Revd Graham M Buckle, Vicar of St Stephen’s with St John’s, Westminster
The Revd James Johnston, Assistant Curate, St Matthew’s Westminster / St Mary le Strand, London
The Revd John Pearson-Hicks, St Barnabas Pimlico
The Revd Jon Dal Din, Director, Westminster Interfaith
The Revd Lucy Winkett, Rector, St James’s Church Piccadilly, Westminster
The Revd Mark Dean, Chaplain and Interfaith Advisor, University of the Arts London
The Revd Michael Redman, Anglican Bishop’s Interfaith Adviser for City of Westminster and City of London
The Revd Owen Higgs, Vicar, St Gabriel, Pimlico
The Revd Philip Chester, Vicar of St Matthew, Westminster and Area Dean of Westminster (St Margaret)
The Revd Ralph Williamson, Vicar of St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square, London
The Revd Ru hai Shi, International Buddhist Progress Society UK
The Revd William Whitcombe, Priest in Ordinary to HM The Queen and Chaplain University of the Arts London
Veronica Wetten, London Fo Guang Shan Temple
Steven Derby, Director, Interfaith Matters
March 2019