Reclaiming Narratives
Where would we be without Black people? Revd Polly shares a special story for school children, exploring just how different everyday life could be if there were no Black people in the world...
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What a difference three years makes
Over the past three years, the Diocese of Oxford have taken some important steps toward promoting racial justice and inclusion within our community. Through various initiatives, we’ve been working to create a more welcoming and equitable environment for everyone involved — whether clergy, staff, or congregants — contributing to the wider conversation about racial justice within the Church of England.
Read more about the achievements of Polly and the team over the last few years.
Collect for Black History Month
Compassionate God,
who sent Jesus Christ to deliver us from all manner of injustices and inequalities,
create in us new hearts and enlarged visions,
to see the image of God in every person,
irrespective of background, race and ethnicity.
May we be generous in our love of others
as we work towards ending misunderstandings, racism and injustice, creating communities of human flourishing,
through Jesus Christ your son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever
Amen
FAQs for parishes
Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions
You are welcome to email questions relating to racial justice and racial bias if you are unable to find the answers. We aim to reply within 14 days.
United Kingdom Minority Ethic.
The Church of England uses this and GMH (Global Majority Heritage) to describe minority communities in the UK.
Their name
There are very few occasions when we need to refer to someone by their ethnicity. We can all be described by the clothes we are wearing or where we are sitting for example. Think about why you need to refer to a person’s race, colour, ethnicity or religion before you do so.
The Windrush Generation were turned away by the Anglican and other churches.
When people came in from 1948 onwards from the Caribbean, they were invited by the British government. They were British subjects who were needed to rebuild Britain after the devastation of World War 2. Many British residents moved away due to the state of the country, to start a new life. This left a shortage of labour. Many came to the UK as Anglicans. Unfortunately, they were not welcomed in the churches and therefore developed their own churches.
Try asking them directly.
It may be that their life experience has been one of rejection for so long that they think you don't mean them. That they are not included. A conversation with individuals can make a huge difference.
Have a quiet word with them.
If you are genuinely finding it difficult to understand someone because of their accent. It is OK to have a word them and explain that you are finding it difficult. Be kind. It is not a fault. Engaging in a conversation with them can be fruitful. Together you might agree for example that it would help if the minister slows their speech down a little.