A vigil for peace, remembrance and unity was held in Oxford last night. Led by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Steven Croft, and Imam Monawar Hussain, founder of The Oxford Foundation, as co-chairs of the Oxfordshire Civic, Community and Faith Leaders' Group.
Despite the rain almost 250 people gathered at New Road Baptists Church to hear prayers and readings were shared from Oxfordshire’s diverse communities before a two-minute silence was held, lit by candlelit. In a poignant moment, the Revd Naomi Gardom, accompanied by Jack Evans, sang the protest song Where have all the flowers gone, and people spontaneously joined in.
Welcoming those who attended, Bishop Steven said: “Our purpose is simply to be together, and to be here. Thank you for being here, for doing something in the face of the helplessness that we all feel, in the face of these terrible events.”
Louise Gordon, co vice president of the Oxford Jewish Congregation, shared this prayer: “Yet in sharing our pain we share also our prayer. Praying in our distinctive faith and value systems, languages and voices but with the single message; we pray for peace even as we hold our breath dreading the prospect of more conflict and bloodshed ahead. We reach across the things that could divide us, clasping hands in friendship and clinging to hope.”
Imam Monawar added: “We come together at a moment of war and appalling human suffering, pain and injury in the Middle East and beyond. We hold in our thoughts and prayers those who have lost their lives, the grieving the injured the vulnerable and the fragile.”
Linda Atkins, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire spoke of His Majesty the King’s priority to foster a strong sense of community and described the vigil as a ‘testament to the strong bonds which we have in Oxford and Oxfordshire’.
The Leader of Oxford City Council, Cllr Susan Brown said she was proud of the way Oxford had come together over the last year. She added: “We come together today in peace and solidarity irrespective of our faith or background. I pledge in the city of Oxford we will continue to work together to ensure hate and prejudice have no place here. People of all faiths and none and of every background, must, and will feel safe, welcome and at home.”
They were joined by the vice chancellors of Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University, Prof Irene Tracey and Prof Alistair Fitt respectively, Dr Gian Gopal MBE said a Hindu prayer, Jo Lane led the Buddhist peace chant ‘nam myoho renge kyo’ and a Baháʼí prayer was shared by Rebecca Vickers. Oxford MP Annalise Dodds was among those who attended.
The vigil was timed to remember the events of 7 October last year and to reflect on recent events in the Middle East and beyond. It follows a similar event held in Broad Street in Oxford in November last year.
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