Bradford Cathedral, in collaboration with Bradford For Everyone and the Bradford Hate Crime Alliance, is set to host a Service of Hope and Remembrance as part of this year’s National Hate Crime Awareness Week.
Scheduled for Monday, 16th October at 7:30 pm, the event will kick off with a warm welcome from Revd Canon Ned Lunn of Bradford Cathedral and the Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd Dr Toby Howarth. The programme will feature contributions from local schools, live musical performances, and a keynote address from the West Yorkshire Police.
Additionally, there will be a brief segment involving members of the Bradford Hate Crime Alliance. This will be followed by a discussion, incorporating prayers and reflections, on the faith-based response to hate crime.
At the conclusion of the service, representatives from various faith communities will unite to light a single candle. This symbolic gesture will remain ablaze throughout the week, signifying our ongoing dedication to stand with and support one another.
Doors for the event will open at 7:15 pm, preceding the commencement at 7:30 pm, and will be succeeded by complimentary refreshments (tea, coffee, juice, biscuits) at approximately 8:30 pm.
This service falls within the dates of National Hate Crime Awareness Week, observed this year from the 14th to the 21st of October, with a particular focus on ‘religiously motivated hate’.
The Revd Ned Lunn, Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts at Bradford Cathedral, says; “We are proud to be hosting an interfaith service at Bradford Cathedral to, again, celebrate our city’s long and meaningful history of interfaith relationships.
“We are working with Bradford Council and Bradford Hate Crime Alliance to begin the week by standing alongside people of other faiths and sharing, from our different faith traditions, how we are called to honour and respect people across religious divides.”
Cllr Abdul Jabar, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, said; “This will be a special way to start Hate Crime Awareness Week in the Bradford district bringing together people of all faiths to stand together and reflect on our work to reduce hate crime and make the district a place where everyone feels safe.”
The Rt Revd Dr Toby Haworth, Bishop of Bradford, says; “I look forward to welcoming everyone to Bradford Cathedral to this important service to mark the start of National Hate Crime Awareness Week.
“This service will be an important opportunity for our different faith communities to come together and to reflect on some of the difficult challenges we collectively face, such as hate crime. We know that we are stronger together, when we ‘Spread Love Not Hate’.”
For further details and to secure your complimentary spot, please visit service-hope-remembrance.eventbrite.co.uk
