We committed ourselves, once again, to building healthy relationships of mutual respect and appreciation between communities and individuals of different faiths and cultures. We found ourselves in agreement across faiths about the importance of countering extremism, speaking out against hatred, building mutual understanding and remaining open and welcoming worshiping communities.

In that context it was especially heartbreaking to read with growing horror, early reports this morning of the attack outside the Muslim Welfare House in Finsbury Park.

On behalf of Church of England parishes across the Borough, I join the Rt Revd Adrian Newman, Bishop of Stepney, in condemning the horrific attack.

As Bishop Adrian said: “An attack on any faith is an attack on us all. As a Church, we stand together with Finsbury Park Mosque, in the wake of this morning’s appalling news. It sadly comes after a weekend, in memory of Jo Cox MP, that celebrated all that brings us together, and I know that the Mosque, hand-in-hand with other local faith and community groups, was at the heart of events in the Finsbury Park area. We will offer up our churches to help our friends at the Mosque in any way we can. We will not be cowed by those who seek to terrorise our communities.”

I will be supporting my clergy colleagues as we reach out in friendship to local Muslim centres of worship and express our solidarity and support.

Our heartfelt prayer continues to be that people of every race, culture and creed should have the freedom to worship and live as members of local communities here without fear of threat or prejudice. We will continue to do all we can to foster a society where this is the experience of every person.

Rev Richard Frank
Hounslow Area Dean
19th June 2017