17 May 2012

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Responding to the London riots

This page will be a single point of reference where you can find information about how we are responding to the recent riots in London.

Any emails that have been sent widely to clergy and/or parish officers will appear here, as will links to statements made by the bishops through the media.

Diocesan clergy: please continue to use your Area contact points. Prebendary Nick Mercer (Email: nick.mercer [at] london.anglican.org) is also available should you wish to discuss or report anything further. The Diocesan media team (020 7618 9106 / dioceseoflondon (Email: dioceseoflondon [at] luther.co.uk)) is on hand to hear your stories and to help you communicate them.

If your church is hosting a special service in response, consider adding details to the Events section of the diocesan website. (You may need to register, but that only takes a few seconds.)

The Hackney community responds to the riots

18 August 2011 By

Over 300 people gathered in Hackney to reassert the positive community spirit of the area in the face of the recent riots. The community tea party, which was organised by St John at Hackney Church, was timed exactly a week after the trouble broke out and took place on Clarence Road, which was badly affected by the riots.

The news item about this event is here.

The Revd Betsy Blatchley, who is Vicar of St Luke’s Hackney and a relative newcomer to Hackney, has written about this event, and other ways the church communities have responded to last week’s riots.

“Last Monday (8th August) instead of a relaxed coffee with Fr Rob Wickham, Rector of Hackney, as part of my ‘welcome to Hackney’ I found myself in the midst of the riots in Hackney town centre. We avoided ‘missiles’, talked to residents, local business people, police and looters, watched cars burn and most of all prayed for our community. On Tuesday morning we gathered on the steps of the Town Hall with a crowd of about 200 who had, mostly, come to offer their help in the ‘clean-up’ (which had actually been undertaken with great efficiency by the local authority).

“We walked down Mare Street and Clarence Rd and stood for a two minute silence as a sign of peace and solidarity with the people of Hackney. In the days that followed it was both saddening but also a great privilege to spend time walking the streets of Hackney with other clergy, and with the new Bishop of Stepney, listening to people’s stories, hearing their anger or confusion, and mulling on the whole range of possible solution that were being offered.

“On Wednesday lunchtime a Community Prayer Vigil was held in the grounds of St John at Hackney, which was attended by many residents, church and other faith leaders, community leaders, police and local politicians. We listened to Fr Rob Wickham, The Bishop of Stepney, Meg Hillier MP, the Speaker of the Council and, maybe most affectingly, a young representative of TELCO London Citizens’ City Safe project all speak of their feelings in relation to the events of Monday night.

“Today, a week on (Monday 15th August), the local churches are coming together again with local shopkeepers, community and residents associations to host a Community Tea on Clarence Road, where some of the worst of the violence and destruction were seen, and where the local newsagents was completely trashed and looted. The hope is that this simple event – serving tea and cakes – will provide an opportunity for many different groups in the community to come together to tell their stories and listen to each other. Between 5-6pm – just when, last Monday, so much anger, conflict and destruction was spilling out onto the streets of Hackney – we hope that today people will be able to draw a little close to their ‘neighbours’ as fellow human beings and simply enjoy each other’s company.”

Filed Under: Featured articles, Responding to the London riots

News from visits to affected areas

11 August 2011 By
Tottenham Vigil of Hope 9 August

The Bishop of Edmonton, the Rt Revd Peter Wheatley, at the Tottenham Vigil of Hope

I have just returned from visiting Enfield and Tottenham to see something of the wreckage left behind by the riots and to meet policemen and women who are in the front line of protecting our communities.

It is obviously vital not to stigmatise a whole generation. There are huge numbers of hopeful and high achieving young people in London but we do have a problem with a minority. Behind the opportunists who joined in the disturbances there is the reality of a criminal gang culture.

One of the difficulties for the police has been dealing with street violence, while under the cover of the disturbances and the arson, which could so easily have cost lives, highly mobile groups of looters have been on the rampage.

What has occurred should be condemned unequivocally and as the first of those arrested appear before magistrates and as stolen property is already being recovered, it is right to pay tribute to the bravery of the police who have regained control of our streets.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Ad clerum, DCG, Featured articles, Responding to the London riots

Emergency4London appeal

11 August 2011 By

Thanks to the generosity of a City donor we have been able to make £15,000 immediately available to Area Bishops to enable frontline parishes to respond to immediate needs without having to worry about finance.

A number of churchwardens and individual parishioners have been in touch wanting to give and have suggested retiring collections this Sunday.

Anyone who wishes to respond in this or other ways are asked to claim Gift Aid locally and send a cheque payable to ‘London Diocesan Fund’ for the gross amount to Diocesan House (c/o Helen Simmons, 36 Causton Street, London SW1P 4AU) marked ‘Emergency4London’.

This money will be used for immediate contingencies as well as to help parishes in reaching out to young people, and making the love of Christ visible especially to those caught up in gang culture. We are a people of hope and we want our children and young people to grow up with a sense of hope for themselves and for our world.

Filed Under: Responding to the London riots

Bishop of London: Today programme and Radio 5 Live Breakfast

11 August 2011 By

Bishop Richard spoke twice this morning about how we are responding to the riots:

Filed Under: Responding to the London riots

Advice from Ecclesiastical Insurance

10 August 2011 By

We have received the following advice from Ecclesiastical Insurance: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Care of Churches, Property, Responding to the London riots

Eucharist at St Paul’s for peace and justice on 14 August

10 August 2011 By

On Sunday 14 August at 6pm, the Eucharist will be celebrated at St Paul’s Cathedral in prayer for peace and justice for London and the other towns and cities affected by civil unrest, for the churches, community leaders, emergency services, and victims of crime.

All are welcome.

A prayer for our towns and cities at a time of unrest
Almighty God and Lord of life,
we pray for the peace and flourishing of our city.
Protect the weak and vulnerable,
comfort all who have lost homes and businesses,
protect and guide the emergency services;
and all for your name’s sake. Amen

From the St Paul’s website.

Filed Under: Responding to the London riots

Bishop of Stepney on BBC London Breakfast Show

10 August 2011 By

Bishop Adrian spoke to Gaby Roslin and Paul Ross this morning about how the Church is working in the local community.

Via BBC iPlayer. Starts at 2hr 44mins 20secs and available until 16 August.

Filed Under: Responding to the London riots

London riots: message from the Bishop of London

9 August 2011 By

A message addressed to clergy and parish officers in the Diocese of London

The events of the past few days in London are appalling – but not wholly unexpected. Whatever the real motivations of those who have brought violence to our streets, there will be a proper time for sober analysis and an assessment of the role of gang culture in the capital.

For now, the other side of the story of violence and looting is the swift response of communities across London in clearing up the debris and caring for the victims of what has happened. Our churches are already at the forefront of this.

The Bishop of Edmonton last night attended a vigil for peace in Tottenham, at the heart of where the troubles began, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with local politicians and other Christian leaders in calling for an end to the violence. Nearby, St Mary the Virgin on Lansdowne Road has been helping those whose homes and businesses have been affected, including distributing meals and providing hot water and mobile phone charging for those left without electricity, to ensure they can remain in touch with loved ones.

As trouble reached East London yesterday evening, Bishop Adrian and Fr Rob Wickham were on the streets helping those they could as panic spread through Hackney. I know that many others among you have been helping in similar ways across the Diocese.

What has happened illustrates the importance of the Church’s increased commitment to youth provision in our parishes over the past few years, together with the work of Christian charities like XLP in engaging with hard-to-reach young people. The need to sustain the ecumenical work which has been done over the years in areas like Tottenham is now readily apparent to all.

The situation is unpredictable and it is important that we keep in touch and support one another with prayer and practical assistance. You should continue to use your Area contact points but Prebendary Nick Mercer (Email: nick.mercer [at] london.anglican.org) is also available should you wish to discuss or report anything further. The Diocesan media team (020 7618 9106 / dioceseoflondon (Email: dioceseoflondon [at] luther.co.uk)) is on hand to hear your stories and to help you communicate them.

With thanks for our partnership in the gospel in season and out of season.

Filed Under: Ad clerum, Responding to the London riots

Message from Bishop Pete to all Willesden Clergy

9 August 2011 By

We’re all shocked and horrified at what’s been happening these past few days in our communities across London. Whatever sparked the original violence in Tottenham, the copycat looting and pillaging is not a legitimate form of protest – people are, sadly, trashing their own localities. There are many questions to be asked about how we have created a society in which greed and consumerism combine to make people desire commodities and are prepared to steal in order to get them. And where young people see the destruction of property as a form of fun and entertainment. Relationships between the police and young people in many parts of London are fragile – and we will need to work hard at rebuilding them in the aftermath of all this. But there’s no excuse for lawlessness, either. Criminal behaviour mustn’t prosper.

Our Christian response must be to pray – for the peace and good of our cities. Where appropriate and safe, we may wish to open our churches for prayer and practical support for local people. There are clean-up operations going on in Ealing and other places where we can be involved practically. And where we are in contact with local youth, we should be doing what we can to persuade them to stay off the streets.

I know that the Bishops of Edmonton and Stepney have been out on the streets to pray, support and encourage. We need to seek the good of all, and work and pray for justice, peace and the rule of law in our communities.

The Bishop of Edmonton and the Archdeacon of Hampstead are currently handling diocesan responses to the situation.

Pete Broadbent
Bishop of Willesden

Filed Under: Responding to the London riots, Willesden

Pray4London on Tuesday 9 August

9 August 2011 By

People are being asked to pray for the restoration of order and for peace in our city and to pray for safety and understanding.

This can be done anywhere – at home, at work, or at church.

Useful links

Filed Under: Responding to the London riots