Churches have responded to the high incidence of knife crime and violence, especially amongst young people in London, with a rally in Trafalgar Square on 6 April 2019, designed to show support for all who have been affected. Watch the video above to find out more about the important message behind the rally.
It was well attended and featured contributions from many Church leaders, including Cardinal Vincent Nichols from the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and seven bishops from the Church of England. The rally was organised by the Ascension Trust, London City Mission, Churches Together In Britain and Ireland and Southwark Diocese.
The rally is the first part of ongoing work by a growing coalition of churches, para-church groups, Christian agencies and organisations working to end serious youth violence in Britain and Ireland. It will include a website, aimed at being a hub that captures everything that the churches are doing to combat serious youth violence, and will include organisations, groups and churches that have developed programmes or resources on this issue.
You can read reports on the rally on The Voice and Premier.
Keep up-to-date on the Churches Standing Together website.
Read a briefing paper on serious youth violence by Richard Reddie, Director of Justice and Inclusion at CTBI.
From social media
Privilege to share with others from @chelmsdio in London Churches #StandingTogetherRally against youth violence at Trafalgar Sq: supporting families so marred and bereaved & praying for a better future @elwincockett @CottrellStephen pic.twitter.com/Tw3NRe8JX5
— Peter Hill (@peterhill92) April 6, 2019
A privilege to lead #StandingTogetherRally in prayer that we may show the love of Christ as peacemakers in our city @SouthwarkCofE @AscensionTrust pic.twitter.com/YdFLZiCIm7
— Jonathan Clark (@BishopofCroydon) April 6, 2019
A lot of church leaders and huge crowd here in Trafalgar Sq for #standtogetherrally – in solidarity with families bereaved through serious youth violence @CTBI pic.twitter.com/6UAw4M2J0G
— Peter Colwell (@PeterColwell) April 6, 2019
Good to speak at the #standingtogether rally against knife crime in Trafalgar Square.. Communities and churches supporting victims and working together to bring the violence down @RCWestminster @AscensionTrust @CardinalNichols @bishopSarahM pic.twitter.com/pDZ8XGbh14
— Sophie Linden (@SophieKLinden) April 6, 2019
.@bishopSarahM leads a time of lament #standingtogether pic.twitter.com/Vbh5katG3X
— Southwark Diocese (@SouthwarkCofE) April 6, 2019
