A PRAYER walk was held in Hyde Park, London, on Friday to “reclaim” the Christian symbol of St George’s flag by remembering people born in other countries who fought for, contributed to, and “enriched” Britain.
The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams was among the many bishops, clergy, and lay people to affix the walk, which paused on the Commonwealth Memorial Gates. This commemorates the lads and ladies from the Indian subcontinent, Africa, the Caribbean, and other Commonwealth countries who died within the Second World War. A big cross of woven red poppies and roses was held in front of considered one of the memorials at this site in remembrance of those that sacrificed their lives. Against the white memorial stone, this made the form of a St George’s flag.
Holly-Anna Petersen, who attended the walk, said: “The act of making the St George’s flag in this manner was done to reclaim the flag as an inclusive symbol for Britain, and to make sure that, as a Christian emblem, it reflects the Christian principle of loving thy neighbour.”
Lord Williams said: “It is greater than time to challenge the story that each migrant approaching our shores is an unfriendly alien with unintelligible and hostile values. It is important for us to see, not enemy invaders, but vulnerable people like us, committed to finding safety for themselves and people they love. It is the peak of injustice to carry communities accountable for the crimes of people and to market lazy, hurtful, stereotypes.”
He continued: “Christian culture, about which we hear a lot from some quarters, is predicated simply on the popularity that we share common human needs and that we’re given strength and generosity in Christ’s Spirit to serve those needs wherever they seem, and to welcome the gifts that strangers offer us.”
Some of the Christians involved within the prayer walk were founding members of the newly formed voluntary group Christians for a Welcoming Britain, which highlights these Christian values. Some walkers reflected on the growing inequality within the UK.
The Vicar of St Peter and St Paul’s, Chaldon, the Revd Helen Burnett, said: “A small variety of mega-rich persons are amassing ever-increasing fortunes, which is draining the country, leaving on a regular basis people struggling to make ends meet. It’s immoral that we’re seeing migrants used as scapegoats for this and being blamed for the shortage of public funds resulting from years of deliberate austerity.
“Asylum seekers didn’t create this crisis; their plight has been manipulated to vilify them, when the very fact is that they’re struggling for an honest life like everyone else.”
The Bishop of Croydon, Dr Rosemarie Mallett, agreed. She said: “We live in very trying times, and the cost-of-living crisis isn’t abating. . . All too often the media focus is on migration, while the basis causes remain unaddressed.”
She concluded: “We must reject any narrative that claims the cross is an emblem of exclusion. The cross calls us to a lifetime of love and sacrifice.”
Acts of remembrance, church services, and parades were held in towns and cities across the country on Sunday. The Church of England’s national service was filmed across three locations: HMS Excellent in Portsmouth, RAF Cranwell, and the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre at Beckett House.
In a video message, the Archbishop of York issued a prayer “as we remember all those that died in warfare, and those that gave their lives for the peace that we enjoy, and mindful that there’s a lot warfare and conflict in our world today”.
The diocese of Blackburn produced special videos filmed on location at South Ribble War Memorial near Lostock Hall. Released on Remembrance Sunday, with more to be shown on 11 November, they feature schoolchildren from nearby Cuerden Church School, with their headteacher Mrs Nicola Sherry, and the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Revd Philip North.
