It is with great regret and sorrow that we hear of the recent terrorist attack in Quebec, Canada which resulted in the death of 6 Muslims and another 8 wounded inside a Mosque. This follows the complete burning of a Mosque in [Virginia, Texas] the day before.
With the rise of Hate Crime, we faith leaders of the London Borough of Lewisham unequivocally condemn such acts. We reassert our longstanding and cordial local relationships, support our Muslim brothers and sisters in the community, and pledge our continued work to keep Lewisham and beyond a safe, peaceful and hate-free place.
The leaders and prophets of our faiths taught peace; this remains a foundation stone. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this tragic incident and their grieving families.
Father Charles Pickstone – St Laurence Church
Reverend Dr Stephen Maunder – Superintendent Minister, Lewisham Methodist Churches
Imam Shakeel Begg – Lewisham Islamic Centre
Father Philip Corbett – St Stephen’s Vicarage, Lewisham
Mr Joe Burchell – Chair of Catford and Bromley Synagogue
Mr Raj Vallipuram – Trustee of London Sivan Temple
Father Steve Hall – St Mary’s Lewisham
Reverend Carol Bostridge -Lewisham Street Pastors Co-ordinator and District Minister for London Baptist Association
Reverend Canon Peter Farley-Moore – St John’s Deptford
Father Chris Connor – St Saviour’s Catholic Church, Lewisham
The Venerable Alastair Cutting – Archdeacon of Lewisham & Greenwich