Exeter unites to celebrate Inter Faith Week
As part of a national initiative, Inter Faith Week is being marked in the UK, including Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay, and will see a number of local events in the county.
The week helps to strengthen positive relations between faith and belief communities and highlight the contributions they make to our wider society, recalling that all people have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
On Friday 23rd November an open silent vigil will be held at Bedford Square in Exeter to remember those who suffer intolerance and violence for their beliefs in different parts of the world.
The week continues with an Interfaith Celebration at Exeter University’s Cornwall House on Saturday 24th November from 11.00am, with dance, music, food, discussion, story-telling and other activities from some 8 different faith and belief traditions.
In a unique venture, Devon United Women are organising a public Halal-Kosher event on Sunday 25th November from 12 to 3pm at the Hub on The Green in Exeter. This will be an opportunity for Muslim and Jewish women to come together to share food and dialogue in a new creative partnership.
Other activities include a MultiCultural Choir, story-telling for children and adults, and a film night in Plymouth.
Nationally, a sporting flavour marks a number of events this year with ex-footballer Fabrice Muamba kicking off Inter Faith Week at a Greater Manchester inter faith groups’ event in Bolton; Dame Tessa Jowell (former Olympics Minister) due to speak at a Women’s Interfaith Network event, and a presentation from Quaker Peter Green, who was part of the multi faith chaplaincy team at the Olympics and Paralympics.
Martyn Goss, Secretary of the Devon Faith & Belief Forum which supports the week, said, ‘At a time of such tensions around the world between communities, Inter Faith Week can demonstrate the importance of deepening mutual respect for what we all share in common – our humanity and our planet. It is from understanding each other more closely that we can together promote peace through justice.’
