Middle East Vigil – Canterbury Cathedral

“We stand together across our differences, we create silence so that hope might grow and we foster solidarity to build a community in which where one hurts, everyone hurts”
Dean of Canterbury David Monteith.

Canterbury Cathedral is the latest cathedral to organise and host a vigil for peace in the Middle East.

The vigil will take place after Evensong next Monday (30 October) and will include representatives from local Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities and is for all the people of Canterbury of every background.

The Dean of Canterbury, the Very Revd David Monteith said:

“What can we do when faced with such violence and brokenness?

“We stand together across our differences, we create silence so that hope might grow, and we foster solidarity to build a community in which where one hurts, everyone hurts.

“Down the centuries people and pilgrims have looked to Canterbury for healing and transformation. Like them we now pray for fresh miracles,’ he added.

People are invited to bring battery-operated candles and gather outside Cathedral House in the Precincts.

There will be an opportunity for everyone to tie a white ribbon for peace, and a time of silence to remember the dead, kidnapped and injured.

Vigil of Solidarity for Peace in the Middle East Precints of Canterbury Cathedral – Monday 30 October 18.30-19.00

Canterbury Cathedral has stressed that this is a non-political event to remember and pray for all communities impacted in the Holy Land. Only flags or signs for peace may be displayed. No political slogans or other flags/symbols permitted in the Precincts.

Find a Prayer for the Middle East Conflict here.

Storm Babet did not deter people from coming together for a vigil for peace outside Carlisle Cathedral last Friday.

The vigil, organised by Carlisle One World, brought together a group of local people to reflect on and pray for peace in the Middle East.

One of the organisers posted this on Facebook:

“In our silence we could hear the wind in the trees, hardly any vehicles or sirens. But every poignant noise made us think of the 100 times louder noises, alarms, screams, sirens and bombs that have filled the skies of Gaza every night and day for the last two weeks. A speaker at the Carlisle One World AGM last week was evacuated from her work for a charity in the West Bank and shared stories about the horrors that children in both occupied areas have faced.”

Canterbury and Carlisle are the latest cathedrals to organise and host vigils. Vigils have already been held in Bradford, Coventry, Christ Church, Oxford and Salisbury. Prayers are offered every day in our cathedrals for peace in the Middle East.