Birmingham: people of all faiths walk for peace

Vincent Nichols, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, said: "Birmingham has much to be proud of in terms of its interfaith relations" as he addressed pilgrims in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral at the start of the 2002 Interfaith Peace Walk on Saturday. He went on to say that days of this type build peace not only in those who take part but also in the city as a whole. Up to a hundred people joined the walk as it wended its way from Hockley to Moseley calling at the Unitarian Church, the Progressive Synagogue, St Catherine's RC Church, Birmingham Central Mosque, Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Shree Krishna Hindu Temple and the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order. The Baha'i faith led prayers in Balsall Heath Church Centre and during a stop in the Peace Gardens Zorastrians and Jains were remembered. Those who took part came from a wide range of religious backgrounds including most Christian denominations, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Baha'is and Buddhists. People came from all over the city and beyond with participants from Malvern, Stourton, Walsall and as far afield as Mozambique! Walking together and sharing refreshments at different places of worship everyone had a chance to talk to people from other faith traditions. The walk has forged links between communities and strengthened the shared commitment to peace in our city. This is now an annual event. Another walk will take place on the first Saturday of July 2003.