Interfaith Week 2022 was marked across the whole diocese with a full slate of events and activities.
Amongst the activities, Roses for Peace were handed out in in Huddersfield, which are white roses with words for peace from the Holy Bible & Holy Qu’ran attached.
This was organised by the North Kirklees Interfaith Forum, and the Revd Mark Umpleby, of the United Benefice of Batley.
Also in Huddersfield, a faith walk took place, walking from church to Hindu temple, to the Masjid Usman, (Huddersfield's oldest mosque), then finally to the Gurdwara at Springwood.
Those taking part learned about what we have in common, embracing our differences, and shared hospitality.
Bradford Cathedral hosted the ‘Child of Empire’ exhibition, which is an animated VR docu-drama about the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan.
This was in the Cathedral for all of Interfaith Week, and culminated in the viewing of ‘Lost Migrations’, a three-part animated anthology that explores the memory, loss, and trauma that accompanied the Partition of British India.
At Halifax Minster the Revd Canon Hilary Barber, Vicar at the Minster, hosted a meeting for clergy and imams with the Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford, as keynote speaker.
Revd Hilary is also the co-Chair of Interfaith Network for UK, and was in Parliament for the IFN event in Portcullis House for MPs and Peers which was opened by The Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Chair of the APPG on Faith and Society, and was attended by the Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds.
Wellsprings Together led a session for small faith-based groups for help with access to funding.
On Thursday, November 17, the Revd Jenny Ramsden, Diocesan Interfaith Adviser, organised an interfaith cooking event hosted by the Immanuel Project in Bradford.
The Immanuel Project is a charity who work to offer a welcoming space and hot food to the homeless and vulnerable.
A small group, comprising members of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, spent a morning cooking curry for one hundred of their guests, ably led by Near Neighbours coordinator Kaneez Khan.
The event was supported by Bishop Toby.
On Saturday, November 19, the Revd Canon Rachel Firth, Vicar of Huddersfield, attended and spoke at an interfaith Remembrance and Volunteer Appreciation Evening.
As part of the event, Revd Rachel said: “During this interfaith week it has been good to think not just of what we have in common in our faith, but about our differences too.
“Our different faith and belief groups are not the same.
“We don’t all believe the same things – and none of us have a monopoly.
“Each belief system defines itself differently and has different cultural connections here in Huddersfield and across the globe.
“And that’s good – difference is something we are learning together to celebrate in one another.
“If we are able to understand and embrace our differences from one another, we are less vulnerable to those who would manipulate our faith to draw us into conflicts which are not God’s will.”