Black History Month has begun, celebrating the power and pride of black communities, and our churches will be responding in a variety of ways.
Throughout the month people will be sharing what Black History Month means to them.
The Revd Wayne Simmonds, new Diocesan Racial Justice Officer, said: “This year’s Black History Month beckons us to reflect on what it means to Stand Firm in Power and Pride.
“It is a call to recognise and honour the dignity, resilience, and outstanding contributions of Black communities across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.
“As a church, it is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to justice and equality and to continue to create an environment where all of God’s children flourish.
“So, as we celebrate Black History Month let us use this great opportunity to celebrate all of God’s people who are fearfully and wonderfully created in God’s image.”
A parishioner from Huddersfield Parish Church shared what Black History Month means to them: “For me, Black Month is a time to celebrate the contributions the
Black people continue to make to the development our nation.
“Despite the challenges, we remain steadfast and have seized the opportunities to make positive contributions in every aspect of this great nation.”
Siaa-Liane Mathurin, Chief Officer of Wellsprings Together, said: “Black History Month holds deep meaning for me as a Black woman of Jamaican heritage and a follower of Christ.
“It is a time to honour the resilience and brilliance of my ancestors, while also giving thanks to God for their courage, faith, and endurance.
“The 2025 theme, “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” speaks to my own journey of faith: knowing that my worth and identity are rooted not only in my heritage but in being created in the image of God.
“For me, this month is both celebration and calling.
“It is a celebration of the gifts Black people have brought to Britain—creativity, leadership, faith, and strength—and a calling to continue the work of justice and reconciliation.
“My Christian faith compels me to stand against racism and inequality, just as Jesus stood with the marginalised and lifted the oppressed.
“Black History Month is therefore not just cultural but spiritual: it is a time to remember, repent, and renew our commitment to justice, mercy, and love.
“By standing firm together—in faith, power, and pride—we honour the past, challenge the present, and shape a future where every person can flourish as God intended.”
The Black History Month resource pack for 2025 can be found here.
The diocese will be holding a service to mark the month on Saturday, November 1 at St Margaret’s Thornbury.
More on this can be found here.