Bishop Tony became the first Bishop of Wakefield to be invited to speak to members of a Mosque in Wakefield after Friday prayers.
The Imam at Markazi Jamia Mosque in Grange had invited Bishop Tony to speak about the greater need of community cohesion following recent world events including Paris, the shopping mall in Beirut and the Russian airliner.
Said Bishop Tony: “It was a great honour to be invited by my friends at the Mosque to speak to the community about the importance of Christians and Muslims working together for the common good in Wakefield.
“Faith is in the news almost everyday and often it is negative and particularly critical of Muslims in England. The vast majority of Muslims are devout and rejoice in the freedoms they have in this country. They want to integrate but need friends to help them to do that. I am sure there is much we can do together in the coming months and years to increase understanding and mutual respect.
Bishop Tony spoke about the need for local Christians and Muslims to work closer together in Wakefield after Friday prayers – when the community attends to hear a sermon from the Imam and to take part in Juma prayers.
Bishop Tony said he was very encouraged by the visit and hopes to set up regular meetings between Clergy and Imams in the New Year.
TONIGHT: Community cohesion will be at the top of the agenda when the Wakefield Interfaith Group welcome Baroness Sayeeda Warsi to give the group's first annual lecture in Wakefield Cathedral. All welcome. Dec 11th Starts at 7pm