Jo Cox: Light dispels darkness
A light sculpture to shine out in the dark will be built by the congregation at a special service to remember murdered MP Jo Cox at Huddersfield Parish Church on Tuesday evening.
The service will see the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, the Mayor of Kirklees, Coun Jim Dodds, the three Kirklees MPs, Colne Valley's Jason McCartney, Huddersfield's Barry Sheerman, Dewsbury's Paula Sherriff join with other civic and faith leaders and congregation members to tie a red, white or blue ribbon on the sculpture in an act of defiance to reclaim the flag as it was intended; a flag of unity and hope, and not the hate it has come to represent to some members of the community.
It will be the first big service held in south Kirklees for local people to come and remember Batley and Spen Labour MP, Jo Cox who was murdered in Birstall last Thursday while on her way to her constituency office.
The vicar of Huddersfield, the Revd Canon Simon Moor said it was important for the church to respond to the grief and love felt for Jo here in Huddersfield and give the three local Kirklees MPs a time to come together in solidarity, prayer and hope.
“By creating a sculpture together with a simple light at its centre, we celebrate the light and love that Jo brought into our world.
“By tying ribbons of red, white and blue, we tie into, and connect ourselves to that light and love, and not the darkness and hate that killed her.
“I am sure everyone who knew Jo would want her vision of love and unity to live on,” he added.
The Bishop of Huddersfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gibbs, added: “In this service we also want to celebrate the promise that God’s light shines even in the darkest places and that darkness can never finally overcome that light.”
The sculpture will be carried outside at the end of the service.
Huddersfield St Peter's Parish Church, Byram St.
6pm
Tues 21 June
All welcome