More than 120 people gathered for the annual Southampton Peace Walk, with Bishop Rhiannon and clergy from across the city joining members of Southampton’s diverse faith communities, civic leaders including the Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Southampton, residents and local businesses.
Beginning at the Queen’s Peace Fountain in East Park, they walked together to the Medina Masjid, Nanaksar Gurdwara, the Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, St Edmund’s RC church and finished at the Society of Friends Burial ground on The Avenue.
At each stop, participants were warmly welcomed into places of worship, heard about the beliefs and traditions of each faith community, and experienced generous hospitality, including refreshments and a shared meal in the Sikh Langar.
The Peace Walk, organised by the Southampton Council of Faiths, has been bringing people together for more than 20 years. This year’s event carried particular significance following the protests in the city last month, offering a visible demonstration of friendship and a shared commitment to peace.
Revd Sera Rumble, Vicar of St Denys Church, said, “It felt particularly important to participate in the Peace Walk this year. It was fantastic to cross thresholds into places of worship that I hadn’t been to before, and to encounter the lived-out faith of people across different religions in the city. It was particularly moving to hear the personal stories that people told of what their faith means to them and how it shapes their life.”
The Bishop of Southampton also highlighted the importance of building relationships.
She said, “If we truly want peace in our towns and cities then learning from and listening to people who see the world in a different way is a major step in the right direction. That’s what happened on the walk. My prayer is that this small and simple walk of solidarity might inspire others to deepen and broaden their relationships with people of other faiths and viewpoints.”
The Peace Walk is one of several events organised by Southampton’s Council of Faiths to encourage education, compassion and mutual understanding between people of different faiths.
Chair Tim Tofts said, “The goodwill and friendship that exists between the faith communities of the city is in no small part due to the annual Peace Walks that SCOF has been holding for over twenty years. There is a deep attitude of trust between the faiths that, whilst we are clear in our own convictions, this will not get in the way of dialogue and friendship.
“In moments of tension, such as Southampton has experienced over the last few months, it is evident that people of faith in the city want to support each other and to make it clear to the wider community that kindness is often kindled by profound religious convictions.”
