This annual event has no doubt been attended by many Friends over the years. It is one of many organised by OxCoF to create deeper understanding and mutual respect between diverse communities and encourage interfaith social and cultural activities in Oxford.
Photo by Richard Seebohm
The Oxford Synagogue and Jewish centre is where participants congregate before walking together to St Giles’, then the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin, and finally to the Islamic Cultural Centre next to the Oxford Central Mosque.
At each stop there are reflections and song. At the Jewish Synagogue this year we joined in singing Olam Chesed Yibaneh, inspired by part of Psalm 89. At St Giles we listened to a Latin chant from the choir and a reflection from the Methodists. At the University Church we heard reflections from the Hindu and Sikh community before joining in the Taizé chant, Where there is love and charity, there is God’. At the Islamic Cultural Centre children from the mosque gave a Nasheed recital.
Then before the shared supper donated by the mosque and the Oxford Jewish congregation, there was an honouring of all the interfaith work Elisabeth Salisbury has done, and a message from her saying she was fully present in spirit. To conclude, Sahibzada Jamil Khan al-Azhari gave this blessing:
O Merciful and Loving God, thank you for giving us the opportunity to stand together to affirm Your greatness. We have harmed the environment so forgive our violation of your Earth. We have started wars against one another so forgive our violence towards each other. We thank you for Your mercy and patience for all of Your servants. Grant us all the qualities of kindness, justice and mutual respect. Help us to tread the path of Your favoured servants. O Lord, forgive us, guide us, provide us what we need, protect us and always be merciful to us. Ameen/Amen
It was my first time at an interfaith activity. As such, it was a powerful and embodied experience of the porous relations of faith converging: a live connection with the faith ecosystems around me that felt like a sacred moment of collective encounter and worship. A brief but almost timeless journey, or perhaps a mini pilgrimage with others of faith.
I felt blessed to have attended this event where caring, sharing, laughter, and encounters along the way were vitalizing, producing a deep sense of wholeness.
This sense of joyful unity in diversity was symbolised by the multi-coloured, biodegradable balloons on sticks distributed at the synagogue that we all carried as we walked. The possible traces to follow have led to two follow-up discussions with friends from the Baha’i faith and a vicar who has supported the cause of non-stipendiary ministers for decades.
I’ll conclude with these words from Judith Atkinson and Sarah Lasenby, two of the many Friends also on the walk:
Judith Atkinson:
As always, the faith walk this summer was a profoundly moving experience, beautifully planned and coordinated and with a very clear programme on the handout. I make a point of introducing myself to people I don’t know and always have fascinating conversations. Although I hadn’t (alas) the energy to go beyond the University Church this year, I thoroughly enjoyed the music and the conviviality at both the synagogue and St Giles Church……………….and what nice weather we had!
Sarah Lasenby:
This was not the first Inter Faith Walk I had been on and it was a little smaller, but I found it as usual a remarkable opportunity to meet people I might never have done otherwise. Knowing they were all of a faith made a feeling of unity.
I specially talked with a woman from Jeune Street Methodist Church and I hope we meet again in Cowley Rd. Then I went to speak to the very new Suffragan Bishop of Dorchester, Gavin Collin, who replaces Colin Fletcher.
I wanted to know what Gavin thought about nuclear weapons. Colin believed they were a good thing. As I said this, I saw the new Bishop’s face and he then confirmed he thought they were horrendous.
Finally, I found myself talking to Kunle ‘but call me Steve’ who worships in St Andrews. He was fascinated to hear how much I remember of working in Ibadan and Port Harcourt 50 years ago. He asked questions about Quakerism and thought he may even come to worship with us.
It was my first time at an interfaith activity. As such, it was a powerful and embodied experience of the porous relations of faith converging: a live connection with the faith ecosystems around me that felt like a sacred moment of collective encounter and worship. A brief but almost timeless journey, or perhaps a mini pilgrimage with others of faith.