Stop The War — Press Release

Church community backs anti-war campaign

All Hallows Church in Hyde Park Leeds agreed at a congregational meeting on Sunday 28th October to affiliate to the Leeds Stop the War Coalition and to support the November 18th Demonstration in London against the war. They agreed to cancel* their main Sunday service that day in order to encourage church members to attend the demonstration and agreed to hold a communion service at the start of the demonstration in London.

The congregation also agreed to work individually and as a community to dispel anti-Islamic feeling in the wider society and to seek positive solutions to the current situation by educating themselves about the wisdom of the Islamic faith and also about the current world situation. From 7th November every Wednesday evening All Hallows will hold Prayers for Peace and Justice at 7.30pm followed by an educational with an invited speaker.

Vicar of All Hallows Rev Ray Gaston said ‘It is our duty as people of faith to stand in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters against rising Islamophobia and also to stand against the atmosphere of revenge that surrounds the current US initiated bombing campaign in Afghanistan. We condemn wholeheartedly the atrocity of September 11th but we also condemn the bombing of an innocent people in a country verging on famine and decimated by 20 years of war and super power hypocrisy. War is not the answer. We are making a stand against the war by joining the Stop the War coalition but we are also committing ourselves as a community to explore alternative possibilities through our educational programme on the current situation. We welcome participation in these events by all people of goodwill, of any faith or none.’

Please see attachment for full statement.

For further details contact Ray Gaston Vicar All Hallows Church on 0113 242 2205

*In the event it was agreed not to cancel the 10.30 service but to have a lay-led service for those who were not going to the London demonstration

This page was last updated on Saturday, 07 May 2005

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