Joint Statement

Joint Statement

Tuesday 26 May 2020

Psalm 46.1-2, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea.’

As faith communities across Kensington and Chelsea, we are united in our approach and commitment to helping our communities through this challenging period of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As places of worship remain closed, we are embracing technology and new ways to reach out to our congregations. We have been encouraged to see so many people joining us digitally for our online services especially those who live further afield and who would not usually be able to attend our services. We will explore opportunities beyond the lock down period for developing this further.

Some of our faith and church schools remain open for children of key workers and those at risk while others are hosting virtual schools to support their students, whether it’s with the national curriculum, collective worship, Quran studies or other educational needs.

We recognise the hard work and dedication of many of our local residents and organisations in getting essential food and medicines to our most vulnerable residents and we too are working alongside them. This may be by making and delivering food, reaching out for a friendly conversation, providing a listening ear, ensuring that the homeless have a cooked meal or collecting vital prescriptions.

There are many acts of kindness being shown by people of all faiths and those of no faith as we stand together, committed to continuing this work for as long as we are needed. We welcome the bi-weekly meeting hosted by Kensington and Chelsea Council which enables us to share experiences and information that we can pass on to our communities. This has been invaluable.

We know how hard isolation can be for many people and that there will be many more challenges ahead but we are doing all we can to ensure that we emerge from this crisis, a better-connected and inter-dependent community in which we look out for those in need around us.

It is our shared experience that faith help build our resilience in times of crisis and calls us to respond in ways that we could not otherwise imagine. We wish to use that comfort to bring compassion to others in our communities.

Al Manaar The Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre

All Saints Notting Hill

Area Dean of Kensington,

Baraka Community Association

Carmelite Church

Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha)

Chelsea Muslim Community

Chelsea Old Church

Christ Church Chelsea

Christ Church Kensington

Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer & St Thomas More

Churches Together Notting Hill

Fetter Lane Moravian Church

Holland Park Benefice

Holy Trinity, Sloane Square

HTB Brompton Road (Holy Trinity)

Kensington Council of Churches

Kensington United Reformed Church

Latymer Community Church

Notting Hill Methodist Church

Our Lady of Dolours (Fulham Road RCDOW)

Our Lady of Victories

St Andrew’s Church Chelsea

St Andrews Fulham

St Barnabas Church

St Clements Church

St Columbas Church of Scotland

St Cuthbert

St Francis Of Assisi R C Church

St George’s Church, Campden Hill

St John the Baptist, Holland Road

St John’s Chelsea

St John’s Notting Hill

St Mary Abbots (Church of England Parish Church)

St Mary’s of the Angels

St Marys Roman Catholic Church

St Peter’s Church Notting Hill

St Philip’s Church

St Thomas Kensal Town

The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue Holland Park

Westbourne Grove Church

—-

Original Source RBKC