Lighting the Civic peace candle
This was the third year the walk has been held and now becoming a fixed and important date in the calendar. The walk was borne out of an idea to bring the various faith and non-faith communities together following the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris in January 2015. After further attacks and various political reactions recently, the need for showing our solidarity in our community is more important than ever.
The route was similar; beginning at the Synagogue in Catford and walking along the Bromley Road into Lewisham. At St Laurence’s we were treated to a great lunch. The Mayor presided over the lighting of the civic peace candle at the Civic Centre. Walking along the road we went past the Unitarian Meeting House, where we were greeted with friendly faces and drumming, and called in at the Mosque and the Sivan Temple before concluding at Lewisham police station. At all stops this year children were involved – often giving short talks about their faith. Throughout the afternoon we enjoyed warm Spring sunshine.
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- Denis Cobell in the crowds ready to start the walk
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- Friendly drummers outside the Unitarian meeting house
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- In the beautiful St Laurence’s church
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- Ready to start off after lunch
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- Lighting the Civic peace candle
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- Outside the Sivan Temple
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- Heidi Alexander talking outside the Sivan Temple
Although most humanists hold secular views and the majority are atheists, it is important to show that we can engage in dialogue with the wider community and work with them to promote and share common ideas and tenets that promote humanitarian values and actions.
