April 6th was a day of the church stood together against knife crime.
Firstly, the church was standing together in its diversity. Leaders from the main Christian denominations and branches of the church stood together including the Bishop of London, and the heads of the Methodist, Catholic and Apostolic Churches of God.
Secondly it was a day of the church standing together with the community that was grieving. Moving stories of those involved with and bereaved by violence spoke of pain, but also of the possibility of healing and restoration. They spoke of hope, a sound that London needs to hear.
I must have no hatred or bitterness for anyone.
Edith Cavell
Walking to the rally just north of Trafalgar Square I was struck by this First World War memorial.
It seemed to me that as the church was standing together in love for the city, and for each other that the power of violence was being undone. The church’s power to address the hatred that leads to murder flows out of its own ability to stand together in love.