The clergy of Worcester East deanery have sent an open letter Worcester Mosque, supporting the building of a new mosque on the Stanley Road site in Worcester. The Revds Paula Honniball and Kalantha Brewis attended the Interfaith Iftar on Monday evening to introduce ourselves and tohand the letter to the mosque. They were welcomed with great courtesy andhospitality, and were invited to read the letter out to those gatheredat the Mosque just before their fast was broken.
The text of the letter is as follows:
Dear Mr Iqbal
Proposed New Mosque in Stanley Road
As Church of England clergy inWorcester East Deanery, we note WMWAs plans for a new Mosque to be built inStanley Road. We are aware that current accommodation for the purposes ofworship and religious education for the Muslim community in Worcester is verylimited.
We wish to record publicly that wewelcome the development of the facilities you are proposing, particularly thedevelopment of a worship space which can be used by female worshippers, sportsfacilities for the local community and facilities for young people. This willbe a significant investment in the city we all share.
We wish to offer you and yourcolleagues our encouragement and support as leaders of a local faith community,and to assure you of our goodwill as your neighbours. We unreservedly endorsethe right of the Muslim community in Worcester to have a place of worship whichis appropriate for its needs.
Yours sincerely
Revd Diane Cooksey (Rural Dean), St Nicholas, Warndon
Revd Kalantha Brewis, Curate, St Barnabas with Christ Church,Worcester,
Revd Colin Butler, Vicar, St Martin in the Cornmarket, Worcester
Revd Peter Davies, Associate Minister, St John the BaptistClaines and St Georges, Worcester
Revd Owen Gallacher, Associate Vicar, All Saints Worcester
Revd Helen Glithero, Chaplain,Worcester Acute Hospital Trust
Revd Jennie Hayward, AssociateMinister, St John the Baptist Claines and St Georges, Worcester
Revd Paula Honniball, Curate, St John the Baptist Claines and StGeorges, Worcester
Rev Dr Rich Johnson, Vicar, AllSaints Worcester
Revd David Morphy, Associate Priest, St Stephens Barbourne
Revd David New, Permission to officiate, St John the Baptist Claines and St Georges,Worcester
Revd Canon Dr Alvyn Pettersen, Canon Theologian, Worcester Cathedral
RevdAndy Stand, Team Vicar, St. Mark in the CherryOrchard and St. Philip and St. James, Whittington.
Revd Andy Todd, Priest incharge, St Stephens Barbourne
Revd Julieann Watson, Rector, St Barnabas with Christ Church,Worcester
