Some 60 people attended a diocesan service to mark Black History Month on Saturday, November 1.
The service, with the theme of ‘Rooted, Rising, Rejoicing’ took place at St Margaret’s Thornbury in the Bradford area.
The speakers included Dr Milton Brown, CEO of Kirklees TV and an Advocate for the Windrush Veterans, who challenged the church to root itself in what he referred to as the ‘Social Gospel’, one which values love and shows compassion to every human being.
The Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Acting Bishop of Leeds and Bishop of Bradford, welcomed people to the event, encouraging and reminding attendees that all have the responsibility to create a safe church where all of God’s people flourish.
He said that a service like this must be held yearly in one of our cathedrals.
The Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, Bishop of Huddersfield, preached at the service, saying that people of colour should be proud of who they are and help to root out all forms of discrimination, including institutional racism in the church.