Pilgrimage

Some of my best conversations have taken place when walking. Whether with friends or strangers the walking somehow oils the process of meeting others. And even more so when there is a common

St Chad's Church Tower

purpose, the same destination, the shared goal, as in a pilgrimage.

My vicar friend Andy blogs about pilgrim walking. It becomes for him a way of looking at the world.An excerpt from his blog: "There is also something about walking, thinking and reflecting at the same time.  Is there a connection to tacit knowledge where you learn by doing things with your hands?  Perhaps a variant of it?  Certainly it was good to reflect back on the last year which has been hard and good........."

I have been helping plan a pilgrimage for Saturday 14th February. We are working with the 3 Faiths Forum and local Churches and Mosques to organise a walk from Rochdale Parish Church, St Chad's to the Golden Mosque and then to St Edmund's, both in Falinge. In the spirit of the Three Faiths Forum, which is a partner, we hope some of our Jewish brothers and sisters will be able attend.* Along the way we will hear a bit about the places of worship we are visiting, and when we arrive at St Edmund's there will be food and refreshments, and some short talks on the theme of Pilgrimage in the different faith traditions.

A still image from the film Still Point

And there will be a film, Still Point, which has been produced to get us to think about sacred spaces and places of pilgrimage. I am looking forward to the conversations we will have, and to what we will learn about the Creator of all from each of our traditions. The walking will open our eyes and hearts.

* A bit about the Three Faiths Forum: They describe themselves as building understanding and lasting relationships between people of all faiths and beliefs. And to the question "Why is this work needed?" they reply: "In our diverse societies good relations between our communities are essential. Without these ties, myths and prejudices flourish, often leading to racism and intolerance. Our programmes break down barriers and find ways for people to work together to improve their communities and society. By building new inter-communal relationships we make positive social change possible."

Train Tracks to Remembering

I have been asked to read at the forthcoming Holocaust memorial day for Rochdale borough. It's to be held at Middleton Arena on 27 January. It is a privilege to do this and look forward to it, with some heaviness. For these are dark and difficult stories, of hatred of minorities, of poisonous myths, of the mechanics of genocide... and we see them occurring still. So it will be poignant. It was chilling to hear of the attacks on the Kosher supermarket on the 9th January, reminding us all that anti-semitism is still around.

I remember reading Martin Gilbert's book Holocaust Journey whilst in Poland in holiday in 1998. I kept looking at the train tracks and thinking to myself: It was those rails that took millions of Jews, Gays and Trades Unionists to their death.

I am sure that it is true that we are what we remember. We become the stories we tell and retell. I have come to see this particularly in my research into what we say and do in Church. When we forget to pray about certain things, or never mention the earth, or the poor, in our Holy Communion, then we begin the process of forgetting. It begins innocently enough, but ends with others' suffering.

It was striking to see on TV the leader of the West London Synagogue talk about Holocaust Memorial Day. I was very impressed that when asked about how the Jewish community felt now after the Charlie Hebdo events, she kept turning the focus back to the difficulties that all minorities face. She wanted to remind us that it wasn't just about Jews. Although the Holocaust is most principally about the attempted extermination of the Jewish people, it's a horror that is done to other minorities, still. Generously she spoke about Muslim minorities in the UK.

That was generous remembering that resulted in action for justice and peace for others. You can see that in their web site. They are doing interfaith work, running a night shelter with local churches.... very impressive. All this (let me call it) "beyond our own" thinking reminds me of Pastor Martin Niemoller's famous words:

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.


Thank God for the journalists that remind us of the plight of the other beyond our own kith and kin. (I hope us priests and religious leaders do this too, but I know sometimes we fail.) With brave journalists and film makers in mind, I am looking forward to seeing the forthcoming Programme Holocaust: Night will Fall on Channel 4 this Saturday. It's about the filming of the liberation of Auschwitz and why the film that was made was not shown and the burden those who film such atrocities carry. They do us a service in helping us remember what we may prefer to forget.


 In that film, we shall no doubt see those train tracks again, to remind us of the horrors of holocaust.

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me - See more at: http://hmd.org.uk/resources/poetry/first-they-came-pastor-martin-niemoller#sthash.b83cdi0W.dpuf

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me - See more at: http://hmd.org.uk/resources/poetry/first-they-came-pastor-martin-niemoller#sthash.b83cdi0W.dpuf

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me - See more at: http://hmd.org.uk/resources/poetry/first-they-came-pastor-martin-niemoller#sthash.b83cdi0W.dpuf

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me - See more at: http://hmd.org.uk/resources/poetry/first-they-came-pastor-martin-niemoller#sthash.b83cdi0W.dpuf