By Ann Marie Foley - 08 July, 2015
Candles were lit representing each area where a bomb exploded
London is like a laboratory for testing whether the cosmopolitan civilisation which is becoming a global reality can hold together, the Right Rev Richard Chartres, Church of England Bishop of London, said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a service to mark the 10th anniversary of the London bombings he said, “No doubt social and economic factors have a role in incubating religious extremism but the religious element cannot simply be reduced to something else.”
“It is part of being human to worship and if there is no worthy object of worship then the vacuum is filled by something banal or lethal.”
Pointing to the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, where the service was held, he explained that it is a representation of the one world in which all people live.
It is supported by eight figures, four teachers from the East looking West and four teachers from the West looking East.
“Our calling, as we remember with deep compassion the events of ten years ago, is make our own individual contributions to the unfolding story of London, as a city where we hold fast to that which is good; we render to no one evil for evil, but we strengthen the fainthearted, we help the afflicted, honouring everyone and rejoicing in the love of God and the energy of the Holy Spirit,” he said.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Cardinal Vincent Nichols joined Bishop Chartres and other church leaders, as well as the Prime Minister David Cameron and the Duke of York, at the service of remembrance to mark one of the worst terrorist attack in British history.
In total 52 died and 700 were injured in the attacks on three tube trains and a bus on 7 July 2005.
“Today is a day of sadness for many as we remember the victims of the terrorist attacks in London 10 years ago,” the Cardinal said in a statement.
“It is also a day when we salute the bravery of the emergency services and remember the dignity of the victims’ families. We honour the memory of those who died and pray for the repose of their souls. In our remembrance we commit ourselves again to be resolute in the face of violence and in our prayers we call on God to have mercy on us, heal us and keep us safe in the midst of trouble.”
The service included four reflections read by members of the Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service, Transport for London and the London Fire Brigade, each focusing on one of the four bombing sites: Russell Square – King’s Cross, Aldgate, Edgware Road and Tavistock Square.
Candles representing the four sites were placed in front of the altar.
A New Testament reading was read by Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London.
Bishop Richard Chratres of London in procession at 2015 bombing commemoration service
To organ music, the names of those who died were read out until 11.30am when the congregation joined the rest of London in observing a minute’s silence.
During this moment rose petals fell from the Cathedral’s Whispering Gallery – repeating a similar act ten years earlier.
At the end of the service, representatives of world faiths pledged to continue to resist and overcome the evil of terrorism and to work side-by-side on the basis of respect and understanding.
“We belong to different faith traditions, but we share a common grief at the suffering which has been inflicted on so many of our fellow men and women, here and abroad. We acknowledge also with confidence the common values which enable us to co-operate in building a city at peace with itself and where people of faith can work together in cherishing, not disfiguring, our common humanity,” the faith leaders stated.
