The Diocese of London has marked Black History Month with a Racial Justice Pilgrimage (on Friday 23rd October), which it held in East London for the first time.
Led by the Rt Revd Dr Anderson Jeremiah, Bishop of Edmonton and the Diocese of London’s Lead Bishop for Racial Justice, alongside the Rt Revd Rod Green, Bishop of Stepney, the pilgrimage took participants through Tower Hamlets, from Limehouse to Cable Street.
Along the route, pilgrims explored stories of migration, slavery, faith and resistance that have shaped East London’s communities. Stops included Limehouse Basin, the Royal Foundation of St Katharine and St George-in-the-East, where participants reflected on the church’s historic role as a place of welcome and belonging for people affected by slavery.
The pilgrimage concluded at Cable Street, where participants reflected on the 1936 Battle of Cable Street, when local residents, trade unionists, Jewish organisations and faith groups came together to prevent Sir Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists marching through the East End.
Alongside the pilgrimage, the Diocese launched Becoming a Reconciled People, a new racial justice Bible study resource developed by its Racial Justice Priority Team.
Written by contributors from across the Diocese, the resource contains nine Bible studies exploring themes including identity, hospitality, justice, belonging and reconciliation. Designed for use by churches, small groups and individuals, it encourages Christians to engage with questions of racial justice through Scripture and consider how churches can become places where all people are valued, heard and able to flourish.
Speaking about the pilgrimage, Bishop Anderson Jeremiah, Bishop of Edmonton and the Diocese of London’s Lead Bishop for Racial Justice, said:
“Racial justice is not an optional concern for Christians. It is rooted in the character of God and in the reconciling work of Jesus Christ.
“The pilgrimage is about walking the land and connecting ourselves with the places that we call home. It creates a space to hear stories and reflect on how the past continues to shape our communities today.
Rt Revd Rod Green, Bishop of Stepney, said:
“East London has been shaped by generations of people who have come here seeking opportunity, safety and a place to belong.
“This pilgrimage helps us appreciate the histories, struggles and contributions that have made East London what it is today, while encouraging us to play our part in creating welcoming and united communities.”
