Women and girls whose lives have been cut short by violence are to be honoured at a landmark memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral. The service is being held on the 11th June at 5pm, three years on from the deaths of sisters Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, who were murdered in London in June 2020. The service will invite families of those who have lost loved ones to violence to come together and pay tribute to their lives and call for justice and change to come now.
The sisters’ mother Mina Smallman, who is a retired priest and was the first female archdeacon of colour in the Church of England, conceived ‘It’s Time’ as an opportunity to honour the lives of Nicole and Bibaa and the lives of all women and girls who have been victims of male violence. The service, held in collaboration with St Paul’s Cathedral and the Mayor of London, will bring together those from across religious communities, charities, bereaved families and politics.
It’s Time will open with a procession of bereaved families and friends, accompanied by Victim Support Workers and Family Liaison Officers. The service will pay tribute to all those lives lost to violence with music and prayer, with contributions from those including Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, The Bishop of London, The Rt Revd Dame Sarah Mullally, The Bishop of Dover, The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, and Member of Parliament for Brent Central Dawn Butler.
Emeritus the Venerable Mina Smallman said:
“This service has been conceived to give families who have been through the most horrific of experiences the opportunity to celebrate the lives of those they’ve lost and join together to call for an end to this epidemic of violence against women and girls.
“We need to put women and girls’ safety at the top of our society’s agenda, recognising that those of colour are at greater risk of violence and abuse. Over the past three years I have spoken to charities and organisations who have been fighting for years to end violence against women and girls across the UK. The work of these organisations has given me real hope and I hope this service will raise awareness of their imperative work.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman were vibrant and wonderful women.
“As with Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa, Zara Aleena and too many others, we have learned the sisters’ names because of the appalling ways in which they died rather than the remarkable lives they lived. This memorial will celebrate the fullness of the women they were and our service will honour them all.
“There is an epidemic of violence against women and girls across the UK which needs to be treated with the utmost urgency – not just by the police and partners, but our society as a whole. It is incumbent on all of us – particularly men – to challenge misogyny wherever it may be found. We must reject the hateful words and toxic attitudes that can inspire violent actions and stand resolute in solidarity with women and girls.”
The Bishop of London, The Rt Revd Dame Sarah Mullally, added:
“The system is failing women and girls, and has been for far too long. A woman is killed every three days by a man in the UK – a figure which should shame us all. Change is long overdue, and it is incumbent upon us all to ensure that women and girls can live without fear of violence and abuse. Three years on from the murder of Nicole and Bibaa, it’s time to put an end to violence against women and girls. This service will be a poignant opportunity for families and friends who have lost loved ones to come together in grief to reflect, remember, and demand change.”
Tickets will be made available to families via support networks and charities working to end violence against women and girls, which offer vital support to those affected. The service has been supported by gender equality charity The WOW Foundation, and will be livestreamed on the Cathedral’s YouTube channel.
