Civic, religious and community leaders of Guildford send a powerful message of unity
Civic, religious and community leaders joined together on Sunday 19 January 2025 to renew their commitment to the principles of justice, inclusion, and mutual respect.
Reconciliation 750 was an interfaith event. It was supported by the:
- Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Sallie Barker MBE
- Rabbi of Guildford, Alexander Goldberg
- Bishop of Guildford, Rt Revd Andrew Watson.
- Imam of Guildford Central Mosque, Imam Redowan Ahmed
- Hindu Chaplain from University of Surrey, Revd Pt. Meeta Joshi
- other representatives of Guildford
The Guildford Declaration of Freedom of Religion and Belief
The Declaration signed by supporters, affirmed:
- commitment to freedom of religion and belief
- celebration of diversity
- opposition to hate and violence
- commitment to mutual respect
- honouring the past, building the future
What else took place?
Earlier in the afternoon invited guests:
- attended a short interfaith memorial service in the grounds of Guildford Castle
- undertook a symbolic walk up Guildford High Street
- paused at the plaque that recalls the discovery of an unusual stone chamber beneath a High Street shop by archaeologists from Guildford Museum in 1995. It was suggested that it might have been a medieval synagogue dating back to the 12th century.
A Jewish community was present in Guildford before their expulsion by Queen Eleanor in January 1275. The interfaith event on Sunday marked the 750th anniversary of this solemn chapter in Guildford's history.
Welcoming guests to the Guildhall, The Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Sallie Barker MBE, said:
"Today's commemoration reminds us of the importance of confronting past injustices and ensuring such discrimination has no place in our Borough.
"Diversity is something we choose to value and nurture. So let us continue to work together to ensure that Guildford remains a place where diversity is celebrated, where inclusion is practiced, and where everyone feels they truly belong."
Leader of the Council, Cllr Julia McShane said:
''The declaration we've signed today, reflects one of our key priorities of building a more inclusive borough.
"We want to be a borough, where all our communities are valued, cultures appreciated, and religious diversity respected.
"As we seek to better reflect the communities we serve, we're open to working with all faith groups and those with no religious beliefs."
The Rabbi of Guildford, Alexander Goldberg, said:
"On this solemn 750th anniversary of the expulsion of the Jews from Guildford, it is inspiring to see the Bishop, Mayor, the Council Leader, the Jewish community, and Muslim and Hindu faith leaders come together to reaffirm our commitment to justice, inclusion, and mutual respect.
"Guided by the Guildford Declaration of Freedom of Religion or Belief, we stand united against antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and all forms of hatred. Together, we celebrate diversity, honour the past, and pledge to build a future rooted in coexistence, dignity, and shared responsibility—sharing pride in the rich tapestry that makes up our community in Guildford."
The Rt Revd Andrew Watson, Bishop of Guildford said:
"This has been a powerful and sobering occasion, as we've marked the 750th anniversary of a dark day in the history of our town - the expulsion of the Jews from Guildford by order of the then Queen. Both Church and State were complicit in fuelling that injustice, and today has been an opportunity to acknowledge that. But perhaps its main value has been the opportunity to reflect on religious discrimination in all its forms - learning from the past to shape a better future."