News

News for this week from St. Peters    

“Glory to God in the Highest.
Peace on earth, goodwill to all people”

So sing the angels in the Christmas story as they announce the birth of Jesus, the Saviour.  ‘Peace on earth’  is the Christmas hope that is surely shared by all people – whatever their race, colour, faith or no faith.

It’s true that good news doesn’t seem to make the headlines as much as bad.  We may despair that there will ever be reconciliation and harmony among people where differences divide communities, leaving a gulf which seems impossible to bridge. 

Last week I had the great pleasure of joining a class from Walton Primary on a school trip.  We went to Guildford Cathedral in the morning and Woking Mosque in the afternoon. 

At the Cathedral the children were invited to become ‘Cathedral Detectives’, looking out for the many  ‘signs and symbols’ which the Cathedral holds and discovering what they mean – for such symbols are there to lead us into a deeper truth which may be as well, or better, expressed visually than in words.  I learned a lot myself, including the fact that Sir Edward Maufe, the architect of that great building, placed a beautiful stained glass window in the South porch, leading to the Children’s Chapel, showing Jesus surrounded by children, one of whom is holding a Teddy Bear.  The visit ended with prayer led by one of the Cathedral guides.

At Woking we were warmly welcomed by the Imam, first in the Mosque itself where, out of respect for the Muslim tradition, the women in our party covered their heads and all of us, including children, took off our shoes.  We were then invited to be present while prayers were being said in the Prayer Room.  Here, at the back of the room, we knelt in silence as the Imam chanted the incantation and the men responded by kneeling and bowing their heads to the floor as they joined together in prayer.

A couple of days later, I went on a training workshop at St Paul’s Church in Woking which is virtually opposite the Mosque.  The parking at St Paul’s is not adequate for the large gathering who attended the workshop, and the nearby public car park is short-stay only.  However, we were able to park in the grounds of the Mosque, where a board had been put out stating that ‘Woking Mosque welcomes friends from St Paul’s’ and directing us into the grounds and the parking area.

It is a great privilege to enter the holy space of another faith.  It is something that I experienced when I was training and as Ordinands we visited not only a Mosque, but a Reformed Jewish Synagogue, a Hindu Temple, a Sikh Gurdwara, and a Buddist Temple.  On each occasion, as at Woking, we were received with hospitality and warmth, often sharing a meal.

I share these experiences because it is so important to know that there is an enormous amount of goodwill initiatives between our own Christian leaders and leaders of other faiths as they seek to build bridges of friendship and understanding rather than walls that divide.  Indeed, the charity Woking People of Faith organised a gathering on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 when over 400 people of all faiths and none joined together in Woking Town Square to affirm their commitment to work for peace and harmony across the differences of faith and culture.

A project supported by Guildford Diocese is the building of a Multi-Faith Centre at Surrey University, which will enable the university campus to foster religious and cultural understanding among students for the sake of peace worldwide.

To engage with those of other faiths in this way does not in any way compromise our Christian faith.  ‘As Christians we respect the many rich insights, manner of life and teachings of other religions, recognising their significant contribution to the search for truth’ (from This is our Faith – a popular presentation of Church teaching, endorsed by our Bishops and recommended for confirmation candidates and inquirers).

As we join the song of the angels this Christmas and sing ‘Peace on earth’, we remember that our Saviour, Jesus Christ, is the Prince of Peace, who came to show the love of God for all his children. 

At this troubled time of unrest among nations and uncertainty in the world’s economic situation, our prayers will be for our world, that all may know peace in their lives, not just at Christmas but always.

May all the blessings of Christmas be among us in Walton and may the New Year fill us with hope and joy.

With our love

Margaret and Charlie

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