Representatives from the Diocese of Westminster will be joining the Second Multi-Faith Peace Walk – entitled Walk with Me – facilitated by Plum Village UK (Plum Village Tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist) and Quakers in Britain. All are invited to come along and walk with us.

Date: Sunday, 23rd June 2024

Time: 3pm – 5pm

Location: Gathering in Parliament Square

What to bring:

• make and wear/bring a white flower (see video how to make one here)
• wear clothes that you would wear to a funeral or to mourning to reflect the remembrance element of the walk
• bring your own prayer to contemplate on during the vigil elements that will be held, if you choose to or write your prayer and use that sheet to create a paper flower to wear with you

To reflect the vigil and contemplative nature of this event, we ask you not to bring any banners, flags, or placards. You are enough.

Reasons for Walking in Silent Witness for Peace

In the face of escalating violence and loss of life in over 100 wars and armed conflicts (Geneva Academy) worldwide (e.g Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar among many others) we hold this event to reflect our shared commitment to nonviolence, reconciliation and a just peace, representing the spiritual and ethical values of all spiritual communities.

As exemplified in Palestine and Israel we witness the increasing destruction of life, starvation, displacement, lack of and attacks on humanitarian aid, hostage taking, unjust detentions, trauma and harm inflicted on children in all these wars and conflicts. We see and experience the escalation in retaliatory violence, polarisation and demonisation taking place right here in our countries as Islamophobia and Antisemitism grows.

Please join us, people of faiths and none, as we move together in silence to remember people killed in war, as we call for the cessation of killing, for nonviolence, reconciliation and a just peace. The peaceful coexistence of those on opposing sides is intertwined with one another. Our peace is interconnected. We have a shared commitment to live in peace and harmony in the world.

All welcome.

This short film below and the information on the Plum Village UK website offers a glimpse into the first Peace Walk on January 21st. The website includes a link to all the prayers and words offered on the day.

Gathering/Route 

We will assemble in Parliament Square, to commence at 3pm with short opening prayers offered by faith representatives and we will walk slowly from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square and back. We will stop at key moments to hold vigil and offer prayers.

Event photo credit: Philip Wood from Quakers Britain