Peace March 2008
More than 150 churchgoers and local residents marched along ‘peace mile’ on Palm Sunday (16 March) to declare Clapton as a place of peace.
And at a special church service following the march, Rev John Macauley, Minister of Upper Clapton United Reformed Church (URC), made a powerful call for church unity in the face of Hackney’s social problems.
‘We have already seen the good work the churches in Hackney are doing through the Hackney Winter Night Shelter for the homeless, through Hackney Hope newsletter and in working with the council and the police. It’s the urban trinity of churches, police and council and we need to see those partnerships grow and gain in strength,’ he said.
The March, organised by the Rev John Macauley, Minister of Upper Clapton URC, and Rev Shaun Sanders, Methodist Borough Dean, stopped at various points along the route for prayers to be said for different communities in Clapton – police, businesses, the environment at Clapton Pond, and the education of young people at B6 college.
Supported by the Borough Deans group, Hackney’s church leaders group, the marchers were saying that they believe the local streets should be free from violence and fear. The special service at Upper Clapton (URC) Church, was attended by Cllr Faizullah Khan, The Speaker of Hackney, and church pastors from around Hackney.
‘We want to see a peace in our community, a peace which is more than the absence of conflict. It is ‘Shalom’, a richer meaning of ‘well being’ in our community, a growth of friendship, of fellowship, of hope, a place of harmony. We want to see an end to the drug dealers, and other people of violence, who bring a destructive influence to our communities. Our churches are involved in helping to deal with these problems,’ said Rev Macauley.
Rev Shaun Sanders, on behalf of the Borough Deans group, added: ‘The Church works for peace and justice and stands as a witness to the hope we have for better things. In different ways the church in Hackney is working in the community to bring about hope.
‘Peace needs to be restored to our streets and estates, particularly for the sake of our young people who are under a lot of pressure.’
Ian Rathbone, Deputy Speaker of Hackney
For the 2007 Peace March... Peace March 2007