Church builds community spirit after riots

A church in the riot-hit borough of Hackney used a simple tea party this week to join the community together in a display of defiance and solidarity.

More than 300 people came together for the event on Clarence Road, which was badly affected by the riots.

The event was organised by St John at Hackney Church to reassert the positive community spirit of the area in the face of the recent looting and vandalism.

Among the crowds who turned out were local residents and business owners, as well as representatives of the police, voluntary organisations and the local council.

The local branch of Marks and Spencer also stepped in to provide cakes and refreshments.

Local youths put on a dance performance, while guests were invited to add their reflections to a mural of post-it notes about Hackney.

The tea party is among the first steps being taken by the community as it seeks to rebuild and heal the damage caused by last week's riots.

The coming weeks will see meetings between local community and religious groups on ways of working together and initiatives such as the CitySafe Campaign, supported by St John at Hackney.

Father Rob Wickham, Rector of St John at Hackney, said: “We suggested the idea of an afternoon tea to bring the whole community, including local residents, businesses and faith communities, together exactly one week on from the Hackney riots.

"Last week Clarence Road was a place of destruction. This week it was a place of hopeful healing."