Multi-faith ceremony remembers Lee Rigby

A multi-faith ceremony has been held in Woolwich to remember murdered Drummer Lee Rigby.

The ceremony at Woolwich Central Baptist Church was joined by representatives of the major faiths.

It takes place nearly a month after the brutal murder of Rigby, 25, in Woolwich. The suspects were filmed at the scene making political statements using Islamic language, leaving the Muslim community horrified.

A Woolwich choir from City of David Church sang hymns at the ceremony and London-based electro pop group Ooberfuse performed a special song they released in Rigby's memory calling for calm and a crusade of love.

Wilson Chowdhry, chairperson of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said "This event was a collaboration between people of good conscience who through their actions have shown that love has no colour, creed or religion.

"By standing together in solidarity people of all faiths have illustrated that Britain is a resilient and harmonious society."

Samina Rehmat, a Muslim poet and journalist, said: "We were together before, we are together now and we will always be together. This act of extremism does not represent Islam, it is simply an evil attack by people filled with hatred."

News
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds

People who regularly attend church are more likely to report happy marriages, according to a new report examining the relationship between faith and family life.

Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk
Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk

Churches in Dhamtari, a town in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, have put up notices warning non-Christians that they enter at their own risk, weeks after a law against religious conversion came into force in the state.

£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes
£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes

Churches across the UK are being offered bursaries to help them establish mentoring programmes aimed at supporting young people and others in their communities.

World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary
World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has held an online celebration to mark its 180th anniversary. Hundreds of people from more than 22 countries attended, and the event was rebroadcast to accommodate different time zones.