The UK's top faith leaders are throwing their weight behind a campaign to unite different communities and religious groups in memory of murdered MP Jo Cox.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Chief Rabbi, as well as senior Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist figures are supporting 'The Great Get Together' – a weekend of events aiming to bring people together on the anniversary of the Labour MP's death.
Launching the move her widower Brendan Cox said he wanted the memorial to be a joyous occasion that helped bring communities together.
'Elections are huge moments of national importance and deserve to be taken seriously. But we also need to get a better balance,' he said.
'We spend way too much time fixated on the areas we disagree with each other and need to create more moments where we come together as a country. That's what I'm focused on and after polling day, I am sure that's exactly what people all over the UK will be crying out for.'
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said the weekend was an 'excellent opportunity for all of us to strengthen the ties that bind us'.
He urged churchgoers to get involved saying: 'The Great Get Together is a fitting tribute to the life and legacy of Jo Cox MP, her public service and her commitment to the inclusion and flourishing of all people in society.'
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis described the event as an 'invaluable opportunity for community engagement on an unprecedented scale'.
He said: 'Breaking bread with those we care about has been a cornerstone of Jewish culture for millennia. That is why I believe that there is no better way than the 'Great Get Together' to share what we have in common with those of all faiths and none. This will be a most appropriate tribute to the memory of the late Jo Cox MP.'
The Great Get Together will take place on June 16-18 and is an invitation to host street parties, BBQs, picnics, coffee mornings, tea parties and iftars in local communities.
To find out more click here.
