Chris Eddowes was part of the crowd in Durham on Saturday January 21st 2006.
Durham Cathedral hosted the Regional Service of Thanksgiving and Recommitment to MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY and I can honestly say that rarely have I been so moved and inspired.
A small group from Hartlepool Global Peace and Justice group, we arrived early in the cathedral, but not early enough not to sit near the back. However, a large screen was placed in the middle and we could see, as well as hear, all the speakers.
The service began with a procession of representatives of all denominations: we were represented by Revd Ruth Crofton. Mrs Margaret Sentamu, wife of the new Archbishop of York, brought a message of thanks and encouragement to continue the struggle for justice from the churches in the South – the Southern hemisphere rather than the South of England. We sang hymns with the organ and music group: old favourites like Praise my soul the King of Heaven, new favourites like I, the Lord of sea and sky and a specially written hymn for the year of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY by Michael Faulkner, updated by David Golding.
We watched a very moving drama called Child of the World and I suspect I was not the only one who tried to commit this to memory to use on another occasion. Readings on the theme of Trade Justice (from James ch 5), Debt and Jubilee (from Nehemiah ch 5) and Compassion and Aid (from Isaiah ch 58) were read by Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods MP, Martin Callanan MEP and Fiona Hall MEP. Lord Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, preached a sermon with just enough statistics to be shocking and memorable and with more passion than I ever heard him use when he was in office. Speaking as a member of a denomination which sets great store by preaching, I was impressed. The prayers were led by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle and were for renewed commitment.
For our group- and I suspect for many- the highlight of the service was listening to David Golding, the spokesperson of MakePovertyHistory NE. He reminded us of how slavery was abolished by pressure groups set up in all the towns of the country who worked tirelessly to achieve their aims- and succeeded. He called for groups to be set up in each town in the North East with the aim of abolishing poverty and fully expected that the North East would be the first area in the country to have a complete list of groups. He reminded us again that we cannot be the generation who let 30,000 children a day die of poverty.
David came to the first meeting of our Peace and Justice group in Hartlepool when we were not sure what to do or how to do it- and inspired us like a prophet of old. This service was like a booster jab, setting us off again refreshed for as long as it takes to make a difference.
After the service, it was interesting to see how many people we knew and from how many different denominations. This service was ecumenism working at its best. Perhaps there is something to be learned from that too.