Synod moderator Rowena Francis was part of a group of women who met at the ruins of St Mary's Chapel, Jesmond Dene - the oldest church in Newcastle upon Tyne, dating back to early in the 12th century - on Saturday May 7th 2011.
This was the second joint Christian and Muslim women's event to pray for peace, and was organised by the Hexham and Newcastle Roman Catholic Diocese Commission for Interreligious Relations.
Forty-eight women and two children offered heartfelt prayers for the protection of those in danger from conflicts of all kinds. They came to honour Mary with prayers and readings from the two faiths.
Rowena explain that this event has had a broadening ecumenical dimension. "I was invited to attend as the only woman church leader in the North of the region, and other denominations were also present. Buddhists also joined us to pray for peace.
"There were readings by Fazia Shafee, Hengameh Ashraf Emami and Christine Wickens. Mia Fox explained the rosary and Hengameh explained the Tasbe (beads) - the similarity between the two devotional exercises being remarkable."
During the time of prayer together candles were lit and exchanged between Hazel Jones-Lee who said: “Peace be with you” and Hengameh who said “Salaam Alaikum.” All women then shook hands, embraced and kissed “very sincerely”, as one said later.
The event followed the guidelines of the RC Bishops of England and Wales in the document Meeting God in Friend and Stranger. "We don't come to pray together, but we come together to pray."
Rowena added that it was particularly moving to be part of this particular event to pray for peace, especially following the killing of Osama bin Laden and the heightened strains in relations between countries and faiths.