Religious leaders in Harrogate have issued a plea for tolerance, calm and respect as the conflict in the Middle East continues.
Hasan Muhammad, the imam of the Harrogate mosque, Bernard Cohen, the president of the Harrogate synagogue, and Reverend Alan Garrow, the vicar of St Peter’s Church, met local MP Andrew Jones this morning to discuss the ongoing situation and the positions of Muslims and Jews in Harrogate and Knaresborough and nationwide.
Mr Muhammad, who is the imam of the Harrogate Islamic Association, said:
“It is good to stand together with Mr Cohen calling for peace and understanding between faiths and, specifically at this moment, between their followers.
“Harrogate people are well-known for being welcoming and accepting. These are values we should cherish as we live our lives in respect and understanding and celebrate both what makes us different and what we share. As-salamu alaykum.”
Mr Cohen, who is president of Harrogate Hebrew Congregation, said:
“The imam and I meeting today vividly demonstrates that although being of different faiths there is no difference in our humanity and our values of respect, tolerance, community and a desire for peace.
“We call on everyone in Harrogate and beyond to embrace these shared values and to exhibit them in all they do. Shalom.”
The meeting came after a weekend when hundreds of thousands of people attended a Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) demonstration in London on Saturday.
The march was marred by outbreaks of violence and intimidating behaviour, and the Metropolitan Police said that 145 people were arrested, the majority of them far-right counter-protesters.
Seven of these have since been charged with offences including possession of an offensive weapon and assault on an emergency worker.
Mr Jones said:
“I am grateful to the imam, the president of the synagogue and Rev Garrow for coming together to emphasise a message of tolerance, calm and respect. Islamophobic and antisemitic acts are unacceptable and I am pleased that we seem not to be experiencing an increase in this kind of hatred locally.
“This meeting is important because it demonstrates that whatever our beliefs we are compassionate beings sharing humanitarian values and respecting one another.”
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Harrogate council threatens vicar with criminal charges in planning row
Harrogate Borough Council has threatened a vicar with criminal charges in a planning row over a stone plaque at a church near Pateley Bridge.
Reverend Darryl Hall became embroiled in the dispute after parishioner and builder Carl Foxton made the plaque, along with several others for sites across the Harrogate district.
Mr Foxton, who is in his late 70s, made this latest plaque to welcome people to Bewerley Grange Chapel, which was built by Marmaduke Huby, the abbot of Fountains Abbey from 1495-1526
Mr Foxton’s work can be found attached to the wall outside the church, which is a listed building.
Revd Hall believes the wall is not part of the listed structure of the church and therefore the plaque should stay but the council disagrees.
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Andrew Lancashire, the council’s planning enforcement officer, has written to Revd Hall requesting the plaque’s removal. Mr Lancashire wrote:
“The Local Planning Authority consider that this work is a criminal offence under section 9 of the Planning Act 1990.
“I am requesting that the plaque is removed, including all stone work to construct it and that the wall is repaired and put back to how it was.
“I have consulted with the Council Heritage Officers and there is no support to retain the plaque.”
The letter goes on to give the vicar until May 31 to respond, otherwise the council has said it will be forced to take formal action.
Revd Hall, who is the Dales Vicar in Upper Nidderdale, told the Stray Ferret:
“I was blown away by the plaque, it is stunning. We would like to have something that welcomes people here.
“So it is frustrating. To think that I am going to have to go to Carl and tell him that it will have to come down.
“When I read the letter I was absolutely shocked. A criminal offence? It’s a beautiful piece of art, I have not heard anyone say anything bad about it. I have lost sleep over this row.”
A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:
New vicar for Killinghall, Birstwith and Hampsthwaite“The stone plaque has been installed in a wall that forms part of a listed building.
“This is an offence under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Area) Act 1990 and must therefore be removed.”
The Reverend Suzy McCarter has been appointed vicar of Hampsthwaite with Felliscliffe, Killinghall and Birstwith.
Revd McCarter, who lives in Birstwith vicarage, will be installed at an induction service with the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Rev Helen-Ann Hartley, on July 28 at 7pm in Killinghall.
Born in Northampton, Revd McCarter was ordained in Blackburn Diocese.
She said:
“I then served a curacy in Standish, Wigan and my first appointment as a clergyperson was in the benefice of Harden, Wilsden, Cullingworth and Denholme in West Yorkshire where I stayed for nearly 11 years before moving here.
“We hope to settle and remain here for a nice long time.”
Birstwith and Hampsthwaite churches reopened for worship during Holy Week and are now back to the normal pattern of worship.
Killinghall, however, is having work done to repair the chancel after some water damage to the foundations resulted in the floor sinking.
It is expected to open for worship on May 30.
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