On the weekend of the King’s Coronation, 5th to 7th May 2023, a unique collaboration was organised by the Foundation with dozens of groups of all faiths and none across England, Scotland and Wales; a series of Walks between places of worship and community hubs, beneath the Coronation Walk of Faith banner, uniting in a moment of positivity and social cohesion.
The Walks were a major interfaith initiative, befitting of His Majesty King Charles’ position as “defender of faiths”, and built on the success of 2022’s Jubilee Walk of Faith.
In London, the two central Walks were attended by senior faith and community figures.
At Westminster Cathedral, the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, greeted participants including Rabbi Herschel Gluck OBE, and Aliya Azam, MBE – Muslim interfaith leader (who were officially Greeting his Majesty at the Coronation). Together, they walked to the Lord Mayor’s Parlour in City Hall, where they were received by the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Hamza Taouzzale.
At Bevis Marks Synagogue, Rabbi Joseph Dweck, senior rabbi of the S&P Sephardi Community welcomed participants including Malcolm Deboo, President of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, and Trupti Patel, President of The Hindu Forum of Britain.
THE PLATINUM JUBILEE WALK OF FAITH
On Friday 3rd June 2022 during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday, the Fayre Share Foundation led hundreds of people of different faiths on a series of walks through central London. These Walks of Faith all culminated at Westminster Abbey, where they were welcomed by the Cannon, Lord Mayor, and Deputy Lieutenant, before enjoying a Big Jubilee Lunch.
All nine major religions (and many denominations within them) took part in the Walk of Faith, bringing them together in a unique setting to share stories and forge friendships. Our faith communities are the beating hearts of their local areas; they truly know what it means to serve. This is what made the Walk of Faith, with so many coming together to thank Her Majesty for her own service, so special. We were honoured to have received such enthusiastic support from interfaith groups across London, as well as the financial support from the National Lottery Community Fund.
