Hertsmere Borough Council was proud to support a great community get together held in Borehamwood last Sunday (9 July) . 

Hertsmere Forum of Faiths invited local communities to join leaders and members of the borough's major faith communities on a tour of the houses of prayer.

The tour started at the synagogue in Croxdale Road, before moving on to the mosque in Aycliffe Road and then on to St. Michael & All Angels Church on Brook Road.  The event finished with a picnic in Aberford Park.

Religious, lay leaders and members of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities came together with representatives of other faiths, the Mayor of Borehamwood and the police to strengthen the bonds between their congregations, to listen and to learn from each other and to celebrate all that unites them.

Reverend Richard Leslie, the Chair of Hertsmere Forum of Faiths said: “In the spirit of the Jo Cox Foundation campaign in June, the major faith communities of Hertsmere got together to visit the local synagogue, mosque and church in Borehamwood. This was a great opportunity for all local residents, not just members of the faith communities, to meet and learn in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust and, in the face of recent disturbing events, to walk and talk together – and picnic together.’”

Gathering at the Synagogue at Croxdale Road, the tour was introduced to Judaism and Jewish practice by Rabbi Chaim Kanterovitz and former chair of Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue, Stephen Forman. Walking together through Aberford Park, the group heard from Salahuddin Patel about Muslim practice and the many common themes in Judaism, Christianity and Islam at the Mosque at Aycliffe Road. The group then made their way to St. Michael & All Angels Church on Brook Road for a presentation by Reverend Louise Collins. The tour ended up in Aberford Park for a communal picnic, where they shared food and the conversations were free-flowing.

Hertsmere Borough Council supported the event planning and helped out with publicity.