Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

With less than two weeks to go, we are delighted to be coming together as a Diocese at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday 2 October from 11am to celebrate Black History Month. We warmly invite you to come and participate in uplifting worship and workshops. Please share this message widely with your congregations, friends and community.

This year, the national Black History Month theme is “Proud To Be…”. Tying in with this, our Diocesan Theme for 2021 is: Black History Month – Celebrating Business, Science and the Arts. Bishop Christopher will unfortunately be away and extends his apologies. He has invited Bishop Karowei to preside. The Revd Les Isaac, founder of Street Pastors and Ascension Trust, will preach. Poet, Adukeh, will be performing her poem, “Adornment” which has been especially written for the event. Singer/Songwriter, HURU, will be performing her song “Black Beauté”. Samuel Olawale, a young member from St George, Camberwell will be performing on the drums.

The workshops will follow the service and are along the themes of Business, Science and the Arts.  Entitled “Celebrating Excellence in Business”, Foluke Akinlose MBE, founder of the Precious Awards, will be interviewed by the Revd Lotwina Farodoye. The Arts workshop will be led by poet, Adukeh and the Medical Science workshop will be led by Dr Mosun Dorgu and Bishop Karowei. They will be joined by other doctors who will talk about the challenges that face UKME young people wanting to study Medicine and how to overcome them. We are also expecting to offer a second science workshop. Details will follow.  Drinks will be provided throughout the day and it will end at 1.30pm. Attendees will also each receive the Anti-Racism Charter (ARC) pack which includes, the Charter itself, a poster, postcards and case studies. It will also be sent out across the Diocese in the first week of October. We hope it will be a useful and empowering resource.

This promises to be a joyous celebration and an afternoon of reflection, sharing and empowerment. Our hope is that as many young people from across the Diocese will come too. Remember to bring a flag from your country of choice, banners, tamborines, drums and clappers so that we will raise our voices in praise and thanksgiving.

With our greetings, prayers and good wishes,

Bishop Christopher and Bishop Karowei.