The Bishop of Birkenhead, Julie Conalty has responded to the stabbing in Southport this week in which three children have died and five children and two adults remain in a critical condition. The attack took place at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class for children on Hart Street.
She said: “It’s so close to home because we really relate to the experience of parents putting their children into holiday schemes or being in those clubs as a child. This is what goes on all over the country in the summer holidays. Most of us can relate to this.”
“As the news was breaking, I was thinking about our churches who have been running or helping other organisations run these sort of events over the holiday period and will have done their risk assessments and will have thought about the staffing levels and how to keep the children safe. This sort of event is not in our mind when we plan, nor should it be. We shouldn’t be a community or a society where things like this happen.”
Reflecting on the scenes of violence outside the local mosque last night, Bishop Julie described the protests as ‘atrocious’ and not what she would expect in this region where different faith groups work very closely together.
She said: “It makes no sense, in terms of how local people work together and live together as neighbours in a community caring for each other.”
Listen here to the full interview with Bishop Julie:
Bishop Julie has added her support to the statement and prayers issued by Churches Together in the Merseyside Region responding to the tragic events in Southport this week.
Statement from CTMR Church Leaders: Southport incident 30/07/2024
As church leaders, and on behalf of those we represent, we share with others across our communities our sense of shock, sadness and horror at the events which took place in Southport on 29th July. Life is a precious gift, and for it to be taken from children so young is truly heartbreaking. We offer our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of all of those whose lives have been lost. We pray for those who remain critically ill and injured. We hold everyone affected by this awful event in our hearts and our prayers, and call upon people of all faiths and none to come together to support them in whatever way we can. We express our thanks to the members of the emergency services and to the medical professionals for their commitment and service in the face of this of this horrific attack. We commit ourselves afresh to standing against brutality and violence in every form and doing all we can to build safe, caring and strong communities.
Signed:
Revd Dr Sheryl Anderson – Chair, Liverpool Methodist District
Rt Revd Julie Conalty - Bishop of Birkenhead
Revd Geoff Felton – Moderator, Mersey Synod, The United Reformed Church
The Very Revd Dr Sue Jones, Dean of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
Revd Phil Jump – Chair, Churches Together in Merseyside and Regional Minister, North West Baptist Association
Rt Revd Beverley A Mason, Bishop of Warrington
Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP – Archbishop of Liverpool
Rt Rev Tom Neylon - Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Liverpool
Canon Tony O’Brien, Dean of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Rt Revd Dr John Perumbalath – Bishop of Liverpool
Major David Taylor – District Commander, Salvation Army North West Division