World gears up for #RedWednesday

Brentwood Cathedral 2017

Around the world, landmark buildings will be floodlit red for #RedWednesday, with thousands of people across the UK taking part in the initiative.

Led by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need in association with Christian Solidarity Worldwide, #RedWednesday is about speaking up against religious persecution, wearing red, social media action and lighting up buildings red in solidarity with those who suffer for their faith.

Up to a dozen cathedrals around the country are due to participate in #RedWednesday including St Chad's RC Cathedral, Birmingham, London's Southwark (Anglican) Cathedral, and St Mirin's Catholic Cathedral, Paisley, Scotland.

In London, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Cathedral, St Martin-in-the-Fields, All Souls Church, Langham Place, Wimbledon's Sacred Heart Church, Farm Street Church in Mayfair and Tyburn Convent, Marble Arch will all be lit red. Schools, colleges and universities taking part include the Catholic Chaplaincy at Warwick University, York University, Kings College London, Stonyhurst College, Lancashire, London University's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and Downside School, Somerset.

In London the #RedWednesday bus will be setting out from Southwark Cathedral, with stops at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, St Paul's Cathedral, All Saints, Margaret Street and St Martin-in-the-Fields before parking in Parliament Square where there be a gathering at 5.30pm. Speakers will include Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

At 6pm there will be a Procession to Westminster Cathedral.

From 6.30 - 7.30pm the Religious Freedom Service will take place in Westminster Cathedral piazza. The main speaker will be Coptic Orthodox Archbishop Angaelos. The service will include a live video link with Christians in Aleppo, Syria.

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need www.acnuk.org