Southwark parish leads the way on promoting racial and cultural inclusion

Yasmine - photo Archdiocese of Southwark

Source: Archdiocese of Southwark

St Margaret's of Scotland parish in Carshalton Beeches, in the Archdiocese of Southwark, is trailblazing in promoting racial and cultural inclusion in their church.

The parish has been transformed with images and statues of saints from different cultural backgrounds and races, as well as depictions of the Blessed Virgin Mary with different racial appearance and cultural dress, just as she has appeared in across the world.

The parish is led by Parish Priest Father Anthony Uche, originally from Nigeria, who has overseen the changes in the church together with the Racial and Cultural Inclusion group he established. Fr Anthony said "the face of the Church must be seen in all we do."

The impact has been extraordinary, with a previously predominantly white parish becoming much more diverse and welcoming.

Anthony, his wife Joy and their six children have recently joined the parish and are already fully involved in the local community. Anthony said: "You know how it can feel busy in London, but we always feel at home and okay here. We are welcome to Mass, we are welcome to the church and the parish."

Joy added: "We have a large family of six, which is an Apostolate in itself. So the impact of the parish on each of them makes a huge difference in the community and we hope that can impact their friends."

The Archdiocese of Southwark is the first Catholic diocese in England and Wales to establish a Commission for Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion. The Commission's purpose is to support engagement with marginalised communities and promote opportunities for growth in understanding issues of diversity and inclusion.

As part of this work, the Archdiocese is encouraging parishes to set up their own cultural and inclusion groups, which St Margaret's of Scotland did with extraordinary success.

Canon Victor Darlington, the chair of the Commission for Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion whose visit to St Margaret's inspired their work said: "The Catholic Church has a crucial role to play in speaking out against racism and promoting racial inclusion in our communities. Racism is a sin and has no place in our world. As followers of Christ, it is our duty to welcome all people, regardless of race or background, into our Church and show them there is a place for them.

"That's why the work of St Margaret's is so important, because when people go to a parish they should not only see white images but also people who look like them. Jesus loves us all and we in turn must love and welcome all."

Yasmine, parishioner and member of the Racial and Cultural Diversity group: "When I think of racial equality, I think of fairness to everybody regardless of what race they're from. When you think of what we're meant to be as Christians, we're called to love everybody, regardless of race.

"When Jesus came down, that was His whole message. It wasn't about one particular set of people, it was everyone. If we want to be true followers of Christ you have to realise every single person is important."

It's making a big difference to the younger members of the parish too. Cherise, a member of the Youth Choir at St Margaret's, reflecting on the diversity represented in the parish in statutes and pictures said: "To have so many people depictions of people we admire in our own light, especially being brown, is so wonderful because you can see them as role models but also feel included and accepted. I think that's what is so unique and special about our parish."

Paul Cavadino, co-chair of the Racial and Cultural Inclusion group, emphasised the importance of such a group for promoting racial and cultural diversity: "Promoting racial and cultural diversity does not happen by accident, it needs a group which looks systemically at all the worship, the activities, the different ministries in the parish and making sure we're promoting racial and cultural diversity across everything we do.

"God loves everyone equally, from every culture and background around the world. If we're not reflecting that in our activities and in our worship then we are failing."

Andrea Fernandes, co-chair of the group, said that the St Margaret's experience had shown her the need for parishes to take additional measures to promote racial and cultural inclusion. She said: "I've realised that it's important that extra steps are taken so that people do feel included, they do feel represented and they do feel welcomed."

St Margaret's has been recognised by the Archdiocese of Southwark as a "Saint of Southwark" for their work in promoting racial and cultural inclusion. The initiative, launched in February 2024, making St Margaret's the first parish to get the award, highlights unsung heroes in parishes who put the words of Christ into action.

St Margaret's is a perfect example of the extraordinary difference parishes can make to their local community.

Watch a short film on Youtube about the work of the parish: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOnOI_tOqsg&t=18s

For more information about St Margaret's of Scotland, Carshalton Beeches please visit their website: www.stmargaretcarshaltonb.co.uk/

Details on the Archdiocese of Southwark's Commission for Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion is available here: www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/mission/commission-for-promoting-racial-and-cultural-inclusion/