Looking back at the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Ecumenical pilgrims at St Paul's Cathedral

Source: CBCEW

This year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity concluded on Sunday. The theme 'One Body, One Spirit' (Ephesians 4:4), was an opportunity for Christians across the world to work and pray for the unity of the Church.

In the Diocese of Westminster, the week was marked by parish events, a Diocese-led ecumenical pilgrimage and Solemn Vespers in the Cathedral.

The ecumenical pilgrimage, led by James Holland (Coordinator of Ecumenism and Westminster Interfaith) began at Westminster Cathedral. Here, James reflected on Jesus' walk with the disciples on the road to Emmaus:

'There's something about walking alongside others that brings alive the sense of unity. Jesus' journey to Emmaus is a reminder that on pilgrimage we can encounter Christ, who draws up alongside us, and encounter others, in whom God dwells'.

The pilgrims' first stop was Notre Dame De France, the Catholic Francophone church in the heart of Leicester Square, where they heard about the church's history and 20th century French artwork. The pilgrimage then continued to Temple Church, the English home of the Knights Templar from the 1100s, as the pilgrims explored the church's links to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and paused for a moment of prayer, for those in the Holy Land.

The route concluded at St Paul's Cathedral, where Evensong was sung by the choirs of Westminster Cathedral and St Paul's.

Elsewhere in the Diocese, Westminster Youth Ministry held a service of thanksgiving for the gift of a near life-sized crucifix, now adorning the Rotunda at their retreat centre. The service, which followed a tour of the SPEC retreat centre, was attended by the current clergy from St Mary with St Alban, Teddington, who kindly donated the cross to Westminster Youth Ministry.

The cross itself was carved by Andreas Braun in Oberammergau, Germany, between 1880 and 1885. For almost 100 years, it hung in the Nave of St Alban's Anglican church in Teddington. Fr Francis Thomas, Chaplain to the Youth Ministry team, blessed the cross, which will now be the fitting backdrop to Masses celebrated in the Rotunda for many years to come.

Commenting on the occasion, Fr Francis said: "It was wonderful that we gathered before this magnificent crucifix, which is the sign par excellence of our faith. It was good to pray together that all Christians might boldly profess that Jesus is Lord and has risen from the dead".

Westminster Cathedral hosted Solemn Vespers during the Week of Prayer, in celebration of the Proclamation of St John Henry Newman as Doctor of the Church. The Vespers, sung by the choirs of Westminster Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral, was celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, with the former Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Rev and Rt Hon Rowan Williams, preaching.

In his homily, Lord Williams reflected that 'no one possesses holiness themselves alone' and, quoting Newman himself, 'My soul is like a burning glass, cold itself, it transmits heat to others'. It was a reminder that, in the unified Body of Christ, Christians can inspire one another to greater holiness.

Vespers began with Newman's beautiful hymn, Lead Kindly Light. Indeed, Newman's words in this hymn speak to the rhythm of pilgrimage: Keep Thou my feet, I do not ask to see the distant scene, one step enough for me.

Whilst the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has concluded for another year, the pursuit of Christian unity remains. At the heart of this longing for unity is the hopeful act of pilgrimage, the resolve to continue walking alongside each other, united by a common faith in Christ, whilst trusting that God will never fail to gather a people to Himself.