Interfaith prayers at London Peace Pagoda

James Holland from Westminster Interfaith, offered a prayer for peace during the service

Forty one years of faithful presence and peacemaking was celebrated in Battersea Park on Saturday, 20 June, as people of all faiths and none gathered at the London Peace Pagoda.

An initiative of the Nipponzan Myhoji Japanese Buddhist order, the Pagoda was completed in 1985 and since then Rev Gyoro Nagase, who helped to build it, has maintained it and organised many peace events in its shadow.

There are more than 80 temples worldwide, focal points for prayer, pilgrimage and peacemaking. This year those attending heard that a campaign is underway to raise funds for the much needed repair of the roof and other parts of the structure.

Speakers at the 41 anniversary celebration included monks from Japan and Buddhists from the Theravada and Fo Guang Shan Buddhist transitions, Christian Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities as well as local civic representatives and Westminster Interfaith.

Pat Gaffney, Vice-President of Pax Christi England and Wales, who has been a supporter of the Pagoda since its inauguration was invited to offer the following short reflection:

'The Doomsday Clock, an initiative of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, offers a metaphor and alarm bell of the danger we face because of nuclear weapons and now also climate change risks. They publish up-dates each year. When it began in 1947 it was set at seven minutes to midnight. In 1985, when this Pagoda was opened, it was set at three minutes to midnight. On 27 January of this year clock / threat was set at 85 seconds to midnight - the closest it has ever been.

Scientists fear the increased proposals for the use of nuclear weapons - and the arms race that this generates. Our own 'national defence policy' contribute to this fear as we continue to upgrade our own Trident missile system and hold nuclear weapons as a key element of our defence policy.

A few weeks ago, Pope Leo issued a new teaching document, an encyclical, entitled Magnifica Humanitas, or Magnificent Humans - I love this title. It is about safeguarding the human person, and the planet, in the time of artificial intelligence. He warns against the concentration on technical, digital and scientific power that does not have a spiritual, ethical and political framework to guide it, to discern with it. He referenced an Italian/German priest, theologian and philosopher of the 20th century, Romano Guardini, "Contemporary 'man' has not been trained to use power well."

This phrase still speaks to our time. Nuclear weapons - tactical and conventional; missiles and aerial bombing; the use of drones in surveillance, targeting and killing; the use of 'autonomous weapons… the latter two increasing the distance between the human 'user or controller' and the victims. We have no money to spend on health and care for the vulnerable; no money to support impoverished communities overseas in their own search for justice and dignity. But we always have money for war.

Closer to our home communities are pulled apart by the language of fear and suspicion, often stirred by those intent on fermenting hatred and social division.

But we know that it does not have to be this way. We know of women and men who live out of different values, who refuse to let violence and hate have the last word. I guess this is why we are here today - to celebrate those values and stand together in solidarity in our NO to violence and injustice and our yes to nonviolent peacemaking.

And this place, sacred, a quiet act of presence and a place open to all, has brought us together today to mark 41 years of the faithful witness and hospitality of the Nipponzan Myohoji community here, and in Milton Keynes.

For Pax Christi, the Catholic peace movement, this place - and Rev Nagase, and Sister Martha and the late Rev Handa - have a place in our heart. We have walked together. We have prayed together. We have celebrated together. We have cherished the witness offered here every Nagasaki day. Together, with those who share the values of peace, justice human dignity, we create what Pope Leo calls, 'houses of peace' and a 'human city' that will be a safe and fitting places for all.

Care and solidarity and dialogue and patience underpin our approach - together we hone the skills and gifts of nonviolent peacemaking. May we take courage and strength from one another as we seek to safeguard humanity and our planet.

I would like to share a prayer for peace based on the 2026 World Peace Day message:

Almighty God
We thank you for your gift of peace.
Your peace is 'unarmed' and 'disarming'
not victory or defeat,
but fraternity and dialogue,
the fruit of justice and forgiveness.

Open our eyes to see the world -
not from the viewpoint of the mighty
but from that of the widow, the orphan,
the stranger, the wounded child
the exile and the fugitive.

We pray for change to come -
a new era, the dawn of your kingdom of justice and peace.

Disarm our hearts, God, that we
may have peace in ourselves
and bring that gift to others.