A peace walk bringing together Southampton’s faith communities will take place later this month — just weeks after disorder in the city highlighted divisions organisers say they are working to bridge.
The walk, which has been going on for around two decades, is set to be held on June 28, starting at Queen's Peace Fountain, East Park, at 12.30pm, taking participants from East Park through the city centre to a mosque, gurdwara, synagogue and church, where they will observe prayers, hear from worshippers and share food.
Tim Tofts, Chair of Southampton Council of Faiths, said: "These sorts of visits are not just for the moment, they need to be ongoing.
"Friendships and bringing together trust is what really matters."
Tim said the walk aims to bring together people who are curious about different faiths and would like to visit these places of worship.
He said: "Some people are looking for faith, but some people are just curious."
The event celebrates the city's diverse faith communities and focuses on "developing relationships", he added.
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Tim said Satvir Kaur, MP for Southampton Test and Kat Barbour, Sheriff of Southampton, are planning to join the event.
The event comes after protests and "violent disorder" in Southampton on Tuesday, during a demonstration over Hampshire police’s handling of the Henry Nowak murder case.
Protesters targeted officers with bottles and bricks and set bins alight during clashes near the location where Henry Nowak was fatally stabbed.
At the time of writing, eleven people have been charged in connection with the disorder.
Tim said: "People are standing up and noticing that things are not great, and there needs to be a moment of building of faith and trust.
"Good is happening now."
He added that there would be a "modest" police presence and marshals along the route, if anybody was concerned about safety.
The route will include visits to a mosque, gurdwara, synagogue and Roman Catholic church, as well as the historic Quaker Burial Ground.
Tim said participants will be able to observe prayers, hear from members about the places of worship and eat food offered by the venues.
In the past, Tim said people come away from the walk having seen inside and heard more about places of worship they would never normally visit.
He said: "I think they have said they find it really fascinating.
"People can be anxious about going into alien places of worship by themselves or visiting different cultures."
The walk, he added, lets people go in "fully assured" they can be comfortable.
