3 February 2025
Children from local schools joined parishioners and community and faith leaders for a Holocaust Memorial Day Service at St Mary's Saffron Walden on 27 January.
The service remembered the 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust and the millions more murdered through Nazi persecution of other groups and in more recent genocides recognised by the UK Government.
Crina Morteanu from the Luton Roma Trust, a Christian charity that supports the Roma community, spoke at the service. At least 500,000 Roma people were killed in the Roma Holocaust, although Crina said that recent evidence suggests the true figure may be nearer two million. More information about the Luton Roma Trust is available here.
Other participants in the service included Leslie Wheeler from the Cambridge Synagogue who sang the Hebrew prayers and blessing, Cllr Petrina Lees, Leader of Uttlesford District Council who led the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation, which is read in Coventry Cathedral every day and Hinei Ma Tov (How good it is for brethren to dwell together in unity) was sung by the SWCHS Chamber Choir.
An Act of Commitment was led by the local mayor, Cllr Deryk Eke and prayers were led by the Rev’d John Goddard of Saffron Walden Baptist Church with a Reflection by the Rector of St Mary's Saffron Walden the Rev’d Jeremy Trew.
Find out more about Holocaust Memorial Day.
Photographs by Martin Hugall
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Faith and Community Leaders Gathered at the service
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Children from local schools joined parishioners and community and faith leaders at St Mary's Saffron Walden
