20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 7/7 LONDON BOMBINGS

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist attacks in London in which 52 people were murdered and many hundreds injured in the name of religion. On that day our late Rector, Fr David Paton, and St Botolph’s staff were closely involved with the incident at Aldgate.

 

The anniversary is marked annually at Aldgate Station by a service led by the Rector of St Botolph’s Aldgate, and attended among others by Underground staff and the families of those who died – on Monday 7 July that service will take place at 10.00 am. There is a service at St Paul’s Cathedral later that morning (attendance by invitation of the Mayor of London’s Office). This St Botolph’s will be open all day as usual for quiet prayer and reflection, and prayer cards will be available including the St Ethelburga’s Prayer for an end to violence, written on the day of the attacks, 7 July 2005:

 

God of life, every act of violence in our world, between myself and another, destroys a part of your creation. Stir in my heart a renewed sense of reverence for all life. Give me the vision to recognise your spirit in every human being, however they behave towards me. Make possible the impossible by cultivating in me the fertile seed of healing love. May I play my part in breaking the cycle of violence by realising that peace begins with me.