CONCORD
'Walk of Friendship', Saturday 1st May

Having missed it last year, I decided - along with a few other representatives of St Edmund's - to start this not-so-merry month of May on a positive note by taking part in Concord's 'Walk of Friendship'. This is an inter-faith initiative aimed at linking different faith communities in particular local areas of Leeds each year, and this time the event was held in the Hyde Park area. It also marked the beginning of a week in which an increasing number and range of places of worship participated in the 'Treasures Revealed in Leeds' programme of events - happily including the Makkah Masjid (Mosque) on Thornville Road, where our walk ended. After an official welcome by the Deputy Mayor at All Hallows Church a fairly large group set off, behind rainbow banners, to our first stop on the tour, a Pagan Stone Spiral not far away where we learned about the spring festival of Beltane and about the diversity of beliefs and traditions within the 'broad church' of Paganism. Then at the nearby Hyde Park Methodist Mission Church we heard first about the history and activities of this church and then about its flourishing Chinese Christian Fellowship. As we made our way back to All Hallows for a hospitable lunch break, I was personally put on the spot by having to try to explain to a Muslim acquaintance on the walk why there could be a separate church calling itself 'Methodist'! In the afternoon we were lucky to have the chance to visit the fascinating Hindu Temple on Alexandra Road before making our way to the Makkah Masjid to view its treasures and attend the official opening of its 'Connecting Cultures' event, an admirable initiative by this mosque, even though the long line-up of speakers (including such worthies as Hilary Benn and John Battle) made it a slightly arduous ending to a very enjoyable and interesting day out.

John Moreton