MORE than 200 people joined the Mayor for a special event at Salisbury Cathedral last night (Wednesday, August 23).

Councillor Atiqul Hoque was joined by Iman Monawar Hussain MBE and The Revd Dr. Richard Sudworth OBE for an event exploring the connections and similarities between Islam and Christianity.

The Mayor of Salisbury, Atiqul Hoque said: “It was a pleasure to see how well attended the event was and to hear from such eminent scholars. I am also grateful to the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Luke Marsh and The Rt Hon John Glen MP for supporting the event and to all those on my Appeal Committee who contributed to making it such a success.”

The evening was facilitated by The Dean of Salisbury, The Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos, who introduced the two speakers and subsequently invited questions from the public.

After the conversation the audience was invited to view Magna Carta and then enjoy a Canapé Reception in the grounds of the Cathedral School.

All funds raised will be directed towards the Mayor’s Appeal 2023-24, titled 'Bringing the Community Together for the Benefit of Everyone'.

Reflecting on the unique event, the Dean of Salisbury, The Very Rev Nicholas Papadopulos said: “Silence fell on Salisbury Cathedral for a few precious moments, as Christians and Muslims prayed quietly alongside one another. It was an eloquent expression of what we - the Mayor of Salisbury and the Dean of Salisbury - had hoped to achieve in hosting an evening of interfaith dialogue in a building that belongs to all the people of our city.

"We were ably led by Dr Richard Sudworth and Imam Monawar Hussein, who invited the audience of more than 200 to eavesdrop on their conversation. They began by exchanging their favourite Scriptural passages. That in itself testified to something that people of faith share – that words, so often used to articulate hate, can also be a vehicle for profound truth.

"They spoke about their spiritual practices, about the daily rhythms of prayer that sustain the faithful, about habits of fasting and of making pilgrimage – practices that are deeply counter-cultural in an era which is commitment-wary. And they spoke about their shared conviction that the common good is to be sought and served – through charitable giving and through public office.

"They did not shy away from the differences between Christianity and Islam. Imam Hussein summed up the sharpest (and least understood) of these – that for Muslims, God’s Word is definitively revealed in the Holy Qu’ran; and that for Christians God’s Word is definitively revealed in Jesus Christ. But in a divided and polarized world naming our differences and listening with patience to those with whom we differ, offers hope.

"This was a remarkable evening for the faith communities of Salisbury – indeed, for the entire community of Salisbury. Our diversity is a blessing: occasions such as this remind us how true that is.”