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Southwark Prays for Zimbabwe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7 May 2002

People from Southwark and beyond will gather in Southwark Cathedral on Tuesday 18 June 2002 to pray for Zimbabwe and to mark the festival of Bernard Mizeki, Zimbabwe's first Anglican martyr.

The present situation in Zimbabwe will form an important part of the service and messages from the Link Bishops in Manicaland, Central Zimbabwe and Matabeleland will be heard. The preacher will be Canon Chad Gandiya, the former Principle of Bishop Gaul College, Harare, now Tutor at the United College of the Ascension, Selly Oak.

Music will be provided by the Zimbabwe Christian Fellowship Choir. Photographs of Zimbabwe, including the Mizeki shrine will be on display along with artwork from Zimbabwe.

The service, part of the Southwark-Zimbabwe link, will begin at 7pm, with refreshments and music available from 6.15pm. The Diocese of Southwark has been linked with three of the four Anglican dioceses in Zimbabwe since 1991.

Canon Bruce Saunders of the Board for Church in Society said, "through the Southwark-Zimbabwe Link, many people in the Diocese of Southwark have a special place in their heart for the people of Zimbabwe. This relationship has developed over a number of years through visits, personal friendships and a lot of prayer. This important service will be an expression of love for the people of that beautiful, battered country and of prayer for a just and peaceful future free from hunger and violence and fear."

People from parishes in the Diocese of Southwark linked with Christians in Zimbabwe are invited to attend along with Zimbabweans in London, and all others who want to come together in prayer for Zimbabwe.

Ends.

Each of the three Episcopal Areas in the Diocese of Southwark are linked to one of the four Anglican dioceses in Zimbabwe. An Area Link Committee co-ordinates local activities, which include the exchange of news and information, fund-raising for special projects and the organisation of visits. Some parishes have their own link.