St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace has arisen from the ruins of St Ethelburga's Church, after its destruction by an IRA bomb in 1993.
60% building was destroyed: Photo: the Times
The Centre is a Christian-led, independent charity which owns the freehold of the site, managed by a Board of Trustees, chaired by the Bishop of London. It aims "to encourage and enable people to practise reconciliation and peace-making in their communities and lives".
The Centre itself is independent of the Church of England. Nevertheless the building remains a consecrated Christian space and we have a monthly service of Holy Eucharist and other regular prayerful events alongside the many non-religious and inter-religious events that take place here.
The restored interior: Photo: Simon Keyes
Since the Centre opened in 2003, well over 50,000 people from 41 countries, many places of conflict, have visited the Centre to share stories, experiences, insights and skills about how people can build relationships across divisions of conflict and religion. For many St Ethelburga's is a powerful symbol of how the chaos of conflict can be transformed into a new creative order. Our experience and ideas come from listening to these people, rather than from any particular theoretical or theological position.
In Christian terms we see our mission as one of hospitality - welcoming and valuing the stranger, in the spirit of St Paul - "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."(Hebrews 13.2). In practice, we offer a new safe space for a new type of conversation, in which people can have an opportunity to build relationships with people unlike, or even opposed to themselves.
London is the most cosmopolitan City in the world, and, some say, in history. We therefore share a powerful responsibility to demonstrate to the world how people of vastly different backgrounds, cultures, religions and world views can share the city's crowded space and live together peacefully.
St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales no: 6408424 and a registered charity no: 1121983.