faiths and beliefs to unite for first virtual Great Get Together in Batley

To celebrate the Jo Cox Foundation's Great Get Together weekend the event aims to bring together people of different faiths and beliefs through songs, poetry, artwork, conversations, and prayers.

The virtual service, which starts at 11am on Saturday, will be held in memory of the murdered MP Jo Cox is taking a new form because of coronavirus, and Batley is showing how connections can still be made.

Revd Canon Mark Umpleby, Associate Priest in the United Benefice of Batley, said: “It will be really special in this time of pandemic with many feeling excluded or isolated, to be able to ‘join together’ in this way as part of the Great Get Together weekend. People of difference joining together and sharing across the country.”

The service will conclude with a special inter-faith Act of Commitment featuring voices from all over the country echoing words from Jo Cox's maiden speech.

This will include contributions from Chief Rabbi Mirvis, all six Bishops from the Diocese of Leeds, including Rt. Revd Nick Baines (Leeds) and Rt. Revd Helen-Ann Hartley (Ripon),

alongside Andrew Copson (CEO Humanist Society), Imam Mohammed Mahmoud OBE (Senior Imam at East London Mosque and ‘hero Imam’ from the Finsbury Park Mosque attack), and Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner (Senior Rabbi Reform Movement).

The Virtual Community Service will ensure people will still be able to get together and share that feeling of community.

Sheikh Irfan Soni, Imam in Batley, said: “I’m so looking forward to joining with friends and making new ones from across the country at the Virtual Community Service.

"All faiths encourage us to live and work in love and respect - and the Great Get Together will be a fantastic weekend, but in a different way to previous years.”

Join in the service on Satirday at 11am on the Great Get Together Facebook and Great Get Together YouTube Channel