Manchester Cathedral joins Peace Week

MANCHESTER Cathedral was today surrounded in crime scene style incident tape to promote the 10^th Annual Peace Week, writes Patrick Davies.

The Dean of Manchester, Reverend Rogers Govender, was with community group CARISMA to wrap the Cathedral with the ‘Peace tape’ that reads ‘Work, hope, pray, long for peace’.

The Cathedral is the latest of over thirty public buildings in inner South Manchester to be wrapped; others include churches in Longsight, Hulme, and, Moss Side.

Peace Week is an annual event held by CARISMA since 2003. It aims to encourage cohesion and break the stereotypes that lead to certain areas being associated with gang violence.

CARISMA chairman and Cathedral Canon, Mike Evans explained: “This has been designed to look like crime scene incident tape to make people stop, take a closer look, and consider our message.

“We got the inspiration from a similar ‘Make Poverty History’ campaign around five years ago. Hopefully our campaign can be as successful”.

Peace Week has staged various events since Sunday including music and spoken word gigs, football tournaments and craft workshops. Tomorrow evening also sees two Lantern parades held in Longsight and Moss Side.

CARISMA are keen to spread the word that it is only a small minority who associate with gang crime.

Reverend Govender said: “This is the first time the Cathedral has been involved in Peace Week since it began, but I think it is a very worthy cause that I am happy to support.

“As people walk by you can see that the tape will cause them to take notice. It will illicit conversation and give opportunity to build friendship and peace”.

In a week when gang crime in Salford has been among the headlines, the message of CARISMA and Peace Week has never been more relevant.

Peace Week continues until Sunday 4 March. To find out more visit peaceweek.co.uk or phone CARISMA on 0161 226 9905.