As we spend two minutes in silence let us contemplate the lives lost in the slave trade; lament the racism and racial inequality built into our national systems and structures since that time; and consider what action we can take to confront racial injustice today.

Let us make Windrush Day 2020 a day when we as a Diocese pledge to change structures of inequality in the Church as we seek to implement our vision of increasing the diversity of lay and ordained leaders in our parishes and institutions.

You might find it helpful to use the prayer written by the Dean for Black Lives Matter at the end of the two minutes’ silence:

God of all,
who loves each of us for who we are,                                                                                                                                                                        to whom each life matters,
who counts the hairs on our head                                                                                                                                                                                 who knows when a sparrow falls;                                                                                                                                                                             teach us to love as you love
to respect, to honour, to care
and to protect
each of our sisters and brothers,                                                                                                                                                                              that your embracing,
including kingdom
may come now
and your love be known. Amen