INSPIRE remembrance & peacemaking events at SE1’s two cathedrals

The INSPIRE project grew out of an initiative by the South Bank Churches group which organised a remembrance event for local young people in 2014 to mark the centenary of the start of World War I.

Four years on, to mark the centenary of Armistice Day 1918, the initiative has spread nationwide – under the leadership of the Waterloo-based Oasis charity – with places of worship across the UK hosting events for young people to reflect on the legacy of World War I and to make a commitment to peacemaking in their own lives.

The Roman Catholic St George's Cathedral and the Anglican Southwark Cathedral were just two of the venues around the country hosting INSPIRE events on Friday morning.

At St George's Cathedral pupils from Notre Dame RC Girls' School and Oasis Academy South Bank compered the event which included performances by several school choirs.

London Nautical School and Walworth Academy were among the 18 schools represented.

Everyone received a piece of card and a ribbon to write their own personal commitment to peacemaking, before attaching the card to the railings outside the cathedral.

At Southwark Cathedral, 300 primary school children took part in the INSPIRE event. The Bishop of Croydon, Rt Revd Jonathan Clark, and Canon Mandy Ford helped to lead the reflections.

• Find out more about INSPIRE at www.oasisinspire.org