Walk of Unity brings Southport communities together

The strong sense of community in Southport was celebrated on Sunday as faith leaders, political leaders and families joined together to take part in the Walk of Unity. 

People gathered at Southport & District Reform Synagogue on Princes Street at 2pm on Sunday (16th November 2025) where they shared lunch together. 

The 1.4 mile then headed to Christ Church, along the iconic Lord Street in Southport town centre, and then Southport Mosque on Sussex Road. 

The event, organised by Southport Interfaith Group, was joined by Mayor of Sefton Cllr June Burns, Southport MP Patrick Hurley and Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside Peter Oliver. 

Faith leaders leading the walk included The Revd Graham Turner, a retired vicar and prison chaplain of the Church of England who is currently Chair of Southport’s Interfaith Group; Southport Interfaith Group Secretary Dr Selwyn Goldthorpe the Chair of Southport Synagogue; Imam of Southport Mosque Ibrahim Hussein; and Rev Ben Dyer from Christ Church. 

Marshals were provided through volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Southport. 

The event brought to a close UK Interfaith Week (9th-16th November 2025). 

Southport Interfaith Group was formed last year after the Southport Tragedy and the subsequent riot. 

Members commit themselves to promoting friendship, understanding and cooperation among faith communities, working together for the peace, social cohesion and wellbeing of Southport.

It is composed of members who are faith leaders and members of congregations from many different belief traditions including Baha’i, Christianity, Islamic, Jewish and Muslim. The group also has members who have no religious leaning. 

As Interfaith Week approached, they looked at a way that they could commemorate unity in Southport and agreed on a ‘Walk of Unity’. 

Speaking at the event, Southport’s Interfaith Group Chair Revd Graham Turner said: 

“This is a walk rather than a march. 

“I am sure everybody wants to live in a peaceful world. Well, nearly everybody. 

“One of our Christian theologians, Hans Kung, a Swiss guy, said, there will be no peace in this world until there is peace among the religions. 

“We have got a lot of work to do. 

“So today we walk for peace. Not that bland peace, which denies that there are difficulties or that we all bring baggage to things, which we do.

“No, today, we walk for that hard-won peace, that does not ignore difference, difficulty or challenge and one that looks forward to hope, and years for a new way forward. 

“We walk together as friends, to say ‘we are with you’, and ‘we want to stand alongside you’.” 

Southport Interfaith Group Secretary Dr Selwyn Goldthorpe the Chair of Southport Synagogue said: 

“This is the last day of Inter Faith Week. The week is promoted as a way to get ready to build bridges and get ready to celebrate the incredible diversity of faith and belief across the UK. 

“Inter Faith Week is a powerful annual initiative dedicated to strengthening inter-faith relationships, fostering mutual understanding, and showcasing the invaluable contributions of faith communities. 

”The date has been chosen as it starts on remembrance Sunday and ends today which coincides with the Jewish Mitzvah Day. A Mitzvah in Hebrew is ‘a good deed’. 

“Being here and doing the Walk Of Unity, you are doing a mitzvah for the community of Southport. 

“We all act as a beacon that shines a light on the good work being done in Southport by the Southport Inter Faith group and by other people. 

“So thank you for doing your bit for Southport and for being here. 

“Thank you to our distinguished guests and our faith leaders for your example which you set in your leadership. 

“I must thank Merseyside Police as well for your security.”

Rev Ben Dyer the Vicar at Christ Church in Southport said: 

“It’s great to see so many friends from the different faith communities and also those of you who might not have any faith on this Walk Of Unity. 

“Today matters. This walk isn’t just about moving from one building to another; it’s a reminder that faith isn’t something that should be hidden away and private. 

“It is something we live out, shoulder to shoulder with the community that we share. 

“We may have different beliefs; we may have different ways of praying; we may have different holy books and different festivals; but so much of what we care about as faith communities overlap. 

“We care about peace. We care about compassion. We care about justice. We care about the wellbeing of our neighbours. 

“We care about passing on hope to the next generation. 

“Faith at its best brings people together. It reminds us that every single person carries dignity and worth and that we are not meant to live afraid and divided from one another. 

“When we walk together like this, we show a different kind of story – one of friendship, respect and shared purpose. 

“Thank you for joining in the walk – for walking, for listening, for showing that in Southport, faith can be a bridge – and not a barrier.” 

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