Image Credit: Diocese of Leeds

By ADF Newsdesk – 

Over 60 people gathered at St Margaret’s Church, Thornbury, on Saturday, 1 November, for a special Diocesan Service marking Black History Month, themed “Rooted, Rising, Rejoicing.”

The service brought together clergy, community leaders, and worshippers from across the Diocese of Leeds, celebrating the contribution of Black communities to the life of the Church while confronting ongoing issues of inequality and exclusion.

Leadership Voices for Inclusion

The Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Acting Bishop of Leeds and Bishop of Bradford, welcomed the congregation and commended the gathering as an expression of unity and renewal.

He reminded worshippers of the shared responsibility to “create a safe Church where all of God’s people flourish.”
Bishop Toby also expressed his hope that “a service like this must be held yearly in one of our cathedrals,” reinforcing the need for ongoing recognition and celebration of diversity within the diocese.

A Call to Compassion

Keynote speaker Dr Milton Brown, CEO of Kirklees Local TV, delivered a thought-provoking address urging the Church to ground itself in what he termed the ‘Social Gospel.’

He challenged attendees to embody a faith that “values love and shows compassion to every human being,” calling on the Church to act as a transformative force for justice and equality in modern society.

Rooting Out Racism

The Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, Bishop of Huddersfield, delivered the sermon, encouraging people of colour to take pride in their heritage and identity.

She called on the Church to “root out all forms of discrimination, including institutional racism,” reminding the congregation that celebrating diversity must go hand in hand with challenging injustice wherever it appears.

A Celebration of Faith and Identity

The service concluded with music, reflection, and prayer, uniting those present in a shared commitment to continue the work of inclusion and reconciliation.

As one attendee remarked, the gathering was “a moment of hope — a reminder that faith, when rooted in love, has the power to rise and rejoice over adversity.”