South Lakeland Equality and Diversity Partnership (SLEDP ) was delighted with the success of Inter Faith Week in Kendal in 2020.

The organisation is also awaiting to hear if Kendal was again the smallest town to hold an event every day of the eight-day event this year.

The aims of inter faith week was to strengthening good inter faith relations at all levels, increasing awareness of the different and distinct faith communities and increasing understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs.

Councillor Guy Tirvengadum, Former Mayor of Kendal and Chair of SLEDP and founder of Kendal Unity Festival, said: “I am always delighted that Kendal puts on a variety of events in Inter Faith Week. It is wonderful that a small town is able to make an important contribution to the vital work of understanding each other and social cohesion”.

Jacquetta Gomes SLEDP Lead for Interfaith and Multifaith said: “Events have been held in Kendal every year since the first Inter Faith Week in 2009. Inter Faith week offers an opportunity for SLEDP and SLIF South Lakeland Interfaith Forum to arrange events.

“Members of individual faiths also offer meetings which we others can participate in and learn from. We were sorry that SLEDP’s event with two excellent speakers was cancelled but hope that they will speak in 2021.

“Everyone was delighted that at home and zoom meetings took place. This enabled people from outside our area to participate and for those of us in Kendal to make new friends.

“We were thus able to expand our activities and engagement.”

WIHW World Interfaith Harmony Week 1-7 February will be celebrated in Kendal in 2021. SLEDP will offer twice at home daily sessions of for prayer, meditation, and reflection as in Inter Faith Week. Retired Roman Catholic Priest Monsignor Francis Slattery will offer an at home session of prayer/meditation and study. This will include an early celebration of his 92nd birthday.