2020
This civic occasion in High Wycombe, titled ‘Changing the Future by Confronting our Past’, was dedicated to remembering the church’s sad history of anti-Semitism, confession for this past wrong and reconciliation with representatives of today’s Jewish community. We also pledged to stand together against all forms of prejudice in this town
Statements were given by Dominic McDermott on the root of anti-Semitism, Dr James Patrick on its history from Luther to the Holocaust, Rabbi Janet Darley on anti-Semitism today, and Sheikh Dr Ramzy on Islamophobia today.
Speakers also referred to more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda,Bosnia and Darfur as well as prejudices against other minority groups.
Christians in the audience were invited to join in a declaration of repentance for past racial and religious hatred. Edwin Shuker from the Board of Deputies of British Jews, a former refugee from persecution, gave a moving response of gratitude.
Among the several hundred people present were representatives of Jewish, Muslim and Christian groups, as well as the then Wycombe MP Steve Baker, Mayor of High Wycombe Cllr Mazamal Hussain, Professor Ruth Farwell a Deputy Lord Lieutenant, and Julia Upton the High Sheriff.
Steve Baker MP stated before the event: “With concern about anti-Semitism and Islamophobia at high levels, I’m proud that High Wycombe is coming together
tonight at All Saints for a united Christian response to historic anti-Semitism in the Church and to oppose all forms of prejudice in our town, including
Islamophobia”.
High Wycombe was one of the first English towns required to expel its Jews, in 1234, and this was repeated elsewhere before Edward I issued the Edict of Expulsion in 1290 expelling all Jews from England. The edict was only overturned when Oliver Cromwell permitted Jews to return to England in 1657.
2022
Building on the above local event, TJCII members were instrumental in bringing about a national-level repentance service in Oxford, commemorating the 700th anniversary of the Synod of Oxford in May 1222. This national Synod was convened by Archbishop Stephen Langton, better remembered for originating the division of the Bible into chapters and verses as used today. He was determined to implement in England the decisions of the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, which sadly included many anti-semitic measures
Photos courtesy of Oxford Diocese. L, Rabbi Jonathan Romain with the Bishop of Oxford: R, two Jewish guests with RC Bishop William Kenney of Birmingham
.These stipulated that Jews throughout Christian Europe should be banned from holding public office, hiring Christian servants, entering churches, and eating or drinking with Christians. No new synagogues could be built. The papal bull also demanded that they must henceforth wear a distinctive badge in public, marking them out as Jews. In March 1218, England’s 11-year-old king, Henry III, became the first European monarch to mandate the ‘badge of shame’, issuing orders that “all Jews, wherever they walk or ride, in or outside the town, should wear on their chest, on their outer garments, two emblems in the form of white tablets made of linen cloth, or parchment, so that in this way Jews may be clearly distinguished from Christians”
In May 2022 there was a large gathering in Christ Church Chapel, Oxford’s Anglican Cathedral. The service was attended by a number of Anglican and Catholic Bishops and civic dignitaries including the Lord Mayor of Oxford and Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. During a reception after the service, guests heard from the Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis; Munwar Hussain, Founder of the Oxford Foundation; the Archdeacon of Oxford; Michael Wegier, Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews; and the Revd Dr Nathan Eddy, Director of The Council of Christians and Jews
After the service and reception, TJCII members and friends gathered on a bridge in Christ Church Meadows and poured blessed salt into a a small stream which flows into the Thames, and thus down to the seat of power in London. A few days later, the Goverment de-funded the National Union of Students on the grounds of anti-semitism. Coincidence ? Maybe…
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2024-25
TJCII members in High Wycombe have organised a number of Festival meals to raise awareness of Jewish celebrations and beliefs. In March 2024 Messianic Jewish authority Dr Richard Harvey led a Passover Seder meal with full explanations and much music. In May 2025 Jewish-born Catholic Martyn Furman led another Passover meal. Between these events, in September 24, American Messianic Matthew Rudolph spoke at a Rosh Hashanah meal.
