3 October 2025
The Presidents of Churches Together in England, named below, have issued the following statement:
We are horrified at the terror attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, a Holy Day for the Jewish community. We stand with the Jewish community at this time and categorically reject all forms of antisemitism. Those who hold this ideology must be challenged and must never be allowed to win.
We pray for the Jewish community, who will be deeply traumatised by this event. We pray for comfort for those who have lost loved ones. We thank the emergency services for their swift response, and we recognise with respect how, once again, they have put themselves in harm’s way to protect the community. We pray that all will come together in condemning this senseless attack.
An attack against one faith community is an attack against us all. We commit ourselves to work for positive relationships between faiths and communities in our nation, now and always.
ENDS
Presidents of Churches Together in England:
- Cardinal Vincent Nichols, The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster
- Bishop Tedroy Powell, CTE Pentecostal and Charismatic President, and National Bishop of the Church of God of Prophecy UK
- Rev Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, Moderator of the Free Churches Group
- Bishop Paulina Hławiczka-Trotman, CTE President for the Fourth Presidency Group and Head of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain
- His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas, CTE President for the Orthodox Churches, and Archbishop of the Oecumenical Patriarchate (Diocese of Thyateira and Great Britain)
- The Archbishop of Canterbury (position vacant)
Notes to editors
- Churches Together in England (CTE) is the national ecumenical instrument supporting and encouraging churches from a wide range of traditions to work together in unity.
- Nationally, CTE brings together 54 Member Churches from many diverse traditions. In fact, we unite the broadest range of churches in the whole of Europe. CTE’s strapline is: One in Christ Jesus, engaged in God’s mission, empowered by the Spirit.
- Churches Together in England is represented by six Presidents from the major traditions of our Member Churches. They each sign a Covenant which describes their commitment to each other and to the churches in England.
Contact
For further information, please contact:
Sarah Ball
Senior Communications and Media Manager, Churches Together in England
[email protected]
Download a pdf version of the Presidents’ statement.
CTE Presidents speak out against hate crime following mosque attack – a statement on 9 October 2025.