NEWBURY – Scenes of Muslims attending a Church service or Christians sharing a mosque prayer are becoming regular in Newbury the west of Berkshire, England, after followers of both faiths decided to unite in prayers for peace as a show of solidarity.

“There are striking similarities between people of all religions, which becomes apparent when we attend each other’s religious ceremonies,” Mohammad Tahir, a member of the local Muslim community, told Newbury Today on Sunday, October 30.

“And on a deeper level, we are all humans, we are all from the same race.

“There has always been more that unites us than what divides, but attempts of instilling hate and distance between people of varying cultures, ethnicities and religions can sometimes fog those elements of commonality.”

Tahir and Shahzad Nadeem, another Muslim from Newbury, joined the congregation of St George’s for their Sunday service along with other members of the Muslim community.

The Rev Paul Cowan of St George’s Church, Newbury, and Howard Grace, a member of Newbury Quakers, also attended Friday prayers in Thatcham as guests of the local Muslim community.

The shared prayers were among efforts by followers of two faiths to show of religious solidarity in Newbury.

“There are many events happening across the world that can too easily generate fear, distrust and division between people of different faiths and cultures,” Rev Paul Cowan said.

“After the tragic murder of the Roman Catholic priest, Fr Jacques Hamel, in northern France back in July, I was struck by the positive power of photographs the following week showing Muslims attending Christian services of worship as an act of solidarity.

“What a perfect response to those who wish to sow division and hate. This has been our own small act of that same solidarity locally.”