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Representations have since been made to the Home Secretary and to Downing
Street about this bizarre situation.
The atmosphere remained one of joyful celebration and excitement
throughout the occasion. The building itself is not new, but was previously an
Anglican church known as St Saviour’s, and owned by the Royal Association for
Deaf People as their church in London; the previous Syriac Orthodox
cathedral being a much smaller building immediately next door. It was bought
in 2014 and has been extensively refurbished to provide a beautiful space for
the liturgy, as well as freeing up space in their former building for community
activities and events.
As the Prince of Wales indicated in his speech, it is surely a powerful
witness that the Syriac Orthodox community in this nation are able to open a
new cathedral church, whilst back in their homelands churches are being
destroyed and the Christian faith is cruelly persecuted. The affection of the
Syriac Orthodox people for the Prince of Wales and his support of persecuted
Christians was palpably evident. One young man, representing the young
people of St Thomas’ Cathedral thanked the Prince of Wales in his speech for
this work of the gospel and proudly said “to us, you are a new Saint Paul!”
Whilst some might consider this hyperbole, we will be aware that the
need for prayer and support for our persecuted brethren is one which needs
the zeal of the Apostle Paul. As this new cathedral witnesses to the liveliness
and diversity of the Christian faith in this country, we must hope and pray –
and work – to ensure that such diversity and faith does not entirely disappear
from the homelands of these people, so near to the homeland of our own faith,
the place of Christ’s birth, life, ministry and saving death.

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