2 November

Dear Friends,

This Sunday is marked in the United Kingdom as Guy Fawkes’ Night or Bonfire Night. It started with the discovery on 5 November 1605 of a plot, led by Guy Fawkes, to blow up the King and Parliament. Fawkes and his fellow conspirators were Catholics who wanted to see the end of the Protestant hold on power. When the people of London learned that the scheme had been foiled at the last minute they took to the streets and lit bonfires in celebration.

While it was once about Christian division, nowadays it is about having a good time. Across the land there will be fireworks and bonfires – now mainly organised by community groups but also in people’s gardens. What was once a difficult night for Catholics is now just a bad night for cats and dogs – and the fire brigade.

This reflects two changes in our society since the 17th century. One is that people care so little about the Christian religion that any idea of a gunpowder plot by Catholics against Protestants is unthinkable. The other is that practising Protestants and Catholics know that they have much in common and that we need to stand together in a secular world.

In a time of rising antisemitism and islamophobia perhaps this also a moment for Christians to reach out to people of other faiths. While Catholics are no longer plotting to blow up Protestants, violence against our Jewish and Moslem neighbours is an ever-present danger this Guy Fawkes’ Night. If we could stop those plotting such violence then it would indeed be a moment for celebration.

Best wishes,

George Whyte

Locum Minister