'Walk on with dignity' - Blessing Read at Hillsborough Vigil

A Baptist minister led the final prayer of blessing at a vigil in the centre of Liverpool to remember the 96 victims of the Hillsborough tragedy on Wednesday

The Revd Phil Jump, regional minister team leader of the North Western Baptist Association was joined by the Bishop Tom Williams, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Liverpool to conclude the gathering outside St George's Hall.

He thanked God that 'truth had been unwrapped from deception', before asking for grace 'to walk on with dignity in the face of the justice that has finally begun to emerge, and the injustice that has been exposed in its pursuit.'

The vigil followed the report from the Hillsborough Independent Panel. Chaired by the Revd James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, it highlighted a catalogue of police lies and a culture of cover-up in relation to the disaster, when 96 people lost their lives on overcrowded terraces ahead of an FA Cup semi-final in 1989.

Liverpool fans relatives of the victims have campaigned for 23 years to find out exactly what happened.

At the vigil Liverpool FC representatives Kenny Dalglish, Ian Ayre and Jamie Carragher, and Everton's Graeme Sharp, read out the names of the victims. A gospel choir's rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone ended the gathering.

Phil, a lifelong Liverpool fan, has written this reflection following the publication of the report. It includes the full text of the blessing.

Post Tweet

Baptist Pension Scheme (the “Scheme”)

Wind up of the Closed Defined Benefit Plan (“DB Plan”) of the Scheme. Notice under section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925

Praying for our life together - with Jesus at the centre

A prayer initiative which seeks to place Jesus at the centre of everything we do as Baptists Together and inspire prayer for one another will be launched at this year's Baptist Assembly

Newly formed Digital Priority Round Table needs your help

A ‘Round Table’ group of Baptists is forming to take the digital priority forward - and it is hoped four working groups will now be formed enabling discernment and discussion which will be fed into our Core Leadership Team

Project Violet findings released

Project Violet is a major study into women’s experience of ministry, which has sought to understand more fully the theological, missional, and structural obstacles women ministers face in the Baptist community in England and Wales.

New church planting programme at St Hild

In conjunction with Asbury Seminary, USA and the Centre of Church Multiplication in London, the St Hild Centre for Church Planting is launching a professional doctorate programme in Church Planting in Post-Christendom Europe

'We retain deep misgivings about the safety of the Rwanda Bill'

Churches have reiterated their opposition to the Rwanda Bill, which passed in Parliament on 23 April

Banner Image:	National-News-banner-Purple
Template Mode:	Baptist Times