Hitchin Meeting adds ‘Peace Table’ to Peace Garden

Hitchin Quakers are celebrating a new ‘Peace Table’ as the latest addition to their Peace Garden

Friends from Hitchin Meeting are celebrating a new ‘Peace Table’ as the latest addition to their Quaker Peace Garden. The picnic table (with attached benches) was donated by North Hertfordshire Interfaith Forum, with a grant from North Hertfordshire District Council.

Installed on 15 July, the multi-coloured table, made of recycled plastic, was chosen to symbolise a multi-faith commitment to the Peace Garden.

Members of various local religious groups came to a gifting ceremony, where the table was unveiled with its central brass plaque showing nine religious symbols.

Father Tom O’Brien led the ceremony and there were short addresses from Ali Sheriff (Muslim) and Gulzar Singh (Sikh).

Chris Kell, from Hitchin Quakers, told the Friend: ‘The idea of a table and chairs is that it encourages people to eat together, whether to break bread or break into a samosa. We hope that it will be a place for people to sit with friends or dialogue with enemies. Friends love that this is a colourful table in our rather austere burial ground.’

She added that the ‘Peace Table’ joins the ‘Courage & Conscience Chair’ (for Conscientious Objectors) and the ‘Dove Pond’.

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