What is a Church of Sanctuary?
A church of sanctuary is a church community who is committed to standing in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers within their community, and creating spaces of safety for those who are made vulnerable by their need to seek sanctuary. It is part of the wider City of Sanctuary network, where over 100 cities, towns, boroughs and areas in Britain and Ireland are working together to welcome refugees and asylum seekers.
What does a Church of Sanctuary do?
The Church of Sanctuary network encourages to do three things:
- Learn about the current context for asylum seekers and refugees in your community, and nationally. Are there asylum seekers and refugees who have been resettled into your community? What are the national policies currently around welcoming asylum seekers and resettling refugees?
- Embed a culture of welcome in the whole congregation. How can you ensure that the culture you create is safe, inclusive and welcoming to all, especially people made vulnerable by the need to seek sanctuary? Explore together what it means to create spaces of genuine safety and solidarity.
- Speak Up about the importance of offering welcome, in your community and in the UK. We can draw on our positive relationships and experience of welcome to oppose hostile and harmful policies towards refugees and asylum seekers.
Why should we become a church of sanctuary?
Many churches around the UK support refugees in their communities, with food, resources and hospitality. In a time when attitudes towards refugees and asylum seekers is becoming increasingly hostile, particularly through government legislation, it’s also essential that we stand in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers in our communities. Being a Church of Sanctuary is a commitment not only to support asylum seekers and refugees in our communities practically, but also to speak out against injustice and unfairness, and to seek for welcome for people fleeing oppression and persecution to be offered across the UK.
When is Sanctuary Sunday?
Sanctuary Sunday is marked at the end of Refugee Week each year, usually in late June. (Find out more about Refugee Week here). It is a chance for churches to celebrate building cultures of welcome, hospitality and safety in our churches.
Revd Dr Inderjit Bhogal has produced resources to help churches celebrate Sanctuary Sunday. You can find these on the Church of Sanctuary Website.
What does sanctuary mean?
Sanctuary is a long-standing prophetic theme of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, calling on churches to provide safety and solidarity for people fleeing oppression and harm. Today, churches are called to be welcoming places of safety for all, and to be proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.
Where can I find out more?
CTBI host the Church of Sanctuary website, where you can find worship resources and information about events and opportunities. Find out more on the Church of Sanctuary Website.