Preston has become only the 12th place in the UK to sign up to a ‘faith covenant’.

Faith groups from across the city joined together at Preston Minster this week to mark the event.

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Speeches were made by Stephen Timms MP, chair of the all-party parliamentary faith group, Preston City Council’s cabinet member for culture and leisure Peter Kelly and the interim chief executive of Preston City Council Adrian Phillips.

Cllr Kelly said: “We are a city of diversity and also of cohesion.

“I am immensely proud of the way we are able to live and work together – every week you will find members of our different faith communities out on the streets, working with the homeless. This faith covenant is just the start.”

It's was privilage tonight to sign the @prestoncouncil Faith Covenant with representives of Preston Faith Groups and hear from @stephenctimms chair of all parliamentary faith and society committee @blogpreston @leponline pic.twitter.com/9OSiQwbhAP

— Cllr Peter Kelly (@cllrPeterKelly) June 7, 2018

Preston City Council is the first district council to sign up to a covenant.

What is the faith covenant?

It aims to raise the profile of voluntary, community and faith sectors and faith groups in the city.

The covenant, signed by organisations across the city and the city council, wants to empower, enable and promote cohesion and mobilise social action.

Three principles make up the covenant:

– Faith communities are free to practise their beliefs and religious observances without restriction, and to raise their voice in public debate and to be respected, within the framework of UK law.

– Public services and faith-based social action should respect service users from all backgrounds, with no discrimination on the grounds of religion, gender, marital status, race, ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, mental capability or long term condition.

– The voice, participation and solutions that faith communities bring are important contributions to well-being, and consultation should enable them to be brought to bear for the benefit of the wider community.

Read more: Preston and South Ribble street pastors win Queens Award for service

Who was there?

The event on Thursday (7 June) saw the following people attend and sign the faith covenant:

Mukhtar Master
Ismail Timol
Stephen Timms
Revd Canon Alistair McHaffie
Father Shaun Baldwin
Greg Smith
Gulab Singh
Kate Bosman
Kailash Parekh
Paul Counsell
Malcolm (and Penny) Craig
Ian Marshall
Pastor Andrew Gardner
The Ven Michael Everitt, Archdeacon of Lancaster
Andrew Pratt

What do you think of the faith covenant? Let us know your views in the comments below