Communities and faith groups from across the Diocese came together on Monday 27 January to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.
This year, the day also marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
At Rochester Cathedral, around 300 people attended an event which brought together a wide spectrum of people from across the community.
These included representatives of Chatham Memorial Synagogue, Medway Council, the local Police, several local schools, Medway Youth Council, the Huguenot centre, and Medway Inter faith Action Group, for a time of reflection.
The service incorporated opportunities to remember the victims of the Holocaust and other subsequent genocides.
There was also time given to express hope for the future, by focusing on this year's Holocaust Memorial Day theme of ‘Stand Together’.
Speaking at the service, Bishop Simon Burton-Jones, the Bishop of Tonbridge, spoke about the power of words:
“Words are sacred. They impart truth, express love, define justice. They enable us to share feelings and humour…Genocide begins with the abuse of language.”
Read his address in full here
Artwork by local schools and organisations reflecting on the Holocaust, are on display in the Cathedral throughout the week.
In Dartford, an event organised by the Kent Equality Cohesion Council in partnership with Dartford Borough Council, saw a number of people attend.
These included: Dartford Borough Council Leader Jeremy Kite, the Worshipful Mayor of Dartford Cllr Roger Perfitt and Chairman of Kent County Council Cllr Ann Allen.
Attendees heard from a range of speakers including Gurvinder Sandher from the Kent Equality Cohesion Council who spoke about the importance of learning lessons from history.
Gerald Rose from the Catford and Bromley Synagogue talked about the theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day, ‘Standing Together’ and Dartford Council Leader Jeremy Kite spoke about his recent experience visiting Auschwitz Concentration Camp.
The event concluded with an interfaith prayer which was led by Reverend Cantor David Rome.
Dartford Borough Council Leader Jeremy Kite said:
“Holocaust Memorial Day is a powerful reminder of how quickly civilisation can descend into chaos and hatred. Sadly this prospect is no less real in 2020 than in the 1930s and 40s. We need to unite and demonstrate that we stand together in building a more peaceful and tolerant world.”
A slideshow of pictures here