Faith groups across Barking and Dagenham will be welcoming visitors into their places of worship this week as part of Interfaith Week 2021. 

The week-long event runs from Sunday 14 to 21 November and focuses on strengthening faith relations, increasing awareness of religions, and celebrating diversity. 

To mark the occasion, Barking and Dagenham Council, working alongside the Barking and Dagenham Faith Forum, has created a number of open-door events for people to enjoy, which included the Barking Gurdwara, Al Madina Mosque, Harmony Christian Centre and Powerhouse International.

Interfaith week is all about celebrating our differences and the contributions different faiths bring to the community and realising that our diversity is our strength.

Barking Town Hall has also been illuminated purple for the whole week to celebrate the differences and contributions various faiths bring to the borough. 

Councillor Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement said: “Interfaith week is all about celebrating our differences and the contributions different faiths bring to the community and realising that our diversity is our strength. 

“There’s a lot of misunderstanding and misperceptions because people don’t understand always know a great deal about different faiths, so I really hope the open days offer people the chance to see inside faith buildings they wouldn’t ordinarily visit and get to know a bit more about the different religious communities in Barking and Dagenham.”

The Interfaith flag was raised outside the town hall on Monday 15 November at a ceremony attended by Cllr Ashraf and faith leaders.