We are pleased to be working with Haverhill Town Council and other community partners to bring the Knife Angel to Haverhill during the month of September.
The Knife Angel is the national monument against knife crime and violence amongst young people, a sculpture created by the British Ironworks Centre from 100,000 blades surrendered in amnesty, which has been touring the country for the last two years. This will be its first visit to Suffolk, and an opportunity for the community to come together to reflect on the effects of violence, and to show that together we can help and encourage one another to be better.
Here are some of the ways you can join in over the month:
- See the art exhibition at St Mary's from prisoners at HMP Highpoint, including some poignant responses to violent crime from those who have been directly involved or affected.
- Use the prayer station at St Mary's to reflect on your experience of the Knife Angel and to offer to God any particular people or places on your heart.
- Write in the book of remembrance at St Mary's if you know someone who has been lost to acts of violence, or in response to events that affect the whole community.
- Speak to one of the many local community groups offering advice and support, including Open Mind who are on Market Square every Saturday during September.
- Follow the monthly bible study from St Mary's, looking at responses to violence, available online.
- Fill in an anti-violence pledge on a wooden heart and leave it at the railings surrounding the Knife Angel.
- Take part in the national photograph competition by posting on social media with hashtag #KnifeAngelPhotoCompetition.
- Collect a colouring sheet and return your design to Haverhill Arts Centre.
There are various services and events happening throughout the month including:
- Saturday 31st August: Knife Angel arrives in Market Square from Luton.
- Wednesday 4th September at 6pm: Civic Opening Ceremony, in Market Square.
- Monday 16th September at 4pm: performance of original rap music from Suffolk artist the Revd Kiran Lotay, in St Mary's Church (book free tickets online).
- Saturday 21st September at 2pm: our Messy Church service for primary school aged children looks at forgiveness, in St Mary's Church.
- Wednesday 25th September at 7.30pm vigil service with music from St Mary's choir, in Market Square.
- Friday 27th September: Civic Closing Ceremony, in Market Square.
- Sunday 29th September at 11am: in-person bible study on responding to violence, in St Mary's Church.
- Monday 30th September: Knife Angel leaves Market Square for Sandwell.
Check with Haverhill Town Council for more events and opportunities too.
St Mary's will be open regularly at the following times to make use of the opportunities inside the building, and at other times by request or for particular services, events and workshops:
- Sundays 10-12
- Wednesdays 10-12
- Fridays 10-4
- Saturdays 10-2
We would welcome school groups who would like to attend the church, and we can offer a workshop using the artwork and resources to respond to the Knife Angel and issues of violence, anger and hatred. Please contact us to arrange your visit.
This is a unique opportunity to come together as a community in response to rising concerns about youth violence and knife crime, and St Mary's is pleased to be playing a central role in events this September. We have already sadly seen the effects of knife crime first hand in Haverhill, and so our hope and prayer is to encourage everyone - and young people in particular - to recognise the damage that acts of violence can cause, and to be moved to respond to one another in peace.
The Knife Angel prayer:
Loving God,
you call us to turn
from violence to peace
and from anger to love:
work in the hearts
of all those affected
by knife crime and violence,
so that we may all know
the power of your healing
and reconciliation;
through Jesus Christ
our Saviour.
Amen.