PEOPLE from different faiths came together to celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week 2019.

A gathering at Kendal Town Hall saw South Lakeland Equality and Diversity Partnership launch a new edition of the publication "Religion, Belief and Culture in our Community".

Among the guests were Cumbria's police and crime commissioner Peter McCall; deputy Lieutenant air commodore Peter Smith representing the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria; Cllr Guy Tirvengadum, mayor of Kendal and chair of the partnership; Joe Murray, chair of Cumbria Neighbourhood Watch Association; Jacquetta Gomes, the partnership's lead on interfaith and multifaith; Mark Clement of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service; and Mike Humphreys, chair of South Lakes Interfaith Forum, and Peter McCall.

An interfaith service was held at Kendal Unitarian Chapel, which South Lakeland Interfaith Forum helped to organise, with readings from different faiths.

Meanwhile, retired Catholic priest Monsignor Francis Slattery welcomed people to Milnthorpe Presbytery for a celebration of different faiths and his forthcoming 90th birthday.

He has been involved in interfaith work in Cumbria for many years, and to mark his 60 years in the priesthood the article “Breaking Open the Word” was published in the interfaith journal Faith Initiative: Embracing Diversity - see www.faithinitiative.co.uk/

World Interfaith Harmony Week was unanimously adopted by the United Nations in 2010 and takes place in the first week of February each year.

It is designed to enable "all interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill" to recognise "that the common values they hold far outweigh the differences they have, and thus provide a strong dosage of peace and harmony to their communities".