CHAIRMAN of Warrington Disability Partnership John Gartside was among people who met Pope Tawadros II, leader of the Coptic Orthodox church, when he visited Manchester.
They met at a high profile gathering at The Monastery in Gorton, when Pope Tawadros met with representatives of the Crown, the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England at a reception to mark his first visit to the region.
Other guests included Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs, Lord Lieutenant of Manchester, Warren Smith, outgoing Lord Mayor of Manchester, Carl Austin Behan, the Bishop of Salford, John Arnold and Rev Ray Bridson, on behalf of the Bishop of Liverpool.
A number of charity and community leaders were also present, as well as clergy and congregation from the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK.
The event at The Monastery also celebrated collaboration between the Coptic Church in Egypt and local charities, including Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP).
Chairman of WDP John Gartside described how nearly £40,000 worth of equipment has been refurbished so far, with the first container arriving in Egypt earlier this year, containing 419 pieces of new and refurbished disability equipment, such as wheelchairs, walkers, hoists, medical beds and chairs, zimmer frames and specialist mattresses. The project is also providing local employment in the UK, and recycling equipment that would otherwise have been destined for landfill.
Pope Tawadros called for unity as he sought to strengthen a community still reeling from the recent Palm Sunday bombings at two churches in Egypt – including one in Alexandria at the cathedral where the Pope had been leading mass.
He praised the solidarity that has marked the response of the Egyptian people and urged his congregation to resist divisive rhetoric, which he said was playing into the hands of the terrorists who sought to divide communities.
He added that the church had been consistent in its calls for unity since the onset of the troubles following the 2011 uprising, saying: “We have one message. Even if all our churches are destroyed, then we will pray with our brothers and sisters in the mosques, and if all the mosques are attacked, then we will pray together in the streets.”
Pope Tawadros II has found empathy for the plight of Egyptian Christians during his UK tour, enjoying an audience with the Queen at Windsor Castle, the Prince of Wales at Clarence House and the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace.
WDP Chairman John Gartside and members of the team meet the Coptic Pope
