Instanbul Bombing

• Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop in Europe attended a service with the late Consul only days ago
• Anglican chaplain in Istanbul loses several members of congregation
• Bishop in Europe calls for prayer

While in the city they visited the synagogue which had been the scene of an earlier blast, and united in prayer with other Christian leaders including the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Armenian Patriarch.

Roger Short was a regular member of the congregation of the English-speaking Church of England congregation of Christ Church Istanbul, which is situated close to the Consulate but is believed to be undamaged.

Other members of the congregation are believed to have died in the blast. The Chaplain of Christ Church, Canon Ian Sherwood, is shocked but unharmed and is actively seeking to comfort the injured victims and the relatives of the dead.

Bishop Geoffrey Rowell has issued a call to the Diocese in Europe to pray for an end to violence, for Ian Sherwood's ministry, and for the wife and children of Roger Short.

His full statement follows below.

• Archbishop of Canterbury's statement
• Ian Sherwood on BBC Radio 4 Thought for the Day Saturday (Real Audio player required)
• BBC report of Sunday morning service
• Ian Sherwood on BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme (Real Player required)

Bishop Geoffrey's statement

20 November 2003

Bishop David and I as your bishops wish to call the faithful of the Diocese in Europe to prayer following the bombings at the HSBC Bank headquarters and the British Consulate in Istanbul. The tragic loss of life, including that of Her Majesty's Consul General, Mr Roger Short, a member of our congregation, and the many hundreds of people injured has shaken the fabric of the Turkish Nation once again, and increased the level of anxiety and fear among her peoples.

Earlier this week I accompanied the Archbishop of Canterbury on a visit to Istanbul. In the course of that visit we went to the scene of the earlier bomb blast at one of the synagogues, and were horrified and heart-broken at the scene of devastation. Together with the leaders of the other Christian churches in Istanbul, especially the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Armenian Patriarch, we were united in common prayer for peace. We worshipped at Christ Church Istanbul, and were then welcomed by Roger Short and his wife, Victoria, who hosted a reception at their residence. The contrast between that prayer and hospitality, and the destruction of human life today, makes the urgency of our prayer and support all the more poignant and necessary.

As a community of faith, we offer prayers for an end to violence, for God's protection for all who are in danger from terrorism, for divine guidance for leaders of government to address the root causes which fuel such acts of hatred and bloodshed, and for those who perpetrate such acts to be turned from prejudice and anger to justice and peace.

Our own chaplain at Christ Church Istanbul, the Revd Canon Ian Sherwood has been swift to respond with pastoral care for the injured and bereaved and is engaged in building bridges of outreach and reconciliation in the community. We hold him and his congregation - especially Victoria Short together with her children, Katherine, Lizzie and Thomas - and all others who are injured and
bereaved, in our prayers.

+Geoffrey

The Rt Revd Geoffrey Rowell