Andrew White: has an interesting parish
St Mary Magdalene’s has a very special speaker next Sunday, with the Addiscombe church having the vicar of Baghdad paying a visit.
Canon Andrew White, of St George’s in Baghdad, is the only Anglican vicar in Iraq. A fellow of Harvard and Clare College, Cambridge, White’s mission in Baghdad is to try to secure reconciliation between warring communities in strife-torn Iraq.
White runs the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East which, in addition to peace work across the Middle East, provides food relief in Baghdad and every month treats 2,000 Iraqis from all faiths in a free clinic.
White overcomes adversity in his own affliction with Multiple Sclerosis, and has had to deal with hijacking attempts on him and the kidnappings and the killings of many staff at St George’s.
White says that he supported the invasion of Iraq, but not the conduct of the western military occupation.
With reportedly 35 armed guards needed to protect workers’ safety at St George’s, the work done by White is funded by a range of sponsors, including, controversially, the Pentagon.
Canon White’s meeting starts at 6.30pm on Sunday, June 9.
- Follow Canon White on Twitter: @vicarofbaghdad
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