Thanks to funding from the Church of England National Justice Fund, the diocese has appointed Anira Khokhar as Racial Justice Consultant to help the diocese explore issues around racial justice. Wells Cathedral has also benefited from funding, allowing them to continue their work looking into and responding to its historic legacy of the transatlantic slavery.
Julia Hill, Head of Mission Support and Ministry Development says, “We seek to be a diocese that values and cherishes everyone. One where the voices and gifts of people of all ages and backgrounds are noticed, welcomed and enabled. Anira’s appointment very much fits within our desire to be a welcoming church, and she will help us explore how we are all living out the fourth mark of Anglican mission, ‘to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.”
Anira has a 23-year background in social justice and inclusion. She specialises in equity-focused policies, anti-racism, and systematic change, working across communities and sectors. Anira will lead a Racial Justice Audit for the Diocese of Bath and Wells, with the aim of identifying and addressing barriers to equity and inclusion. The project aligns with the diocese’s wider work on Lament to Action. Anira will be working with the diocese until October.
Bishop Michael and Anira discuss the work Anira will be doing in the following video:
The Racial Justice audit that Anira is enabling us to do across our diocese, has emerged from the Lament to Action Group, which is currently chaired by Narinder Tegally, Lead Chaplain at RUH in Bath and a Prebend of Wells Cathedral, as well as a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Somerset. The group grew out of the 2021 Lament to Action report from the Church of England. The group is currently refreshing its membership and will be keeping closely in touch with what emerges from Anira Khokhar’s work across our diocese.
Narinder, who is working with the Cathedral on their social justice work says, “The Cathedral is delighted to have funding from the national church to help us embark on a three-year project, ‘Living Liberty’ which is not just for the cathedral, but will contribute to the broader racial justice work of the diocese. Through the project we will collaborate and work in partnership on our parishes and schools to explore what their needs are on this theme.
“We also look forward to deepening our partnerships with local organisations such as Somerset African Caribbean Network (SACN), Somerset Diverse Communities (SDC), and Stand Against Racism and Inequality (Somerset SARI), and learning from and together with colleagues in the diocese and cathedrals of Bristol and Exeter.”