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‘Vicar of Baghdad’ to speak in Nottingham
A renowned clergyman who has been dubbed ‘The Vicar of Baghdad’, will visit Nottingham next month, on Sunday 3rd May, when he will speak about his work in the Middle East at two Nottingham city churches.
The Reverend Canon Andrew White is vicar of St George's Church, Baghdad, the only Anglican church in Iraq, where he has worked since 2005. He is also President of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, an organisation at the forefront of peacemaking in Iraq. He was previously Director of International Ministry at the International Centre for Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral, England. At the age of 33 years he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
Andrew White will be speaking at two services during his visit to the city – at St Nicholas Church Maid Marion Way at 10.30am and then at St Mary’s Church Lace Market at 6.30pm. The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd George Cassidy, has given his support to the work at St George’s, Baghdad, this year, by making it the beneficiary of his 2009 Lent Appeal, which also includes donations at Confirmation services throughout the year.
Andrew White is considered by some, to be the incumbent of the most dangerous job in Christendom. When he goes to ‘work’ at St George’s, Baghdad, he is required to wear a bullet proof vest and flack jacked. A platoon of armed soldiers is permanently assigned to guard him. He is a confidant of most, if not all, of the Shia and Sunni and Kurd and Jew and Christian leaders and most of the military commanders in Iraq. His mission is to help the peace process by being a trusted intermediary for all parties.
His day in Nottingham will include a tour of the city and a meeting with the Bishop of Sherwood, the Rt Revd Tony Porter.
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