10/06/2026
The news from Northern Ireland over the last days has been highly disturbing, both because of the violent attack on Monday, that left a man seriously injured, and because of the violent disorder that followed. The scenes of burning vehicles are perhaps a reminder of earlier troubles, but scenes of people running from their homes, when they had been deliberately inflamed, is simply terrifying. The scenes that we have all seen represent a complete detachment from the concept of lawful protest, and will have left many feeling profoundly anxious.
Yesterday afternoon I was made aware of posters, circulating in far-right channels online, that called for protests across 70 locations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Northampton was listed there, and the location given was 'All Saints' Square' (sic). We have regularly refused to permit political protests and rallies in our precincts, especially where they have attempted to adopt the iconic façade of All Saints' Church to benefit their cause. Our anxiety about the spectre of these protests, and not least their links to the abhorrent scenes we saw in Belfast last night, were (we're pleased to report) unrealised, but the fear they created was real. People should never be made afraid of approaching a Church, and I condemn the instigators of these protests for raising that anxiety, and for promoting disorders that have seen people and their homes attacked because of their ethnicity or alleged immigration status.
As the people of Belfast and Northern Ireland begin restoring the peace in their communities, I'm grateful for an undertaking from Northamptonshire Police that there'll be increased patrols tonight. We shall, as ever, be maintaining our schedule of worship, and will be offering Choral Evensong at 6pm as we join our prayers for peace and calm.
All Saints' Church strives to be open most of the hours of daylight, and acts of worship take place here five days a week. We are a town that knows the cost of destruction, and which ought to treasure what we have. We make a warm invitation to all who wish to gather, pray, and work for peace, and an end to violence on our streets.
Father Oliver Coss SSC
Rector