Walk of Peace and Friendship 2014
filed in Event on 29 May 2014
Our 2014 interfaith walk takes place on Sunday 22nd June and will visit five places in Isleworth. St John the Baptist Church, Gumley House and Brentford and Isleworth Quaker Meeting House have been part of the Isleworth landscape for 160 years and more. The Walk will include all three and also visit the new Sikh free school in Wood Lane and the Hussaini Islamic Mission on Thornbury Road.
The route
The day starts at St John’s Church in St John’s Road at 11.30am, moves to the Hussaini Islamic Mission in Thornbury Road at 12.15, the Nishkam Sikh faith school in Wood Lane at 1.45, Gumley House Convent at 2.45 and reaches the last stop at Brentford and Isleworth Quaker Meeting House at 4pm. Lunch will be available at the Hussaini Mission in Thornbury Road around 12.15 and tea with Brentford and Isleworth Quakers at 4pm.
The walk is open to all, whether of a faith or not, but to help with catering please let us know you’re coming via the contact us tab or ring 07812 833635.
Some history
The land to build St John’s was donated in 1846 by the Duke of Northumberland along with a sum of £2000.
Gumley House was built even earlier, in 1700, by John Gumley, a successful cabinet maker as his family home. In 1795 it passed to Benjamin Angell, one of the founding members of the Quaker Meeting House, in Quakers Lane, Busch Corner and still in use today.
In 1841 Gumley House was sold to Madame d’Houët, foundress of the Faithful Companions of Jesus, who established two schools. These developed in the 20th century into St Mary’s primary and Gumley House secondary. The house itself is still the home of a community of Roman Catholic Sisters.
Changes and continuity
In recent years population changes in Isleworth and around have added other faiths to our community. The Hussaini Islamic Mission have for over 20 years used a former church building in Thornbury Road. Walkers will hear about Friday and other prayers, how festivals are marked and education is provided for the young people of the group. Continuing the theme of education, the new Nishkam Sikh multi-faith free school is currently based in Wood Lane. Half the places are available for families of non Sikhs who favour a faith school.