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Canon Garth Hewitt (right) with Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal, Bishop in Jerusalem
19/06/06
On Sunday June 11 the Revd Garth Hewitt was installed as Honorary Canon of the Cathedral Church of St. George the Martyr in Jerusalem. The service of installation was held at the cathedral by Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal, Bishop in Jerusalem.
In his sermon Bishop Riah highlighted Canon Hewitt's commitment to the Palestinian church saying, "You deserve what you have been made. You have shared our joys. You have shared our pains. You made us dance with joy as you sang 'chain of love'. You made us cry when you sang for Miriam, the Gaza girl shot in her leg by Israeli soldiers"
He continued, "You raised up our spirits as you sang for justice and for peace. And you broke down barriers when you made us sing for Jew as much as Muslim and the Christian - for the Israeli as much as for the Palestinian.
“For your friendship to us in Palestine and your commitment to the cause of peace and reconciliation, we welcome you in our midst and we pray God’s blessing upon you".
Bishop Riah gave Canon Hewitt a local Jerusalem Cross, as "a token of our love and gratitude”.
Garth Hewitt was asked to sing his song '10 Measures of Beauty (10 Measures of Sorrow)' – a song written about Jerusalem. The congregation joined in the chorus singing "Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem". He concluded by inviting everyone to join in a Holy Trinity Prayer that he had written for the people of the Holy Land.
On becoming Canon, Garth Hewitt said, "It's a deeper privilege than I can express. Here in the Diocese of Jerusalem I have learnt so much from the 'living stones'. I've been made more aware of God's call for justice as I've seen the growing oppression and suffering"
Garth Hewitt is Guild Vicar of All Hallows on the Wall in the City of London and Director of the Amos Trust, a justice and peace organization that supports forgotten communities around the world. Garth has been leading visits to the Holy Land for the last 15 years in which Pilgrims learn about the lives of the "living stones" – the Palestinian Christians - and also meet with Jewish and Muslim peacemakers.
He has given a number of concerts in Israel and Palestine, including the Cathedral Church Jerusalem and has certainly moved many people’s hearts with his songs and the sense of justice and care they articulate.
Garth Hewitt has sung about the Palestinian Christians in his concerts in the UK and around the world encouraging audiences to remember and support their brothers and sisters struggling today in Israel/Palestine.
The newly installed canon was inducted into a share in the Ministry and Care of the Cathedral Church. He was placed in the stall of Damascus assigned to his Canonry.
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