DERBY Cathedral has become the first place of worship in the world to be handed an award recognising the work it has done to welcome refugees and asylum seekers.
The Reverend Maureen Priddin was handed the Cathedral of Sanctuary Award by the charity National Stream of Sanctuary during a ceremony this afternoon to mark Homeless Sunday.
Hundreds packed into the cathedral for the Eucharist, which was led by the Bishop of Derby, Dr Alistair Redfern, and during which the award presentation took place.
Rose McCarthy, from the National Stream of Sanctuary, handed the certificate to the Rev Priddin.
She said: "We have presented awards to a number of organisations across the UK for the work they do to welcome asylum seekers and refugees and these have included schools - but never before have we handed an award like to a religious place.
"Derby Cathedral is the first in the world to be given this and I think the city should be very, very proud of that.
"We have recognised how they open their doors to people from smaller ethnic communities from around the world and they richly deserves this.
"What strikes me here is how the glass-fronted door at Derby Cathedral is immediately welcoming.
"I even had one refugee, from Iran, who said to me that Maureen has become like a mother to her.
"She told me she calls Maureen 'her Mother Teresa'."
The Rev Priddin said refugees and asylum seekers that come to the cathedral include people from war-torn countries such as Syria, Eritrea and Nigeria.
The Rev Priddin said: "People find the cathedral a safe and welcome place to come and we work hard to make them feel welcome and as though they can come here for a place of sanctuary.
"But we also have people who go out into the communities to talk to them and let them know they are welcome here.
"For example we now have a thriving Bosnian population here in Derby who fled the war there more than 20 years ago.
"They are now integrated into Derby's society and they make a vital and worthwhile contribution to our hugely diverse and multi-cultural city.
"Derby is a safe place for them and for the cathedral to be recognised for that is something we are all very proud of."
During the Eucharist, prayers were read out by representatives from organisations which work with homeless people in Derby.
They included Pat Zadora, the chief executive of the Padley Group, Phil Morton, of Derby Churches night shelter and Sue Griffin, of YMCA Derbyshire.
And the service was also partly-organised by the Derventio Housing Trust.
During his sermon, Dr Redfern said: "It is good to see so many representatives from organisations that work so hard with the homeless.
"Tackling the issues is a major challenge for us and it is an issue that is political, economic, social and moral.
"Two years ago, I remember organising what we called a 'reverse soup run' with Derventio outside the cathedral.
"We were handing out soup and hot drinks to people passing by on a bitterly cold day and people were giving us a wide berth.
"They were suspicious about being given something for nothing.
"There was cynicism, you could sense it.
"We became strangers to people because we were trying to be generous.
"And that is a moral challenge we have to tackle."
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