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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 14 November 2008

The Rev Paul Zaphiriou outside St Mary Magdalene’s Church

Church offers victim support to those living in fear of crime

We have parishioners anxious about attending evening services, says vicar

THE vicar of a Holloway church is holding a service on Sunday for people who have been affected by crime.
The Rev Paul Zaphiriou, of St Mary Magdalene’s Church, has decided to take a public stand to show people they are not alone.
The 6.30pm service at the Holloway Road church will include specially chosen readings, psalms and a short talk.
Mr Zaphiriou, who was attacked on the doorstep of his church in May, said: “Our parochial church council is quite concerned about the high level of visibility of crime so we thought we could have a service around victims of crime.
“Speaking as a vicar and a governor of a local school, I’ve seen the effect. It’s something people are talking about a lot, feeling unsafe, the effect it has on vulnerable people.
“We have parishioners saying they are not comfortable coming to the church in the evenings. Not many, but it’s something we feel we want to address.”
The service is open to anyone, with Safer Neighbourhoods police officers among those invited.
Mr Zaphiriou said: “We’re not trying to point the finger of blame at anybody. We’re just trying to remind people of what human relationships should be, based on love and respect.
“If people have been affected in any way by crime, recently or in the past, we hope that by coming here and listening to a reading or a psalm and a short talk they will be comforted.”
He added: “We’re raising awareness in the community and saying we feel we should take a stand in the public arena. These days knife crime is the one thing people immediately think about. Holloway Road has been in the headlines once or twice.”
Mr Zaphiriou hopes to make the service an annual event. “Over time we hope forgiveness and restoration will be a strong theme as the service develops from year to year,” he said. “But at this time we really want to comfort people who feel crime has blighted their lives.”

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