The National Holocaust Memorial Day was inaugurated by the government three yearsago to ensure that this nation among others never forgets the most awful act of inhumanity committed in modern history.  In remembering the Holocaust, we also call to mind the capacity that humans have to inflict horrendous crimes against one another, often whole groups of people, and indeed have committed before the time of the Holocaust and up to the present day.

We must not let these events fade away into history, to be out of sight and out of mind.  We constantly need to guard against those who would deny that they happened at all or were significant.  All of us in a democracy are required to be watchful that power never over-reaches itself so as to bring disaster upon its people or any group of people within civilised society. 

To remember is one part of the collective responsibility.  We also dare to hope that in spite of the worst that humans can do, we have the capacity to renew the world and bring peace. Therefore, collectively in Medway we shall renew our hope and recommit ourselves to work for a better world.

The 27th January is chosen for National Holocaust Memorial Day because it was the date on which British troops liberated the concentration camp at Auschwitz. In Chatham Memorial Synagogue in January this year a magnificent Holocaust Memorial Window was unveiled by the Mayor of Medway to mark the Day in 2003.  Bearing in mind that the modern commemoration is a whole community event, we considered that the January 2004 commemoration of National Holocaust Memorial Day should be held at Rochester Cathedral. It is organised by representatives of Rochester Cathedral, Chatham Memorial Synagogue and the Medway Inter Faith Action forum, with the full support and sponsorship of Medway Council.  The event will recall the Holocaust and other acts of atrocity that have been carried out against peoples across the world.  Our hope and commitment has to be that we can turn the tide and make a better world.