In memory of a true friend of the Jewish community

Revd Richard Sudworth, who passed away on the second night of Chanukah, brought light to the world. He was a true friend of the Jewish community, and all faith communities. I first encountered Richard at the Queens Foundation in Birmingham, where he taught Judaism and Islam. In 2018 he became the Archbishop of Canterbury’s interfaith adviser and over the past year had been elevated to Director of Faith and Public Life, the most senior role at Lambeth Palace. He was also a trustee of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. I hardly need to introduce him to a Jewish audience because he touched the lives of so many in our community and far beyond.

As Director of the Council of Christians and Jews, Richard was my key interlocuter. As time went on, we continued to work closely together in subsequent roles, as the Jewish Adviser to the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace – UK and as Interfaith Adviser at the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Over the years, we worked through some of the more joyful aspects of interfaith engagement as well as some of the more thorny issues and I believe we mostly achieved good outcomes through the deep friendship and trust that developed over time between us. Richard was an intentional and empathetic listener but he also knew his own mind and when he shared his advice and wisdom people listened, because he commanded so much respect. In December 2023, with community tensions at a an all time high, Richard suggested to the King that he meet and hear from interfaith and faith leaders at Buckingham Palace, and the King agreed.

Richard had a palpable sensitivity for Jewish life and community and an unequivocal love and concern for all of the peoples in the Holy Land. A lesser-known fact is that he met his wife Fiona in Israel, so it always had a special place in his heart!

After 7 October 2023 and the ensuing war, Richard and I would share articles, podcasts, thoughts on what this and that one was saying, questions about what this meant for interfaith…. Not a week went by without multiple exchanges. I remember briefing Richard before a trip to Israel with the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, only a couple of weeks after the war began. He made great pains to include meetings with hostage families during a very short trip and to reflect carefully on all that he had seen and heard on his return.

Richard struggled, like many of us, with the pain and suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians during the war and was anguished by the breakdown in community relations and communication between faith and other communities back in the UK.  He was at the receiving end, day after day, of the frustration, sadness, anxieties and often anger of faith communities. He absorbed it all. His response was to put tremendous effort into bringing faith leaders together, to stand against increasing hostility and hatred.

Richard also had a wonderfully fun and cool side to his personality. I remember him telling me excitedly about his meeting with one of his favourite musical icons, Nick Cave, at Lambeth Palace, and whatever the latest gig he had gone to see, often with Nellie or Dylan, his children.

There have been so many posts about Richard on social media and elsewhere in the past days. All of them relate to him in a personal way, because he made each and every person he engaged with, feel that they and what they thought and believed, were important to him. He was universally loved.

Richard has left a huge legacy: in the interfaith arena, in Lambeth Palace, the Church of England and indeed the world. It is a painful loss for all who knew him, particularly at time when we need him more than ever. I’m sure that I and others will often ask ourselves, ‘What would Richard say or do in this situation’.

Pirkei Avot teaches us that the crown of a good name supercedes all others. That crown belongs to Richard.