Following the disorder in the city centre on Saturday night in which police made ten arrests (and more subsequently), a special service of Evening Prayer was held at Christ Church Cobridge hosted by the Hanley Team Ministry.
People gathered from all over the city and the surrounding area, filling the church.
During the service which was led by the Bishop of Stafford, the Rt Revd Matthew Parker, the packed church heard two challenging and insightful reflections from the Archdeacon of Stoke-upon-Trent, The Ven Dr Megan Smith and the team rector of Hanley, Revd Philip Jones.
In a reflection on lament, Revd Philip Jones recalled the city's proud past and all that has been lost over recent decades. He urged that we should pause and recognise our situation for all in our society and draw on God's creative power as a basis for for moving forward together.
Using passages from the book of Jeremiah and Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, Archdeacon Megan Smith challenged the congregation, asking on 'who is my neighbour' and urged us to pray for our all our neighbours of whatever culture, religion or politicial position.