The Church of England’s Lead Bishops for Racial Justice, the Bishop of Croydon, Rosemarie Mallett, and the Bishop of Kirkstall, Arun Arora, have condemned the murder of Henry Nowak as ‘an act of evil’ which was ‘accompanied by lies’.

They said:

The murder of Henry Nowak was an act of evil. We deeply lament the loss of an innocent life and grieve alongside his family and all those who loved him. This senseless killing was accompanied by lies that also made Truth a victim.

There are clearly questions about the manner of Henry Nowak’s death. We stand with the Bishop of Southampton in her call for a prayerful and peaceful response to recent events. For conversations to be held with compassion and understanding. For the rejection of violence.  

We especially join in the call to pray for Henry’s family and friends in their grief and devastation.

We also pray for the Police and for the Sikh Community both of whom were targeted in the “terrifying violence” that occurred in Southampton on Tuesday evening. We pray for all of those in Southampton and elsewhere who now live and work in greater fear of violence.

We have heard the words of Mark Nowak, Henry’s father, who has stated that the family “do not want Henry’s murder to be used to create further hatred, division or tension.” We lament the words of those calling for a different kind of response, one of rage, ahead of the violence and attacks against the police on Tuesday.

We call on Christians and those from all faiths  from across the land to join with us in praying for England and for the state of our nation. To pray against division. To pray for unity. To pray for peace.   To pray for the soul of our nation.

And through our prayer to be advocates of hope in communities across our nation.

+Arun Arora
+Rosemarie Mallett
Co-Lead Bishops for Racial Justice 

3 June 2026