The Beulah Apostolic Church in Harlesden reopens
Dawn Butler MP at the opening of Beulah Apostolic Church with mayor and mayoress of Brent Lena Ahmed and husband Cllr Parvez Ahmed - Credit: Archant
An international community crowded into a church in Harlesden to celebrate its new opening.
Olicer Tetlow was gunned down on March 9 this year - Credit: Archant
The Beulah Apostolic Church in Church Road, re-opened with politicians, community representatives and residents in attendance.
Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent Central, and Cllr Parvez Ahmed, mayor of Brent, joined the congregation as part of the three-day celebration which saw more than 1.500 people come through its doors at the end of May.
Remembering Oliver Tetlow, who was shot dead inches from the church in March, Ms Butler told the congregation: “Just five steps away we tragically lost an innocent young man who lost his life due to gun crime.
“The church has promised to be a refuge for the community and I am pleased that all who enter through the doors will be shown compassion and love.”
Carmen Rodney, of the Beulah Apostolic Church, said: “The opening went extremely well. We had a lot of visitors from the Apostolic churches around London and further afield. The Jamaican High Commissioner sent a letter recounting the church’s history and offered us as much encouragement as possible with what we are achieving.
“Dawn Butler spoke of her support for the community. The place is seen as a place of crime, with the recent murder of an innocent young man. The church as alot to do with the community. Each day ended with a meal and on the final day all the churches came together for a big family meal.”
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She added: “It took three years to rebuild the church. It’s a beautiful building, it’s a landmark on the road, a dedicated place of worship for anyone.”
