Since 2014, St. Mark’s Church, Kennington has been pleased to host a ‘Word 4 Weapons’ knife amnesty bin. It is one response we are making to the tragedy of so many lost young people, tragedies which have touched our own Church family.
Our Church is a high profile location opposite the Oval tube, and thousands of people pass by the knife bin every day. As well as the weapons that are actually disposed of, we believe there is great value in the constant message that the bin sends out: “Bin a knife – save a life”. We pray that young people are being reminded that carrying weapons makes them more vulnerable rather than more safe. Over the years, thousands of knives, guns and other weapons have been voluntarily surrendered into our knife bin.
Almost 200 years ago, our Church was built on the site of an execution site, but our vision is that what was once a place notorious for death and vice is becoming a place for life and renewal. We echo the words of Moses “Choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30.19).