Kurshida Mirza BEM, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in 2025 was the first muslim woman to hold the position in the County’s history. She took the unprecedented step step of having chaplains from the Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Bahai, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist faiths to reflect all of the community she was serving. They accompanied her during her year and each gained insights and knowledge from the experience. “It was like family being in the Chaplaincy team of our High Sheriff.”
They visited mosques, a Sikh temple, a synagogue and a peace Pagoda together as well as prisons and the police service. “While traditions may divide, the core of religion – its message of love, unity and spiritual nobility – connects us.” The impact was felt across the community “For peace and justice to flourish in our multi-ethnic and multicultural society it is essential that individuals respect one another as equals. This can only be achieved through opportunities for interaction and mutual learning.”