Two prominent leaders in the Church of England have released a video of themselves kneeling to mark two weeks since the death of George Floyd. The Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Rev Dr Christopher Cocksworth, and the Bishop of Warwick, the Rt Rev John Stroyan, were filmed taking a knee in front of the Charred Cross in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral.

The pair knelt for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, which is the exact length of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on the neck of Floyd prior to his death. 

In the video, Rev Cocksowrth says:

"On the 25th of May George Floyd was murder. Life was forced out of him, breath was forced out of him. And a great cry went up around the world... a cry against the brutality. A protest against injustice. A recognition that racism is rife in so many societies. 

"When this Cathedral was destroyed in 1940, a great cry went up from the hearts of this city. And it was turned into a prayer.. a cry calling out to God. It's a very simple prayer that we find ourselves turning to in Coventry Diocese every day."

The pair then recited the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation:

"All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,

FATHER FORGIVE

The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,

FATHER FORGIVE

The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,

FATHER FORGIVE

Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,

FATHER FORGIVE

Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,

FATHER FORGIVE

The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children,

FATHER FORGIVE

The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,

FATHER FORGIVE

Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."