Hymns including Amazing Grace were played on steel drums as the guests made their way into the church.
The Rev Canon Joel Edwards, addressing a congregation including members of the Windrush generation and their descendants, hailed the positive impact those who landed at Tilbury Docks on June 22 1948 and their offspring have had in the worlds of politics, business, music and food.
He said the Windrush generation had “gifted Britain”, providing trade union leaders, politicians and senior civil servants, as well as becoming leaders in various other areas of British life.
But many of those who left sunnier climes in the Caribbean for a new life in Britain faced hardships including racism, Mr Edwards said, as he paid tribute to “Windrush resilience”.
He said: “Settling down hasn’t been plain sailing. The children of Windrush have experienced over-representation in Britain’s prisons and mental health institutions. Knife crimes.
The Liberal Democrat peer, Baroness Floella Benjamin was applauded as she briefly danced in the nave to the music.
As the patron of the Windrush Foundation she said afterwards that she felt “joy”, adding: “I was floating, like a bird, free.”
Other guests included Prime Minister Theresa May, Home Secretary Sajid Javid, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Baroness Doreen Lawrence – mother of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence.
The government were recently heavily criticised for making life…
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