Andrew White

Canon Andrew White is something of a legend: a man of great charm and energy, whose personal suffering has not deflected him from his internationally recognised relief work and reconciliation work in Iraq and the Middle East.

Since ordination, Andrew White has had an extensive role in the work of reconciliation, bringing together Muslims and Christians, Israelis and Palestinians, Shia and Sunni – all of which have carried huge risks. In 2002, he partook in the Alexandria Process – an active dialogue between Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders to build understanding and work towards peace in Israel / Palestine. In 2004, following an escalation of violence in Iraq, he hosted the Baghdad Religious Accord which led to the establishment of the Iraq Centre for Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace (ICDRP). In 2011, he chaired a summit of Iraq’s religious leaders in Copenhagen which produced the first ever joint Sunni / Shia fatwa against violence in Iraq.

Andrew White has also been involved in many hostage negotiations, and played a key role in ending the siege at the Church of Nativity in Jerusalem. He has himself been kidnapped and to this day lives in constant danger. Until recently, he pastored one of the largest churches in Iraq – St George’s Church in Baghdad – a position which afforded him the moniker ‘The Vicar of Baghdad’. Sadly, recent events in Iraq have made it very difficult for him to travel there.

Canon White has worked full time as President of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME), which he set up to provide spiritual and material relief to refugees displaced by violent upheaval. In his role as President of FRRME, Canon White also works with key religious leaders towards bringing peace and reconciliation to the Middle East.