50 Years, 50 Faces: Rev Marco Lopes

50 Years, 50 Faces: Rev Marco Lopes:

My name is Marco Lopes, I’m a Church of England priest and a Portuguese citizen who came to this country nine years ago. I moved to Newham almost 3 years ago. I’m interested in religion, politics and science. Fighting inequalities is very much in my heart.

I almost got the know the Renewal Programme immediately after I moved to Newham; I found out about it when I started to inquire about the social fabric of the borough and its institutions.

I subscribe to the Renewal Programme’s values wholeheartedly. Therefore, seeing the programme working along the lines of dignity, inclusion, collaboration and empowerment is massively encouraging. 

I feel most connected to the ESOL classes, as they are a fundamental tool to promote people’s full inclusion and giving them an instrument to improve their lives.

The Renewal Programme comes across as a very open and transparent organisation. It’s hard to focus on an individual in particular but perhaps Peter Laing incarnates the Renewal Programme’s values.

To me, the organisation means willingness to change the reality in the borough, empowerment especially of those who are in the margins of society.

Rev Marco Lopes

Marco joined our Board of Trustees in March 2022.