A VICAR whose daughter was killed in the 7/7 bombings has quit as she cannot forgive the Islamic terrorists who carried out the attacks. The Rev Julie Nicholson has been unable to return to the pulpit since her 24-year-old daughter Jenny died on the Circle Line Tube train blown up at Edgware Road in London.
Now the 52-year-old has given up her post in the parish of St Aidan with St George, Bristol, because she cannot balance her faith with her feelings towards the bombers.
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Jenny Nicholson ... died in terror blast
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She says: “I rage that a human being could choose to take another human’s life. I rage that someone should do this is the name of a God. I am hugely offended that someone should take my daughter in the name of a religion or a God.
“I certainly don’t have any sense of compassion.
“Can I forgive them for what they did? No I cannot. And I don’t wish to.
“I say the name of my daughter’s murderer every day.
“I believe there are some things in life which are unforgiveable by the human spirit.”
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Grief stricken ... tears at Jenny's funeral
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She continues: “All my understanding of what it means to be a priest is peace, reconciliation and forgiveness.
“It is very difficult for me to stand behind an altar and celebrate the Eucharist, Communion and lead people in words of peace and reconciliation and forgiveness when I feel very far from that myself.
“I will leave potential forgiveness for whatever is after this life. I will leave that in God’s hands.”
Bishop of Bristol Mike Hill, a personal friend of Julie, says he understands how her faith has been tested.
He adds: “These situations in life shake the faith of everybody because they immediately bring into focus the ‘why’ question. Unfortunately, there is no simple Elastoplast answer to that question.”
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Devastation ... scene of tube bombing
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Jenny was killed by suicide bomber Mohammed Sidique Khan, 30, as she made her way to work at a music publishing company.
Her last known phone call was to her dad Gregg from Paddington station minutes before the bombing.
The gifted singer and pianist had recently moved to Reading, Berks, with her boyfriend James White after completing a masters degree in music at Bristol University. Her mother and father, who works for BAE Systems, were on holiday in Anglesey, North Wales, at the time of the outrage.
Julie was too distraught to speak at her daughter’s funeral at Bristol Cathedral in August but the Rt Rev Hill made her anger clear.
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Terrorist ... Mohammed Sidique Khan
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He told the 1,000 mourners: “There are few human words that can adequately express what we feel about people who indiscriminately carry out apparent acts of senseless violence against innocent civilian populations and, unbelievably, do so in the name of God.
“Such delusion, such evil is impossible for us to begin to comprehend.”
Julie, who has another daughter, Lizzie, 22, and a son Tom, 16, went on extended compassionate leave after Jenny’s death and has been unable to return to work.
Churchgoers are disappointed yet support her decision to quit.
Sales manager James Wray, 35, said: “When she arrived she had so much conviction and confidence.
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No hope ... vicar left St Aidan with St George church
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“Words cannot describe the hurt she and her family must have felt when they lost Jenny. She will always be in our thoughts and prayers and we hope Julie will come back to see us.
“She has a great many friends here.”
Rev Julie had taken up her job in 2004. She was previously a curate at St Mary’s in Henbury, Bristol, where Jenny was head chorister.
She is now taking up a role on a church-backed community youth project.
John Lloyd, spokesman for the Bishop of Bristol, said: “The Rev Julie Nicholson has indeed left the parish of St Aidan with St George.
“She will continue to work with a diocesan community youth project involving the arts.
“This new post will combine her theological and artistic ambitions — and it is a natural extension of her work in the Church.
“She was given extended leave of absence and received great support from the diocese but she decided this particular project is something she is keen to be involved in.”
Julie has been filming a religious programme for the BBC. The Easter special will feature people in similar circumstances to herself to see how they have coped with the bombings and how it has affected their faith.
Her comments were made in an interview with BBC Bristol for their Inside Out current affairs programme.
