Debby Price, an office administrator with a City bank, has lived in Tower Hamlets all her life. Now 42, she is also a lifelong Christian. Here, she talks about what it means to follow her faith in Tower Hamlets and how her beliefs influence her daily life.
What's the best thing about your faith?
The best part of being a Christian is knowing that God is always there to keep me safe. Thanks to God's guidance and protection, I am confident I won't find myself in situations I can't cope with. That is very reassuring.
How close are you to other members of the Christian community where you live?
The people at my Church are always there for me and I'm always there for them. That's the way it has been ever since I was a child. We don't live in each other's pockets, but it gives me enormous confidence knowing that I have such a strong support network.
And the network is not just there for me either. We spend a lot of our free time together giving as much as possible back to the community, especially old age pensioners. It's important that other people have the same support that we enjoy.
How do your friends and colleagues react when you talk to them about your faith?
People's reactions have changed noticeably over the years. As a young child, I always mixed with friends from our family church and we all assumed that everyone shared our beliefs. The first time I was aware of other faiths was in the sixth form and more so at university.
People would challenge me about Christianity and I had to ask myself some serious questions before I could give them convincing answers. These days, I find people just accept my faith as part of me. If they ask, I am perfectly happy to give them the facts about Christianity and leave to make up their own mind.
What is the biggest misunderstanding you have heard about your faith?
The biggest misunderstanding I've heard about Christianity is that our services are still held in Latin and no-one can understand them. The last time I heard a Latin mass was in 1968. Since then, the Church has made huge efforts to become more accessible to people, to make sure their faith really does become a positive part of their everyday lives.
Which Christian you've met has had the biggest influence on your life?
My first Sunday School teacher was a remarkable woman called Kathryn Parsons. I can still feel the energy of her spirituality radiating from her. Her example showed me how faith can make such a positive difference to people's lives. Of all her qualities, I particularly remember her humility and generosity.
These days, Kathryn works at an AIDS hospice in South Africa. She only comes back to London for family occasions but we are in constant touch by email. I know she will always be an important part of my life.
Is there anything you listen to when you're looking for inspiration?
Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream speech. Martin Luther King was a man of such vision and charisma that his speeches transcend any particular faith. His wisdom is universal and it is this quality that gives his words their extraordinary power. This speech never fails to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
