Elder Cook Unites With Senior U.K. Faith and Education Leaders

During his weeklong ministry to the United Kingdom, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles engaged with senior faith and education leaders to underscore the nation’s historical legacy — and ongoing responsibility — in defending and promoting freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).

Elder Cook participated in two significant gatherings — one at the University of Oxford and another at the Coptic Orthodox Church in London — that highlighted the U.K.’s role in championing religious liberty. These events brought together prominent leaders and institutions dedicated to protecting FoRB, which aligns with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ ongoing commitment to this vital human right.

Elder Cook is accompanied by his wife, Mary, along with Elder Michael T. Ringwood of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Alan T. Phillips of the Europe North Area Presidency. 

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Reflecting on Britain’s Legacy of Faith, Law, and Religious Freedom

In Oxford on May 29, Elder Cook was hosted at Regent’s Park College, part of the University of Oxford. The choice of Regent's Park College, with its historical ties to religious nonconformity and a commitment to educational access, underscored the broad historical roots of religious freedom in the U.K.

The reception brought together senior scholars and religious freedom advocates, including Sir Malcolm Evans, principal of the college and a distinguished academic in international law and human rights, and Baroness Elizabeth Berridge, former U.K. government minister and a leading voice on religious freedom.  

The event celebrated the deepening collaboration between Regent’s Park College and the Church. Elder Cook reflected on and praised the U.K.’s historic role in laying the foundations for religious liberty, which in turn, paved the way for the Church’s first missionaries to arrive in 1837.

Elder Cook emphasized the profound impact Britain’s religious liberty had on the young Church’s growth.

“One of our purposes in coming here, was to give personal thanks. We feel a debt of gratitude to you”, Elder Cook said. “The number of people who joined the Church in that period, from 1837 to 1850, was larger — and there were more members of our faith in England in 1850 than there were in the United States. And then a huge emigration to the United States from that group. This was just an enormous blessing to us.”

Elder Cook has a long association with the United Kingdom, having served as a young missionary for the Church in London.

The event host, Sir Malcolm Evans, said, “It was a real privilege and pleasure to hear what Elder Cook had to say about the historic connections and the idea that it is so important that everyone has a space to be able to develop their faith traditions and to explore and to practice in freedom wherever they are.”

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From the sealing of the Magna Carta in 1215 (a foundational moment for civil liberty) to the 1611 King James Bible (which expanded religious access) and the work of Sir Thomas Edward Coke in the 17th century to enshrine principles of justice through English common law, Elder Cook paid tribute to this enduring legacy of Britain’s contributions to religious freedom and the moral foundations that continue to allow the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to flourish globally.

Promoting Religious Freedom Through Interfaith Unity

In London on May 28, Elder Cook joined senior leaders from a wide range of faith traditions at the Coptic Orthodox Church, where they were hosted by His Eminence Anba Angaelos, the First Coptic Orthodox archbishop of London. The discussion centred on FoRB not only as a fundamental human right but as a pressing humanitarian concern that intersects with issues of conflict, displacement and social division.

Elder Cook shared insights on the sacred nature of religious liberty and called for greater civility in the public sphere. He said, “It is important we learn to disagree better. We need to learn to talk with each other and not have the kind of anger that exists. Religious entities play an important role in setting that tone and encouraging respectful conversations. I think that could make a real difference.”

Elder Cook noted the “debt of gratitude” that the Church of Jesus Christ has for the United Kingdom, for its historic and pioneering role in promoting FoRB.

The gathering included H.E. Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, apostolic nuncio to Great Britain; Rabbi Elchonon Feldman, deputy to the chief rabbi; The Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Winchester; and representatives from the Ahmadiyya Muslim and Baha’i communities. Elder Michael T. Ringwood of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Alan T. Phillips of the Europe North Area Presidency also participated in the discussions.

Archbishop Angaelos highlighted the importance of unity among faith leaders in promoting FoRB globally.

“I never take for granted a gathering like this”, Archbishop Angaelos said. “We have an incredible FoRB network in the United Kingdom. It’s only in working together that we can ever reach any kind of step forward. People who violate religious freedom want to deal with individual actors and section us off. But when there’s a united front, it can make a difference.”

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Matthew Jones of The FoRB Foundation moderated the discussion and said, “A lot of the challenges that we see around the world in relation to freedom of religion or belief — they tend to be blamed on faith. The hope that I get from this is that there is a possibility for faiths to have common aims. It’s not actually the faiths being in opposition, but that the faiths are part of a solution.”

Additional Resource of Elder Cook's Ministry in England

Church News ‘The Savior accomplished everything we need,’ Elder Cook tells Saints in Birmingham, England

A Continuing Legacy

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, itself a faith that once faced intense persecution, is deeply invested in the preservation of these freedoms. Through work with academic institutions, collaboration with interfaith allies, and participation in global dialogue, the Church seeks to honour the U.K.’s legacy while contributing to a more peaceful and pluralistic future, ensuring these universal rights endure for all.

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