There’s a play on words in the title. It has several connotations: 

• individual students and teachers being enriched from regular gatherings  
• a theological vision of collective and ecumenical sharing 
• the constitutional context of belonging to the Commonwealth.

In regard to the last of these, it’s very clear that today’s Commonwealth has long abandoned any notion of British Empire. Nor does it any longer style itself as British. The transition has not been easy, but the present reality is as a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries, comprising a third of the world’s population: www.thecommonwealth.org.  

Their religious diversity is enormous. Some, might describe themselves like the UK as Christian, Secular and Multifaith. Others as Hindu, Secular and Multifaith, or Muslim, Secular and Multifaith. Whatever the prevailing demography, the case is strong for full attention to religious diversity in public education. Without such mutual understanding, the risk of misunderstanding, becoming negative suspicion, becoming outright conflict and war is great. And much depth and delight is missed.  

Incidentally, in respect of ‘Britishness’ it is a rarely remarked historical fact that there were more Hindu, Muslim and Sikh members of the total British Forces in WW1 than Christians: www.armisticenow.net. 

These are the words of the Director of the Commonwealth Foundation Vijay Krishnarayan:   

“Religious and cultural diversity is a fundamental feature of the Commonwealth. The UK itself has imported and embraced this diversity. In its approach to Religious Education in its primary and secondary schools, it has discovered a way of doing this that is quite special. I’ve seen this for myself today. It values the distinctiveness of each individual religious tradition whilst encouraging knowledge and understanding of others. And it does this in ways that are sensitive to each young person.   
I welcome this opportunity to acknowledge the strategic potential of giving children and young people throughout the world the opportunity to understand religions. Religions are a central feature of our global inheritance. They are very much part of the present international landscape. They can be a resource for future enlightenment."   

Stated at the Westminster launch of the RE Council's 2011 National Celebration of RE.