Last week at the Cathedral saw us remembering quite a bit. We were, of course, in mourning following the death of His Late Royal Highness, the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. We prayed for the repose of his soul at each of the offices and Eucharists of the daily round throughout the week, culminating in Philip’s funeral at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, and a service of Choral Evening Prayer on Sunday the 18th in our Cathedral attended by the Lord Lieutenant (Her Majesty’s representative in Merseyside) and other dignitaries.
 
Thursday the 15th — in the midst of this remembering and mourning week — also saw us remembering the Hillsborough Disaster. We prayed at all services that day for the 96 victims, their families, and the knock-on effects of the disaster. And the Hillsborough Memorial outside was a focus of prayer at 3pm that day, suitably decorated with red flowers.
 
And now we find ourselves in the after-time, if you will, of remembering and mourning. As vaccinations continue to take place here and around the world, there’s a sense of hope and possibility that continues to warm the heart, perhaps concurrent with the return of warmer Spring weather here in the UK.
 
I’m also finding myself unable to fully let go of lockdown life. As much as I look forward to socialisation and travel (two things I have never missed before now), I also feel a responsibility to remember the pandemic. And to continue to remember it, beyond the process of restrictions being lifted.
 
Lockdown has reminded us of many things “the hard way.” Perhaps among the most important is to remember the idea that Jesus taught us so long ago:
 
Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs. (Matthew 24:4-8).
 
Covid-19 has reminded us that the world is indeed broken. I think many of us knew that beforehand, but Covid-19 has — literally — stopped us in our tracks, and forced us, as a global, to work together to stop the spread of a disease that is a threat to all of us, but especially to the most vulnerable among us.
 
Jesus warned us, and Covid-19 has reminded us, that the world is broken, and it will wreak havoc as a matter of course. None of us, especially not Jesus’ followers in the Church, are immune from the pain and hurt of the world.
 
As we cautiously step beyond the pandemic, and entrust the departed to God’s care, we cannot forget the broken reality in which God has placed us. That shouldn’t depress us; it should call us to action, and remind us to do all we can to bind up each other’s wounds as we walk each other home.
 
YNWA
 
Nelson, Tsedaqah Community Member

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.
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Back in normal times (i.e. before the pandemic) it was my usual routine to get to the cathedral between 7.30 and 8.00am – that way I’d avoid the dreadful rush hour traffic on my 35 mile commute. 

I would usually walk from my office (often with my colleague Jenny Moran, the cathedral’s Visitor Services Manager) to grab a coffee from the staff room a good five minutes away.  First thing in the morning is a wonderful time to be at the cathedral.  It’s good to enjoy the stillness, because whilst the day-to-day busy-ness of the cathedral is thrilling, it is also good to take a breath and enjoy the beautiful building when it’s almost empty. 

As I was back in the cathedral the other day preparing for our build back: with opening for private and public prayer from 12th April and opening back as a more general visitor attraction from May 17th (we hope) - it made me think about the amazing range of different activities we have programmed within these walls in the four and half years I’ve been working here.   Early on I experienced my first Cream Classical - which was an exuberant and exhilarating club night within the cathedral with orchestras, choirs and DJs.  For anyone who (like me) loves music like this, it really is a special and memorable night out. 

I also remember the evening we inflated a full-size hot air balloon within the cathedral, as well as the nights we’ve had with our local charity partners, the Whitechapel Centre for the annual cathedral sleepovers when we’ve welcomed over 400 people per event to spend the night.  I was thinking too of the many abseil events we’ve done over the last few years where many hundreds of brave people have abseiled for their chosen charities and raised hundreds of thousands of pounds.  There is also something special about the countless gala dinners, award ceremonies and annual corporates we’ve staged too. 

Another key element of what we do has to be the great art exhibitions we love to stage at the cathedral.  The two Luke Jerram installations (“Museum of the Moon” and “Gaia”) which ran during short spells in 2018 and 2019 were collectively seen by over 250,000 people.  As we re-open we have another wonderful art installation coming to the cathedral.  “Peace Doves” is an amazing community arts piece created for us by eminent British artist Peter Walker. 
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I’ve long-admired Peter’s work and it’s a great pleasure to be able to welcome this great art work (opening on Light Night 21st May) into the building which will consist of many thousands of paper doves flying high in the Well.  We are hoping that the people of Liverpool will come along and enjoy the spectacle as we know many people have missed being in the building in the last twelve months. 

I know how they feel, as it’s the same for us staff and volunteers.  During this last unprecedented year, I have definitely missed the stillness of my early morning coffee, but above all, I think I’ve missed the buzz of thousands of people enjoying this unique building. 
Thankfully it’s not long to go before we can welcome everyone back!

Director Paul

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.

​Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed. Alleluia!
 
Today is the Third Sunday of Easter. During the Easter season the Gospel readings celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection appearances of Jesus. On Easter Sunday the Gospel reading from Mark pointed to the empty tomb and to the message that ‘He has been raised; he is not here’. Last Sunday the Gospel reading was John’s account of the risen Jesus making himself known to Thomas. Thomas was convinced when he stretched out his hand and touched Jesus. Today’s Gospel reading is Luke’s account of that first Easter Day. In Luke’s Gospel the risen Jesus had first made himself known to two disciples going to Emmaus. Those disciples went straight back to Jerusalem to tell the others. While they were talking about this in Jerusalem, Jesus stood among them. The key to this second narrative about the risen Jesus meeting with his disciples concerns the way in which they eventually recognise and accept his risen presence with them.  Jesus was recognised as more than a ghost through one of the very ordinary events of life, eating fish.  Here after the resurrection is clear continuity with the way things were before the crucifixion.
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited you to reflect on the image of eating fish. In today’s picture, taken from the illustrated communion book, The Lord is Here!, people are remembering Jesus’ presence with them as they settle down around the table to share a meal.
 
Risen Lord,
you made yourself known to the disciples
in the upper room.
Come among us now
and make yourself known to us,
as we share in your feast;
for you are our God,
now and for ever.
Amen.
 
Next Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading from John’s Gospel turns attention to one of the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus, ‘I am the good shepherd’. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is shepherd. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to Nelson.Pike@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.
 
To learn more about The Lord is here!, follow this link to the relevant page of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/childrenandcommunion.html.
 
You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.
 
I send Easter greetings to all.
 
Canon Leslie

I have a memory that I listened to the unfolding of the Hillsborough disaster live. It may be a false memory but I had a habit of listening to the radio football commentaries on a Saturday so it’s likely. However, as a young lad living in the south, it all seemed remote and easy to dismiss. And with nothing to offer a counterbalance, it was easy to get swayed by the dominant media narrative that it was all the fans' fault. Part of the culture of football hooliganism.

Two things changed my perspective.

One was simply through moving to Liverpool, getting to know people, and getting to understand the impact that Hillsborough had, has, on so many people’s lives. The number of personal stories from people who were there. Or knew someone there. And the effect that has on those lives – not just the direct family and friends of the 96 but the thousands who witnessed and suffered in a myriad of ways. By talking and listening to friends over many years I came to understand.

Then there was the Hillsborough Independent Panel. As media adviser to Bishop James, the Bishop of Liverpool I played a very small insignificant role in the process. But I was there helping to manage the media – the greatest amount of media I can remember – as the Panel revealed the truth contained within the documents it had examined.

I saw the absolute determination of the Bishop to be accurate and truthful in the report that was written. To ensure, as he said it, that the documents speak for themselves and to make them available in the archive.

I saw the dignity and courage of the relatives of the 96. Looking in the eyes of the campaigners it was not hard to see their determination to have the story they had been telling for many years properly validated mixed with the grief that they carried for their loved ones.

Bishop James was determined that the cathedral was a true and fitting place for the Panel to report to the world. A safe place. A building for the people fulfilling one of the many roles it was created for. A building where those most affected by the testimony they heard could find space to deal with the outpouring of emotion. Where they could find peace and solace surrounded by a compassionate cathedral community.

And I witnessed this and I listened to people and I understood.

To me, this entering into the story feels very much how I like to connect to God’s story. We are not far from Holy Week where Christians follow the story of Jesus from the triumphal entry of Palm Sunday to the agony of the cross and then the joy of the resurrection. By immersing myself in that story I feel I understand what God has done for me. And I feel strengthened and emboldened in my faith.

For in that Easter story I encounter love. The love that Jesus had for the world. And in the Hillsborough story, I see love. The love of the relatives so cruelly bereaved supported by the love of a church and community rallying together.

While Anfield was being rebuilt we had the privilege of hosting the eternal flame. And I would often pause there to reflect and pray. Reflect on the privilege that being part of a cathedral meant I could in some small way show love and support for a community. Pray that all those affected continue to receive the love they need to sustain them.

That prayer is relevant today when in so many different and quiet ways people remember the 96, the struggle for justice and the love that underpins it all.

Rev Canon Stuart Haynes
Director of Communications

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.

This week is a week of remembering. Throughout the week as a nation we are called on to remember the life and work of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. On Thursday as a Cathedral and as a city we are called on to remember the Hillsborough disaster and those who died in or who have been affected by that disaster.
 
Remembering is an important part of the Christian tradition. Having so recently journeyed through Holy Week and Easter we see the importance of remembering the last week in Jesus’ life, his death and his glorious resurrection. Here in the Cathedral we celebrate Holy Communion every day as we remember Christ’s promise to be there with us in the Blessed Sacrament.
 
Throughout the week, as we reflect on the life of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh we are reminded that he was a refugee, he left his homeland in an orange crate. We are reminded that he served in the Second World War and is a War veteran. We are reminded of his passion for the earth and his work with the World Wild Life Fund. We are reminded of his Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme for young people. We are reminded that he was a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather besides being the Queen’s consort.
 
Here in the Cathedral we are remembering the visit of HRH Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip to the Cathedral in 1949. The pictures of the day reveal two very young royals and as Princess Elizabeth is given the ‘Golden Key’ to open the Rankin Porch we see Prince Philip two steps behind her.

In commemoration of that visit the monograms ‘E’ and ‘P’ were entwined with a true ‘Lovers Knot’ and carved on the first pier of the Nave. Choristers Kevin Lavelle and Peter Smith held the stencil while the Princess dipped the brush in the white paint to trace her initial.
 A member of the Cathedral Congregation, Alan Matthews recounts the story of his friend Peter Smith, one of the boys holding the pot of paint. Peter told Alan that Prince Philip said ‘let’s slosh it on!’ After the ceremony Tom Murphy carved the sculpture into the stonework. Where it proudly stands today.       

For over 72 years the ‘Lovers Knot’ has witnessed the love and devotion of monarch and consort. It stands as testament not only to their love for each other, but also for the love of this Country.

The service given by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh to Queen and Country is an example to a world which has become so individualistic. He lived a life for others whether it be for the family or for his many charities and in that is an example for all of us.
​
In remembering Prince Philip over the past days I have become more aware of how I benefited from the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. I have a Gold Award and as I think back I now realise how trekking 50 miles and more across the Brecon Beacons, how serving others through the award gave me an outlook on life that is about resilience and service to others. I have much to be grateful for in the way the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme allowed me to become the person I felt called to be.

There is much to remember this week and there is much to be grateful for.

Blessed Jesus,
Lord of Lords and King of Kings,
we give you thanks
for the life of Philip, Duke of Edinburgh .
for the grace and mercy he received from you,
for his faithful love and support of Her Majesty, The Queen,
and his service to this nation at home and abroad.
Enfold him in your everlasting arms
grant him rest
and raise him up at the last
in the company of the saints in light. Amen.

Dean Sue

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.

​Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed. Alleluia!
 
Today is the Second Sunday of Easter. Last Sunday, on Easter Day, the Gospel reading proclaimed afresh the way in which Mark tells the story of the first Easter Morning with stark simplicity. The women simply see that the stone has been rolled away and they hear the angelic messenger spell out the implications: ‘He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him’. Today’s Gospel reading from John picks up the narrative, relating what happened later that day. John portrays Jesus coming and standing among his disciples on the evening of Easter Day.  Thomas, who was not present when Jesus came, refused to believe without proper evidence.  A week later (the second Sunday of Easter) Jesus came and stood among his disciples again.  This time Thomas was there and Jesus provided him with the evidence he needed.  Thomas saw and heard and touched the risen Jesus, and then he believed.  But Jesus said, ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
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For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited you to reflect on the image of touch. Like Thomas’s encounter with the risen Jesus, we too embrace physical contact with the Body of Christ in the eucharistic feast. In today’s picture, taken from the illustrated communion book, The Lord is Here! young people are encountering the  sacramental presence of the risen Jesus.
 
Risen Lord,
you made yourself known to doubting Thomas.
When we, too, are surrounded by doubts,
help us to feel your presence;
for you are alive and reign for ever.
Amen.
 
Next Sunday, the Third Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading gives Luke’s account of the evening encounter in Jerusalem when the risen Jesus ate fish with his disciples. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is eating fish. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to Nelson.Pike@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.
 
To learn more about The Lord is here!, follow this link to the relevant page of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/childrenandcommunion.html.
 
You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.
 
I send Easter greetings to all.
 
Canon Leslie

This Easter Day it felt as if the Cathedral and city were returning to life. Ever since my arrival two months ago we have been in lockdown, and although the opportunity to offer and attend public worship has been a blessing, the building has been sorely lacking its people.

First we celebrated the eucharist at dawn under the Welsford Porch, the light gradually creeping over the houses of Gambier Terrace, beginning to penetrate the deep shadows in the old cemetery below. Then, the steady flow of people began to arrive for the 10.30am liturgy. By the time the bells stopped ringing there were hundreds of people in place to celebrate the Risen Christ with the Bishop of Liverpool.

An army of people returned to their duties in Holy Week, from stewards, to bellringers; Vicars Choral, and flower arrangers; all to the greater glory of God, in the service of the Cathedral being a place of life changing encounter.

Through Lent, as throughout the last year, many have joined in the Cathedral’s worship from home online. Lee Ward responded with great creativity to the ever-changing guidelines, and proposed the premiere on Tuesday of Holy Week of a new work for the organ, ‘Via Crucis’, given by organ scholar Dan Greenway, who only had weeks to learn it. Honourable mention must be given to Dr Chris Newton for his work preparing pre-recorded services. At the beginning of Lent a decision was made to attempt to better capture the live liturgies, and by Holy Week, with the invaluable help of choral scholar Edmund le Brocq, Dan Bishop and Jack Watson, former choristers both, took up the reins of not only recording but also of beautifully presenting the special liturgies of the last week, through Facebook, and YouTube, meaning they are now accessible to the whole world. And on Easter morning although our choristers were not permitted to sing, because of the ongoing restrictions, several took leading parts in the liturgy. After such a disrupted year that is a powerful sign of their dedication, and the quality of the relationships and loyalties being forged, in our best traditions.

Our confidence and pride is in God, to whom we are truly thankful for our deliverance. My prayer is that our life together will continue to be a source of blessing to many, as the sound of Great George rang out across the city, and brought hope to people who had perhaps lived so long without hearing its sound that they had forgotten what they had been missing, and found themselves surprised by joy. 

Canon Philip

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.

It is all too easy not to encounter ‘Redemption’ when you visit Liverpool Cathedral. What on earth am I writing about? ‘Redemption’ is a work of art which has been in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit for the last 25 years. It was planned originally only to be there for twelve months, but happily it is still with us. It has a fascinating history.
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It is the work of two very different artists who in the course of their work, struck up a most unlikely friendship. Arthur Dooley is known for his sculpture, including the Black Christ on the Methodist Church on Princes Road and St Mary del Quay in Liverpool Parish Church.  He lived an eventful and colourful life, and was once described by Nicholas Frayling as a ‘rough, tough, large adopted scouser.’

Ann McTavish came to Liverpool to study at Liverpool School of Art and became one of the world’s most talented embroiderers, who produced work on an epic scale.

The two became firm friends, and Arthur became convinced that they should produce a religious work together, using metal, stone and textiles. Ann took a considerable amount of persuasion, but eventually agreed. The theme was to be either a Resurrection or Crucifixion figure of Jesus combined with the veil of the Temple being rent in two at the moment of the Crucifixion. It was to be called ‘Redemption.’  By 1993, Ann had begun work on the veil of the Temple.

On Christmas Eve, 1993, they attended Evensong together at Liverpool Cathedral and agreed to meet up early in the new year to take forward their planned collaboration. Sadly, this was not to be, for Arthur died in the first week of January 1994. Ann was deeply saddened by the death of her friend, and her thoughts were that the project must now be abandoned, as Arthur had not created his figure of Christ before he died.
She and Arthur’s mother went on a tour to see Arthur’s work, and at the Swedish Church on Park Road, there were two pieces by him. One of them was the figure which now forms part of ‘Redemption,’ and it was clear to Ann that this would enable her to complete this joint project. A short service was held in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit in January 1996 on the second anniversary of Arthur’s funeral.

‘Redemption’ remains there after 25 years, still proclaiming the power and joy of the Risen Christ, and with the good news that the barriers between God and humanity have been torn down. When the curtain was divided, Mark tells us that the Roman Centurion – a gentile pagan – declared ‘Truly, this man was the Son of God.’ The Easter hope is now open to us all.

When you are next in the Cathedral, which we hope and pray will be soon, take a moment to visit the Chapel of the Holy Spirit,  remember both Arthur and Ann, and, with their help, ponder our world’s redemption.

Happy Easter to everyone!

Canon Myles

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.

​Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed. Alleluia!

Last week, Holy Week, has been an exhausting week for Christian disciples as we have relived the trauma that culminated in the crucifixion and death of Jesus on Good Friday. Holy Saturday was a long day of mourning as Jesus rested in the sepulchre. Now on Easter Sunday we hear afresh, as if for the first time, the way in which Mark tells the story of the first Easter morning with stark simplicity. The women simply see that the stone has been rolled away and they meet a young man dressed in a white robe. They leave in fear. At the heart of the narrative stands the message of the empty tomb. The angelic messenger spells out the implications: ‘He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.’ The empty tomb points to the Easter message of new life.

For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited you to reflect on the image of spring flowers. Now on Easter Sunday spring flowers in our homes, in our churches, and in our cathedral, can shout aloud the message of new life and the message of new hope. In today’s picture, from his book The Sunny Morning, Teddy Horsley celebrates the new life of Easter by admiring the spring flowers.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you are risen, you are risen indeed, alleluia!
Now, Lord Jesus Christ, call all the nations of the world
to hear the good news of Easter,
and to see the empty tomb;
for you are risen, you are risen indeed, alleluia!
Amen.

Next Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading focuses our attention on how, after the resurrection, Jesus met with his disciples, first when Thomas was not present, and again a week later when Thomas was present. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is touching. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to Nelson.Pike@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.

To learn more about The Sunny Morning and other adventures with Teddy Horsley, follow this link to his page of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/TeddyHorsley.html. You can also check out his website here: https://teddyhorsley.org/.

You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.
 
Teddy Horsley sends his Easter Day greetings to all.

Canon Leslie 

Join us at 2pm online on Good Friday for an Hour at the Cross, a service with readings, prayers, reflections and music.