In Manchester Diocese, we recognise that we still have much to learn, in a world where many still struggle for racial justice. We are committed to advancing this cause, grounded in our Christian calling to promote equality, unity, and inclusion and tackle racism. Our aim is to create an environment where people of all heritages can thrive and fully participate in the life of the Church, reflecting the diversity that God has created; and where the values of hospitality, welcome and generosity are at the heart of our life together.
Manchester is a diverse diocese, and our commitment to racial justice is a direct response to the call to embrace all people as part of God’s Kingdom. While 75% of the population identify as being White British, 25% of the population identify as being of Global Majority Heritage – 15% as Asian or Asian British, 4% as Black African, and 2% as Black Caribbean. New members of our Christian communities from Hong Kong, Iran and Afghanistan are further enriching the diversity of our diocese.
Our recent work on racial justice was launched in 2019 when Diocesan Synod passed a motion confirming the need to affirm that Black lives matter in our country, and recognising the ongoing challenge to all forms of continuing racism in the Church of England. Significant progress has been made since then and the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit has recently awarded our diocese funding to help this work develop further.
This funding will support four key initiatives:
- We will be rolling out the Shades diversity and anti-racism programme beyond its successful pilot in Bolton Deanery, making it available for young people in our schools and parishes across the diocese.
- We will be able to provide direct support for our Global Majority Heritage congregations, through the work of our Intercultural Mission Enabler, Canon David Onabanjo.
- We will be focusing on development and training for our clergy and lay leaders, enabling our parishes to welcome people from all backgrounds and ensure they are supportive of and open to the recruitment of clergy and lay people from GMH backgrounds.
- We will also be able to award grants for innovative local parish projects
Watch as Archdeacon Karen Best explains more in this short film.
Shades Diversity and Anti-Racism Project
The Shades Project helps schools and churches create an inclusive culture where children and young people from all racial backgrounds can thrive. The project creates safe spaces which empower participants to celebrate diversity, champion differences, and live out the love of Christ.
This project developed out the Children Changing Places project in Bolton Deanery and includes Shades collective worship, Shades Identity and Faith Workshops, Shades Ambassadors (discipleship) groups and Shades CPD sessions for school staff teams.
Responding to the news of this additional funding, Catherine Anderson, Headteacher at St James’ CE High School in Bolton commented,
“It's impossible to convey the positive impact the Shades Project has had in our school. Both our staff and pupils have been fortunate to benefit from this caring, faith-driven programme focused on racial equality for young people. I’m delighted that Shades will now be extended to more schools in our diocese.”
Support for Global Majority Heritage Congregations
Our Intercultural Mission Enabler, Canon David Onabanjo will extend the direct support he is able to congregations from Global Majority Heritage communities, helping them to grow and fully participate in the life of the Church. Over 40 congregations are currently gathering in our diocese, some worshipping in their mother tongue, others worshipping in multicultural services, and all wishing to be part of our diocesan church family.
Reflecting on the changes he has seen in his congregation, Fr. Paul Hutchins, Rector at the Most Holy Trinity Blackley said,
“When I first started we had sparks of promise as a multicultural congregation, but in a relatively short space of time we have seen a huge increase in attendance, welcoming new worshippers from Ghana, Nigeria, and South India… they are making Anglican churches in Manchester their spiritual home.”
Clergy and Lay Leader Training
The funding will also be used to provide training to clergy and lay leaders, with the aim of promoting diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all church leaders are equipped to combat racism in their local context, and fostering an inclusive environment. Canon David Onabanjo, said,
“My conversations with clergy, including those I have met through the Intercultural Kingdom podcast, have shown that we need to continue supporting leaders in helping parishes welcome increasingly diverse communities and tackle racism. We will be using the best training resources—both nationally and locally—to enhance the accessibility of our churches to people of all heritages and promote racial justice.”
Grants for Local Parish Projects
The diocese is offering grants of up to £3,000 to support local initiatives that foster racial justice, diversity, and inclusion at the grassroots level. These initiatives will be used by parishes to address the specific needs of their communities. This funding is provided by the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit in partnership with the Diocese of Manchester.
The purpose of the funding is to empower churches to engage in ministry projects, launch new activities, or develop resources—both written and physical—that support racial justice and contribute to the delivery of our diocese’s 10-Year Strategy for long-term church growth. Read more and apply.
Our Call to Racial Justice
As we reflect on God’s call for unity, we return to biblical passages that emphasise the imperative of oneness among believers.
1 Corinthians 1:10 says, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
In his letter to the Galatians, St. Paul writes in 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Job Opportunities
Vacancies for roles in the Racial Justice Programme Team and Shades Team are listed here Lay vacancies - Diocese of Manchester
Launch Events
Our Racial Justice Programme took a significant step forward with a launch event hosted by the Church of the Ascension Hulme. On Saturday, people from across our diocese came together to celebrate the progress made so far, share powerful stories, and look ahead to the next phase of our journey towards racial justice. Read more here.
Resources and Useful Links
Tamil Church Manchester website
Recommended reading: Ghost Ship by Azariah France-Williams
Church of England Minority Ethnic Mental Health Toolkit
A Million Colours
In 2022, to celebrate Black History Month, we released ‘A Million Colours’ - a music video featuring children from Church of England schools across Greater Manchester.
‘A Million Colours’ was written by singer/songwriter pair Ni-Cola Jackson and Paul Saxon, and through its lyrics, the song conveys the message that everyone is equal before God and people of every colour are significant and loved. It challenges us to use our voices and speak up for people of all races and religions.
The video is part of the Shades Project, which aims to champion racial diversity and inclusion within schools in our diocese. The project aims to raise awareness, foster understanding of each other’s differences, and instil dignity and a sense of belonging for all children, young people and adults in our school communities.
