A Memorable Day with the Archbishop of York

Around 200 people gathered at Manchester Cathedral on Thursday 19th March to conclude an uplifting and hope‑filled day across our diocese. We were delighted to welcome the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, whose visit formed part of his Faith in the North programme and the wider Lord’s Prayer Tour taking place throughout the North of England.

With spring in the air, the day was filled with warmth, energy, and a deep sense of shared purpose. Each stop on the Archbishop’s journey provided an insight into the ways in which our parishes, schools, and communities are living out their faith.

This film captures the spirit of the day:

Beginning the Day at The Blue Coat School, Oldham

The Archbishop began the morning at The Blue Coat School in Oldham, where students and staff welcomed him for collective worship. Archbishop Stephen met pupils, heard performances from the school band, listened to pupils saying the Lord’s Prayer in a wide variety of languages and led a session on the meaning and relevance of the Lord’s Prayer in today’s world. Pupils had some challenging and thoughtful questions which made for some really interesting discussions. This visit highlighted the quality of the education on offer at The Blue Coat School, the importance of faith in their school life, and the cherished partnership between our diocese and church schools.

Choral Music at Oldham Parish Church

A short stroll in the sunshine took Archbishop Stephen, along with Bishop David and Bishop Mark, to Oldham Parish Church to explore Sing My Soul, a thriving choral project bringing new musical opportunities to parishes. Revd Canon Daniel Burton led a beautiful session of music from the Sing My Soul Choral Scholars and children from Holy Cross C of E Primary School. The choral scholars explained how their involvement in the project had benefitted their studies at universities in Manchester and helped to grow their confidence. The children involved in the choirs enjoyed the chance to share their voices and enthusiasm, offering a powerful reminder of how music can shape faith, confidence, and community. The children’s choir’s rendition of Lucy Walker’s musical piece on The Lord’s Prayer was a moving highlight of the session.

Lunch and Conversation on Intercultural Mission

At midday, clergy and lay leaders joined the Archbishop and Bishop David for lunch at Fabric Church. The conversation offered space to share stories of how parishes across the diocese are supporting international congregations, nurturing belonging, and celebrating the diversity that characterises our communities. During the session, those gathered prayed together in many different languages for the global church, racial justice and for the people of Iran.

Exploring Fabric Church in the City Centre

The Archbishop met the Revd Mark Roper and the team to hear how this growing city‑centre church is engaging with students, young professionals, and their local community. The team at Fabric Church then took those gathered on a tour of the building, located in the historic Ardwick Barracks, before leading a prayer walk in the sunshine around Manchester’s Universities.

An Inspiring Evening at Manchester Cathedral

The day concluded with a special Lord’s Prayer event at Manchester Cathedral, drawing around 200 people from churches, schools, and communities across our diocese. During the gathering, Revd Kenson Li, Jo Venn, Tasha Turner, and Nick Hardman offered thoughtful reflections on their favourite lines from the Lord’s Prayer.

The Archbishop then led an evening of teaching and reflection, exploring how the Lord’s Prayer shapes not only the way we pray but also the way we live. His message encouraged all present to rediscover the prayer as a grounding rhythm for daily Christian discipleship, mission, and hope.

The atmosphere throughout the event was warm, prayerful, and deeply inspiring – a fitting close to a memorable and meaningful day. The atmosphere was warm, prayerful, and deeply inspiring, offering a fitting end to a memorable day.