Archbishop of York to Visit Manchester Diocese as Part of ‘Faith in the North’ Tour

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, will visit the Diocese of Manchester as part of his Faith in the North tour running across the North of England centred on teaching and encouraging deeper engagement with the Lord’s Prayer.

Archbishop Stephen is sharing the relevance of the Lord’s Prayer for today’s world and inviting people to rediscover it as a foundation for Christian life. His tour is also inspired by the Northern Saints – Hild, Cuthbert, Bede and Paulinus – whose spirit of mission continues to shape Christian identity and outreach throughout the region.

The Archbishop’s visit to Manchester on Thursday, 19th March has been shaped to reflect the diocese’s priorities of Parish Renewal, Growing Younger, Church Planting and Revitalisation, and Developing Missional Leaders. Each stop on the day has been designed to give Archbishop Stephen and Bishop David an insight into how these priorities are coming to life across churches, schools and new worshipping communities in the diocese.

Meeting Students and Staff at The Blue Coat School in Oldham

The Archbishop will begin the day at The Blue Coat School in Oldham, where he will meet students and staff, join collective worship and speak with pupils about the Lord’s Prayer. His visit highlights the strong and valued partnership between the diocese and its church schools, and the meaningful ways in which schools and parishes work together to nurture Christian faith.

Experiencing Choral Music at Oldham Parish Church

Later in the morning, Archbishop Stephen will visit Oldham Parish Church to experience Sing My Soul, a vibrant choral music project bringing talented choral scholars to parish churches and starting new children’s choirs. During this time, he will learn more about the church’s historic and continuing role in the town and meet the Revd Canon Daniel Burton and members of the PCC.

Archbishop Stephen will hear about how Sing My Soul’s children’s choirs are enriching the life of the parish, strengthening its relationship with Holy Trinity C of E Primary School and giving children the chance to sing in a choir led by a hugely talented choral leader. The visit will also include performances by the Sing My Soul Choral Scholars, whose presence significantly enriches the church’s musical and spiritual life and forms an important part of its ministry.

Conversations on Intercultural Mission

Clergy and lay leaders involved in intercultural mission will then join Archbishop Stephen and Bishop David for lunch and conversation. This will offer an opportunity to hear how parishes across our diocese are supporting international congregations and fostering diverse worshipping communities.

Touring Fabric Church in Ardwick Barracks

Following this, the Archbishop of York will tour Fabric Church, a growing city‑centre church in this historic building. He will meet the team led by the Revd Mark Roper to learn how they are engaging with students and young professionals and contributing to church‑planting and revitalisation across the diocese.

Evening Gathering at Manchester Cathedral

The day will conclude with a special Lord’s Prayer event at Manchester Cathedral. Archbishop Stephen will teach, reflect and invite those attending to rediscover the Lord’s Prayer as a grounding rhythm for Christian discipleship, mission and daily life.

Everyone from across our diocese and beyond is warmly invited to attend – whether you are part of a church community, involved in a school, or simply curious about prayer and faith, you are welcome to join the Archbishop as he continues his Faith in the North journey and encourages a renewed commitment to prayer across the region.

Refreshments from 6.45pm, the event starts at 7.15pm. Book your place here.