Shades Hub Launches in Bolton

Shades Hubs were launched in Bolton last week in the lead‑up to Racial Justice Sunday, marking an important step in the Shades Team’s commitment to helping schools and churches deepen their engagement with racial justice. A Shades Hub is a safe, supportive space for open conversation, worship, prayer, training, and the sharing of resources. Its purpose is to encourage and equip all who are working to advance racial justice in our diocese.

This quarter’s theme “Growing Racial Justice through Belonging and Love in Our Schools and Churches” shaped the evening’s rhythm of sung worship, moments of silence and prayer, and opportunities to reflect on our biblical responsibility to nurture children and young people from diverse backgrounds so that all may truly flourish.

The words of Jesus, “Love one another as I have loved you… By this everyone will know that you are my disciples” (John 13:34–35), resonated throughout the event capturing the heart of the Hub’s purpose.

This is the first of many quarterly Hubs that will be launched across our diocese, beginning in Bolton Deanery and expanding in the months ahead.

Diane Gray-Stephenson, Racial Justice Programme Lead and Meghan Graham, Racial Justice Administrator reflected on the event saying:

“It was genuinely a joy to attend the launch. The atmosphere was filled with warmth, purpose, and a deep sense of belonging as people from across the community came to worship, reflect, and learn together.

“The theme created space for honest conversation and prayer, reminding us of our shared biblical call to support children and young people from all backgrounds so that everyone can flourish.

“A moment of remembrance for the six million Jews who lost their lives in the Holocaust offered a powerful reminder of why this work matters and the importance of challenging prejudice in all its forms.

“Jesus’s words ‘Love one another as I have loved you’ felt like the heartbeat of the evening. We left inspired and hopeful as this first Hub marks the beginning of many more gatherings across our diocese.”