Ten cyclists travelled from York Minster to Bradford Cathedral on Saturday 5thj July 2025 to complete the third national Cathedrals Cycle Relay, with different groups of cyclists travelling from Cathedral to Cathedral over 42-days, covering over 2000 miles. This year’s relay launched on Saturday 24th May 2025 when a group of twenty-five cyclists set off from Bradford Cathedral towards Wakefield, the first of many legs that saw over 100 different cyclists make over 160 rides around the country. The relay began with an opening event at Bradford Cathedral, which included music from Kenneth Wilson, the Pilgrim Cello, who also travelled the entire relay route over the six weeks, playing at each of the Cathedrals. The launch event also saw speeches from Dan Bates, Executive Director of Bradford 2025; the Very Revd Andy Bowerman, Dean of Bradford; the Rt Revd Dr Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford; and Dr Shaun Cutler - creator of the routes, which came out of his PhD project. Also talking at the event was Shaun’s daughter, Hannah, who created the special baton that was taken by one rider on each leg, which has now travelled the entire route three times plus on many more local journeys. Dr Shaun Cutler was also one of the cyclists who returned the baton to Bradford Cathedral, where it will now be on display again until the end of 2025. He says:“I’m absolutely delighted to be back at Bradford Cathedral after 42 days and 42 cathedrals. It’s been an amazing journey, with amazing people, and amazing destinations, with amazing stories along the way. It’s brilliant to also return the baton to Bradford Cathedral. “I’d like to thank all the hundreds of cyclists who’ve supported the route – and I look forward to seeing you on the next journey!” Overall, 100s of cyclists have contributed to the three national relays and two local ones, and they have collectively cycled the equivalent distance of riding to the North Pole and back! Cyclists interested in taking part in the Cathedrals Cycle Route can tackle any of the legs at any time, with full details and maps available on the Cycling UK website. They are invited, as well, to buy a Pilgrim Passport from Cathedral shops and get a stamp and/or sticker at each Cathedral to add in. You can find out more about the Cathedrals Cycle Relay on the Association of English Cathedrals website and you can find details of all the legs on the Cycling UK website, which can be cycled at any time. You can also catch up on Kenneth Wilson’s pilgrimage by reading his Pilgrim Cello blog.
The Very Revd Andy Bowerman, Dean of Bradford, says:“Support from the Cathedral Music Trust enables us to invest in young musicians through enriching choral training and music education that nurture confidence, discipline, and teamwork. It helps us sustain professional Lay Clerks, essential for the Choir’s excellence, momentum, and mission in inspiring worship and engaging the wider community.” Graham Thorpe, Bradford Cathedral’s Director of Music, says:“We are extremely grateful to Cathedral Music Trust for their ongoing generous support of our programme, which has enabled us to introduce professional Section Leads and Lay Clerks. Over the the last few months, we have seen our voluntary choirs grow in confidence and ability, singing better than ever.”For more information please visit the Cathedral Music Trust website.
Actors Community Theatre return to Bradford Cathedral for their annual Shakespeare production, which takes place in the beautiful grounds of the building. This year they are performing ‘The Tempest’ across three days, at 7pm on Friday 18th July and at 2:45pm on Saturday 19th July and Sunday 20th July 2025. Paul Coleman, this year's director, comments:“The Tempest is classed as a comedy, and we certainly hope we’ve brought out the humour in the relationships. However, the play also has revenge as its central theme and it is the spirit, Ariel, who points out the damaging nature of this emotion to the human, Prospera. There’s a sideswipe at colonialism, too. “It’s one of Shakespeare’s later plays, and he was well into his stride by this time! The language is glorious, the imagery stupendous and, as always, the themes universal. “All our income is generated from audience receipts, so we do hope you can join us at one of our three performances at the Cathedral.” Tickets for the play can be bought online now via the Bradford Cathedral Eventbrite page, and short videos with the cast can be watched in the run up to the production across the social media channels of ACT and the Cathedral. The production’s approximate running time is 2 hours and it will take place inside in bad weather. Tickets for ‘The Tempest’, performed by Actors Community Theatre (ACT), can be bought online at https://act-shakespeare-tempest.eventbrite.co.uk/
On Thursday 17th July, Bradford Cathedral will be opening its doors for a pair of Morris & Co. Stained Glass Window Tours, focussing on the Morris & Co. windows in the Cathedral. The famous Victorian artist and designer William Morris founded Morris & Co. and, along with renowned figures such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones and Ford Madox Brown, created many pieces of stunning stained glass, some early examples of which are on display in four locations in Bradford Cathedral. The stained glass also includes a figure, recently discovered to have been designed by William De Morgan. The tours will also include an appreciation of the magnificent West Window, a beautiful Pre-Raphaelite window designed by Heaton, Butler and Bayne. You can book your places now for the tours, which take place at either 11am (https://morris-tour-july2025-1.eventbrite.co.uk) or 1pm (https://morris-tour-july2025-2.eventbrite.co.uk). Tickets are £7 each, plus booking fee. Maggie Myers, Bradford Cathedral’s Director of Education and Visitors, says:“We are delighted to be able to offer these new tours exploring our Morris & Co. stained glass here at Bradford Cathedral. We are fortunate to have an extensive collection of the early work of Morris & Co. in 4 locations in the building, with designs by D G Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones, Ford Madox Brown, Philip Webb, Peter Paul Marshall, Albert Moore, William De Morgan and William Morris himself. "The tour is a wonderful way to learn more about Bradford Cathedral's stunning stained glass and the Victorian artists and architects who created the designs." The Morris & Co Stained Glass Window Tours take place on Thursday 17th July 2025. Tickets for the tours can be booked at https://morris-tour-july2025-1.eventbrite.co.uk (11am) or https://morris-tour-july2025-2.eventbrite.co.uk (1pm).
