March 2024 marks 30 years since the first women in the Church of England were ordained as priests. Bradford Cathedral will be marking this anniversary, later in the spring, at a special service on Saturday 4th May 2024, almost thirty years to the day when the first women were ordained at Bradford Cathedral. On Sunday 8th May 1994, there were two sets of ordinations held in Bradford Cathedral.The special service – which takes place at 11am and will focus on women’s voices – will be led by the Revd Canon Dr Sue Penfold, who was ordained at Bradford Cathedral at one of these first ordinations, and still regularly leads services at the Cathedral. Also at the service, the Rt Revd Anna Eltringham - Bishop of Ripon - will be preaching and there will be commissioning of several new ‘Women’s Ministry Advisors’ for the Diocese of Leeds. All are welcome to attend the service.Bradford Cathedral is also looking to speak to people who were at the services in 1994 to capture their memories of the day.The Revd Pete Gunstone, Minor Canon for Worship and Nurture, says:“This is an important service that will celebrate the whole ministry of all the women of God, lay and ordained, as well as celebrating the increasing diversity of ministry that the ordination of women has enabled.”The Revd Canon Dr Sue Penfold says:“Being ordained priest in 1994 was an enormously joyful occasion. My strongest memory is that the atmosphere as we entered the cathedral that day felt full of glory. In the months that followed I discovered that being a priest changed ministry in ways I hadn’t expected, as though up to then I’d had one arm tied behind my back, but now could move more easily.“It’s strange looking back 30 years - we’re much less likely to be treated as a novelty now. So much has changed, not just for those of us ordained but also for other women watching us and being encouraged to use their gifts in different ways.“I hope the service will celebrate the many and varied ways that women serve God and others in the church and the world.”2024 also marks several other anniversaries, including the 10th anniversary of the decision to ordain women as bishops; the 80th anniversary of Florence Li Tim Oi, the first woman to be ordained to the priesthood in the Anglican Communion; and 35 years since Barbara Harris became the first woman consecrated as a bishop in the Anglican Communion.For more information on ‘A Celebration of 30 years of Women Priests’ – and to book your place – please visit https://bradfordcathedral.churchsuite.com/events/kw1tggkk. If you have any memories of the ordinations back in 1994 that you’d like to share, please contact events@bradfordcathedral.org
The story of Jesus’ journey through Holy Week and Easter will be told anew at Bradford Cathedral this spring through a programme of services and events starting with services on Palm Sunday on the 24th March. All are invited to join in person, with the Sunday 10:30am services also streamed online. We are delighted that the well-known and well-loved Bradford boy, the Revd Canon Robin Gamble, will be taking a leading role. In addition to preaching on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday, Robin will lead a series of events around the city centre which will give people the opportunity to engage in the question of why Jesus, his death and resurrection 2,000 years ago, are significant for the people of Bradford. This will culminate in From A Cross Bradford – at the Cathedral - on Good Friday. These opportunities to discover more about Holy Week and Jesus take place from 12:30pm - 1pm in Centenary Square on the Monday to Friday during Holy Week, alongside a chance to take part in conversations and sing songs. Revd Canon Robin Gamble says:"There has been a Christian presence in Bradford for 1,400 years. We might even be bold enough to state that Bradford only exists because an Anglo-Saxon preaching cross was erected on the site where Bradford Cathedral now stands, attracting people from near and far to gather and listen to the message of Jesus. “It was on that site, all those centuries ago, that the story of Jesus was first told and it has continued to be told throughout the development of our city. “We are excited to carry on that task for the 21st century city that we now know as Bradford… City of Sanctuary, City of Culture, City of Film… City of Salvation." At the start of the week, the 10:30am Liturgy of Palm Sunday will feature the annual procession of palms, music sung by the Cathedral Choir, a sermon given by the Revd Canon Robin Gamble, and Holy Communion.This will be followed by a Come and Sing Requiem in the afternoon. Matthew Coleridge will direct a liturgical performance of his Requiem, and you can join the Bradford Cathedral Choir.Those taking part will spend the afternoon rehearsing this sublime work, before singing in a Palm Sunday evening service co-directed by Matthew and the Cathedral's Director of Music, Graham Thorpe. Singers are invited to gather at 1pm for registration followed by a rehearsal. All are invited to the performance which will take place at 5pm.Matthew Coleridge is one of the UK's most exciting compositional voices. Matthew's music leapt into the spotlight in 2023, when his Requiem was voted into the Classic FM Hall of Fame's top 100 - making him the second youngest composer on the list, and 10th highest living composer overall.Anthony Gray, Bradford Cathedral’s Assistant Director of Music, says:“We're delighted to be welcoming Matthew Coleridge to Bradford Cathedral to lead this year's Palm Sunday Come and Sing alongside the music staff.“Matthew's Requiem is a powerful and evocative setting, employing the full breadth of musical abilities of a choir, organ, soloists and cello (for which we'll be joined by Skipton Camerata's Doug Badger).”Later in the week, on Maundy Thursday there will be the Diocesan Chrism Eucharist at 11am, led by the Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds. At the heart of this service is the consecration of oils for baptism, confirmation/ordination and anointing the sick which will be used in churches and communities across West Yorkshire and the Dales, and the renewal of the vows of all bishops, priests, deacons and lay readers who minister in those places. As one of three Cathedrals in the Anglican Diocese of Leeds, Bradford hosts this service once every three years. Please note that there are limited spaces available at this service.Later on that day there will be the Liturgy of Maundy Thursday at 7pm, a service which will retell the story of Jesus’ passion for the world through a moving service in which we re-enact his washing of the disciples’ feet, remember him in the sharing of bread and wine, and then have the opportunity to keep ‘The Watch’ with him at the Altar of Repose until his arrest at midnight. The Revd Canon Robin Gamble will preach.On Good Friday, the traditional three hours that mark the crucifixion will be kept in two services. At 12noon there will be Meditations Around the Cross, a creative and reflective engagement with the story of Good Friday using music, art and poetry. At 1:30pm, the Liturgy of Good Friday offers an opportunity to meditate on Jesus’ crucifixion through choral music, silence, the reading of The Passion according to St John, the Reserved Sacrament (Holy Communion), and the symbolic burying of the cross in St Aidan’s Chapel.Also on Good Friday – at 7pm – there will be From A Cross Bradford, an informal event of music, conversation, fun and reflection.On Holy Saturday from 3pm – 4pm there will be a ‘Messy Easter’ event. These popular events for children and families include activities, crafts and interactive play entering the stories of the Bible. This time we will be exploring the story of Holy Week and what Jesus might have been thinking and feeling.The Revd Ned Lunn, Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts, says:“Come and journey through the interactive story of Holy Week in one afternoon. Join the crowd who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. Sit at the table with Jesus and his friends at their last supper together. Stand at the foot of the cross and hear Jesus’s final words. Then approach the tomb in preparation for the great climax of the story.”Later on Saturday - the 30th March - starting at 7pm, the Liturgy of Easter will dramatically retell the story of the resurrection through ancient prophecy, the lighting of a fire, and the sharing of Holy Communion.During this service, there will also be an opportunity to be baptised or to renew baptismal vows. Interested persons are encouraged to get in touch with the cathedral in advance. The Venerable Andy Jolley, Archdeacon of Bradford, will be the preacher.Finally, on Easter Day, there will be services at 8am (Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer); Choral Eucharist at 10:30am (also live-streamed); and Choral Evensong at 3:30pm. The Revd Canon Robin Gamble will preach at the 10:30am service.You are invited to attend any of these services. More details can be found on the Bradford Cathedral website, where you can also find videos all about Holy Week and Easter, alongside educational resources available for use by schools.The Very Revd Andy Bowerman, Dean of Bradford, says:“At this time of year Christians around the world begin to move, in Holy Week, towards remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus.“Here at the Cathedral we will do the same, starting on Palm Sunday when we remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem.“This is the most significant week in the Christian year, a week which goes from triumph to apparent disaster and back into triumph.“But not triumph as many would see it: the triumph of one who goes from death to life - who says to all people, at all times in history, there is always hope.“We invite you to come and discover that here at Bradford Cathedral during Holy Week this year.” For more information about Holy Week and Easter at Bradford Cathedral, including the services, events and school resources, please visit bradfordcathedral.org.uk/holy-week-easter
Free family activities are back again at Bradford Cathedral for the Easter Holidays. There are two free sessions on Tuesday 2nd April, between 10am and 12noon and 1pm and 3pm. Maggie Myers, Bradford Cathedral’s Director of Education and Visitors, says:“We're looking forward to welcoming children and their carers to our free Easter holiday activity sessions, with lots of Easter and spring-related crafts and colouring for all the family. “Family-friendly guided tours take place at 11am and 2pm, for those who would like to learn more about the Cathedral. “You are also welcome to visit the Cathedral with your family and do your own self-guided tour. Trails and quizzes are also available, as are refreshments. All are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.” Bradford Cathedral looks forward to welcoming you at the next Family Activities, but booking is advised in order to ensure a place. Children must be accompanied at all times by an adult. For more information – and to book your free place – please visit bradfordcathedral.org.uk/featured-events
We spoke to Duncan to find out more about what to expect from it.I’ll look at why food waste is of environmental and social concern and why our Christian faith should inform our views about both those concerns. I’ll look at what has been done in the recent past to combat the issue.Could you tell us about your background and how you came to be involved with the subject?I became involved with primarily through a client I was advising. He was setting up the first Pay As You Feel café using all surplus food in Armley, Leeds in 2013. I was very interested in what he was doing and gradually became more involved with the project as it developed across the country, setting a surplus food café up in Saltaire in 2014.Back in 2020 we worked with you on some Eco Extravaganza videos in relation to food waste. How have things changed since then in people’s response to waste, and has it been for the better?No significant change unfortunately…What do you hope people will take away from the talk?A recognition of the scale of the issue but that we can all take relatively straightforward personal action. Also an appreciation of how much the issue of waste is relevant not only to the concept of environmental care for God’s creation but also of the nature of God’s provision.What are your top three tips for reducing your food waste?1. Shop with intention/a list2. Be creative – don’t feel you have to stick rigidly to recipes and be confident about understanding Use By/Best Before date3. Use your freezer!As well as what we can do in the home, what can we do to force businesses / companies to improve their behaviour?This is a tricky one – you can vote with your feet and shop at supermarkets (if you must!) with the least bad records on food waste. You can also join in campaigns that organsations like Tearfund and Christian Aid regularly run on this and similar issues.Finally, you’ve been in the role of Assistant Curate for just over six months. How have you found your time at Bradford Cathedral so far?Thoroughly enjoyable – there is a real sense of encouragement both from congregation, staff and clergy. It is a real blessing to work in such welcoming and beautiful space. I am getting used to the rhythm of what the role demands (which is different to being lead by clients and a timesheet when I was a lawyer). I’m looking forward to what the next few years might bring.You can join us for Monday Fellowship in the de Lacy Centre on Monday 11th March 2024 at 2pm. All are welcome.
