All are invited to hear the Rt Hon. Baroness Sayeeda Warsi in conversation at ‘Re:Imagine Faith Conversations’, taking place at Bradford Cathedral on Saturday 5th July 2025, starting at 7:30pm. Baroness Warsi will explore the shifting and contested landscape of interfaith relations in the 21st century, answering the question ‘How is this playing out in places like Bradford and what can we, as City of Culture, learn from our good and more challenging experiences of the past?’ The evening will begin with a Sufi singer at 7:30pm followed by a conversation between the Rt Hon. Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and the Rt Revd Dr Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford. Following this, food of dhal, rice and accompaniments will be served, alongside an opportunity for the audience to engage with the topics raised, in small groups. The evening will conclude with a further open conversation and music, after which there will be an opportunity to buy copies of Baroness Warsi’s two books and get them signed. Tickets are £15 + booking fee and are available from https://faith-conversations.eventbrite.co.uk or by contacting Bradford Cathedral. The Revd Canon Ned Lunn, Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts, says:“At Bradford Cathedral, we stand in our centuries-long tradition as a gathering place for encounter: a space where people have come together across differences to meet, to listen, and to grow in understanding. As convener for the city, we’re passionate about creating spaces of real, honest conversation, where we can be brave, curious, and genuinely open with one another, not just skimming the surface. “Rooted in our story, yet always looking forward with innovation and openness, we long to foster intercultural connections that challenge, enrich, and transform us. This event, taking place during the Bradford Literature Festival, is all about wrestling with the big questions of faith, identity, and community in a way that’s real and hopeful. We’d love to see you there.” ENDS ‘Re:Imagine Faith Conversations’ takes place at Bradford Cathedral on Saturday 5th July, starting at 7:30pm. Tickets are £15 (plus booking fee) and can be booked at https://faith-conversations.eventbrite.co.uk
Hundreds of visitors have already woven their story into the loom set-up at Bradford Cathedral’s West End – and this Summer you’re invited to continue the creation of this exciting tapestry, which will go on display in early 2026. Everyone is invited to come and weave, regardless of skill or experience. There are full instructions available, in different languages, as well as more information about the history of weaving in the city – and it’s completely free to take part in! The loom is typically available from Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm, and on Sundays from 12noon – 3pm, and around services and events, but please see the Cathedral website or social media for any changes to these times. The loom is also accompanied by a special ‘sound tapestry’ - a recorded collection of voices and stories – and you are also invited to share their own story by writing it on one of the loom weights available. Alongside the loom and tapestry, there will be educational tours exploring Bradford’s wool heritage; live weaving demonstrations; and community gatherings and discussions, including a special ‘Crafting the Cathedral’ event taking place on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th July, as part of the city-wide Bradford Heritage Festival. The loom is part of the ‘Weaving Stories’ project, the first installation in the season of the same name, supported by Haworth Scouring and the Bradford Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, who have sourced and spun the wool that will be used, which has been dyed using locally grown dyes. Whilst visiting, you can also explore the history and heritage of Bradford Cathedral, see some of the other exhibitions running through the summer, and also take a photo with one of our ‘Wish You Were Here’ selfie boards to share on your own social media, as well as picking up a free postcard showing the Cathedral’s beautiful West Window. The Revd Canon Ned Lunn, Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts, says: “This project is about more than preserving history; it’s about bringing people together. By taking part, you will help safeguard an at-risk heritage craft, learn new skills, and build lasting connections with one of Bradford’s most significant cultural spaces.” The completed tapestry will then go on display in the Cathedral after a launch event on St. Blaise Day, Tuesday 3rd February 2026. The West Riding Stone Carving Association will be creating stone weights to help support the tapestry, each carved with words and phrases taken from the stories shared. Weaving Stories is an exciting art and heritage project led by Bradford Cathedral as part of our contribution to the UK City of Culture 2025, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. ‘Weaving Stories’ runs at Bradford Cathedral until Monday 15th September 2025. All are invited to contribute to the tapestry, which will then go on display in the Cathedral from Tuesday 3rd February 2026.
All are welcome to a special Thanksgiving Service held at Bradford Cathedral on Sunday 22nd June 2025, which will honour the Windrush Generation and their descendants through uplifting music, songs, testimonies, prayers, readings and The Word of God.Beginning with a welcome from the Revd Canon Ned Lunn, Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts at Bradford Cathedral, the service will include stories and recollections from Charles Dacres, Chair of the Windrush Generations group; Maureen Rowe, who has told her story as part of a local exhibition; and Olivia Guy, one of three young people who interviewed 22 Black elders of the Windrush Generation who came to live in Bradford as part of ‘The Windrush Stories: Don’t Give Up’ exhibition, which was on display in Cartwright Hall and Bradford Cathedral earlier this decade. These three speakers will be joined by elders from the Windrush generation.Following the service there will be light refreshments.Nigel S Guy MBE, Director of Windrush Generations UK, says:“It is an honour to be the lead organiser for this Thanksgiving Service. It is a fitting occasion to acknowledge a defining period of Britain’s post war legacy of the Caribbean pioneers known as the Windrush generation.“They gave decades of resolute commitment of labour, skills, care and services, with new vibrant energy and cultures. Creating stronger foundations and lasting bonds in all facets of UK life, they helped put the Great! back into Britain.“Come join us rejoicing in faith, hope and love. Support the peaceful change for restorative justice for the Windrush generation, giving thanks for the mercy and grace of The Almighty God.”ENDSThe 77th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service takes place at Bradford Cathedral on Sunday 22nd June 2025 at 6:30pm. For further information please e-mail windrush-generations@outlook.com.
Woven Lives, an installation of coloured glass that weaves together images and stories of the people of Bradford, will be displayed at Bradford Cathedral this summer as part of the ‘Weaving Stories’ season of events during the UK City of Culture year. Displayed in the Cathedral from Tuesday 8th July to Monday 1st September 2025, Woven Lives is a beautiful and powerful artwork which talks of the lives and stories of the people of Bradford. The woven coloured glass and symbols, lit from within, show how light and dark times are all part of the story of community and connection. The process of creating the installation began in Autumn 2024 with workshops held at Shine West Bowling which is based at St Stephen’s church. Using only stones and flowers, diverse groups of people were invited to plot their life story with all its trauma, hard times and glimpses of joy.Artists Shaeron Caton Rose and Linda Baines helped people to turn life events into personal symbols while Luke Hogan listened, filmed and recorded the stories they were happy to share. He will put together these voices and images in a video to be played as part of the installation.Finally, people were enabled to screen-print their unique symbols onto glass tiles knowing that their story would be fused together with others into woven glass panels.In this collaborative artwork, the fourth artist Luke Owens has built the octagonal wooden structure from which the beautiful, illuminated panels of glass will hang in the Holy Spirit Chapel of Bradford Cathedral.Alongside the glass structure Luke Hogan’s powerful video forms an integral part of the installation, telling the stories of those who participated in the process. In it, people talk candidly about their lives and experiences, sharing their joys and sorrows and celebrating the strength of their supportive community.You are invited to see the installation in the Cathedral during the regular opening hours, typically Monday – Saturday from 10am – 4pm and Sundays 12noon – 3pm, and around events and services, but please visit the Bradford Cathedral website or social media for any changes to these times.Linda Baines says of the installation:“We have all been moved to hear each other’s stories and to celebrate how the light of faith, community and connection can change even the darkest of times. People have been surprised by how good it has felt to see their life as a whole, and to share it with others.”Shaeron Caton-Rose says:“I found the process of working with people to tell their whole life story extremely powerful. Seeing the dark times balanced by good times through the use of symbolic objects was helpful to gain perspective and find hope for both individuals and as a community, and the resultant glass designs delighted everyone who took part. The whole process worked really well as an honest yet carefully supported exploration of the stories of people from West Bowling and a reminder that we all need help to live well.”The Revd Canon Ned Lunn, Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts at Bradford Cathedral says:"We are thrilled to welcome the Woven Lives installation to Bradford Cathedral as part of our Weaving Stories season in the City of Culture celebrations. This stunning piece will accompany and complement our major Weaving Stories arts heritage project which explores how wool crafts have shaped Bradford’s identity — both historically and today.Set within the intimate Holy Spirit Chapel, Woven Lives will weave together light, colour, and personal narratives, reflecting the rich tapestry of lives that make up our city. We invite everyone to come and experience this remarkable installation—step inside, take in its beauty, and see how your own story connects to Bradford’s ever-evolving journey.”ENDSWoven Lives will be exhibited in the Holy Spirit Chapel of Bradford Cathedral from Tuesday 8th July to Monday 1st September 2025. For more information on the project, and to see photos from the creative process, please visit https://bradfordcathedral.org.uk/2025/02/07/woven-lives-preview/
