Bishop Nick, and his wife Linda, have just left for Tanzania to visit three dioceses in the north. They comprise one of our diocese’s five partnership links with Anglican dioceses around the world.

He will be getting an update on the Water for Life project – a life-saving project set up by the former Diocese of Wakefield, which has brought clean drinking water to 27 villages, and Bishop Nick will see some of the bore holes that have been financed through the project.

He’ll also meet diocesan staff and visit parishes, cathedrals and schools, as well as learning about farming development projects and work with orphans within the three dioceses.

In his most recent blog Bishop Nick explains the value of such links, and reveals that he plans to bring the bishops from the five links together in 2017 “to live, pray, talk and learn together”.

After this visit, he will have visited all the link partnerships of the three former dioceses (out of which this diocese was created).

Read his blog here, or below:

Catching up . . .  sort of

I don't have much time these days for doing the blog. All I manage to put up is scripts or journalism. I recently did a paper at a theological conference, but 5,000 words is too many for this medium.

Tomorrow I head off to Tanzania to visit one of our Anglican partnership links: three dioceses in the north. So, here's a quick blast on a theme.

Most Church of England dioceses have links with dioceses around the world (or the Anglican Communion for these purposes). My diocese comprises three historic English dioceses and each had long-established links: Bradford with Sudan and Southwestern Virginia (USA), Wakefield with Tanzania and Skara (Sweden), Ripon & Leeds with Sri Lanka.

All the richness and complexity of the Anglican Communion is there. In Sudan the church faces dreadful pressure because African Christians (as opposed to Arabic Muslims) are being persecuted and squeezed. The reasons are complicated, but the separation of South Sudan from Sudan (and consequent vindictiveness) has led to a ratcheting up of the pressure. Look back to the posts I wrote when visiting Sudan in January 2013.)

Tanzania faces political and economic difficulties, and bears the marks of many of the problems of Africa. It is also beautiful. The church is divided in one of the dioceses we shall be visiting.

I visited Sri Lanka (see posts here) in October 2014, learning a huge amount about the politics and tribal tensions that lay beneath the decades-long civil war. I also witnessed the unique contribution being made by the Anglican Church in promoting and working for reconciliation between scarred peoples. Rebuilding broken communities lies at the heart of the church's witness.

Southwestern Virginia is a beautiful part of America where the church gets stuck into witnessing within its particular culture. The relationship with South Sudan is about to be brought to a conclusion. The diocese is currently enjoying its annual Council. I have visited twice – the second time for the consecration of the new bishop Mark Bourlakas. (I sat next to Michael Curry, now the Presiding Bishop, during the service. When the choir sang Parry's 'I was glad' I pointed out that it had been written for a coronation in England – and thought the Americans had fought hard to get away from this stuff. Michael turned to me and said: “We won the War of Independence, but you won the culture wars.” Excellent.)

I visited Skara briefly in 2014 to represent the Archbishop of Canterbury and my diocese at the 1000th anniversary of the diocese. I also managed to do a speech made up of a considerable number of Abba lyrics. They laughed.

In my diocese we cover major cities, post-industrial towns, deeply rural communities. All of life is here.

In other words, bring this lot together and all the complexities of the modern world are there. Christians struggling with persecution and pressure, those at the heart of a beautiful country that has moved from colonialism to civil war and beyond. Scandinavia, the United States and England represent a spread of modern western liberal democracies where the church takes a number of different forms and is having to face challenges different from those in, for example, Africa.

What often surprises me is how surprised others are when they hear about the reality of being a Christian in England and the west. They see the Church of England and English society as it was seventy years ago.

Last week I had Skype conversations with the Bishop of Colombo (Sri Lanka), the Archbishop of Khartoum and the Bishop of Southwestern Virginia. In the next couple of days I will meet the Tanzanians. I have had email correspondence with the Bishop of Skara. Why? Because these links are more than simply institutional connections; we are friends and brothers, able to be honest and open with each other.

So, why write this now? Well, mainly because I am planning to bring the bishops together in 2017 to live, pray, talk and learn together.

This is what the Anglican Communion is all about. And it is never boring.

So, to Tanzania…

Blogging from Tanzania, Bishop Nick says, "There are some inspiring people here, and they are doing some remarkable things. From the building of schools to the creation of vocational training centres to help girls avoid FGM and early marriage, the church serves its wider community with commitment, sacrifice and courage."

Bishop Nick and his wife, Linda, are part of a group who are spending two weeks in Tanzania visiting the three Anglican dioceses with which our diocese has a partnership. (The group includes Revd Dr Stephen Spender who is Vice Principal of The Yorkshire Ministry Course, Mirfield and Tanzania Link Officer.)

They're getting an update on the Water for Life project (a life-saving project set up by the former Diocese of Wakefield, which has brought clean drinking water to 27 villages) and seeing some of the bore holes that have been financed through the project.

They're also meeting diocesan staff and visiting parishes, cathedrals and schools, as well as learning about farming development projects and work with orphans within the three dioceses. All with the aim of making and renew friendships, and enhancing prayer and practical support between our parishes and dioceses.

Read Bishop Nick's blog here.

After a year-long, £500,000 complete refurbishment, All Saints Otley is opening its doors for a weekend of celebrations at the end of February.

Vicar, the Revd Graham Buttanshaw, said: "With new heating, lighting and sound, plus comfortable chairs instead of pews, this project has brought our Grade 1 listed building into the 21st Century and made it a very adaptable space for church and community use.

"The church has been at the heart of the town for more than a thousand years, and it's all part of our vision to create a place for everyone, with Christ at the centre.

Otley's MP Greg Mulholland will officially open the building at a champagne reception for community and church leaders on 27 February 27, and from 10am-4pm the church will open to everyone with a variety of exhibitions and a café.

On Sunday 28 February, Bishop Paul Slater will preach at the 10am Communion service and Bishop Nick will preach at the opening celebration service at 4pm.

A small piece of history was made in Bradford at the weekend (Sunday March 6th) when the Roman Catholic Bishop of Leeds was welcomed by the Anglican Bishop of Leeds to Bradford Cathedral where he was made an Honorary Ecumenical Canon of the Cathedral.

The Right Reverend Marcus Stock, who became Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds in 2014, was welcomed to the Anglican Cathedral of Bradford by the Right Reverend Nick Baines, the Anglican Bishop of Leeds and admitted to the Cathedral College of Canons in a significant service that will be seen as symbolising closer working relationships between the Church of England and Roman Catholic Church in Yorkshire.

Pictured with Bishop Nick Baines (centre) is Bishop Stock (second from right), the Dean of Bradford, the Very Revd Jerry Lepine (right) and the two new Archdeacons in the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales, Ven.  Dr Andy Jolley (far let), and Ven. Bev Mason (second from left).

The Venerable Dr Andy Jolley has become the new Archdeacon of Bradford and the Venerable Bev Mason, the Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven in the North Yorkshire part of the diocese. Both were admitted and installed as Canons of Bradford Cathedral at the same service.

In his sermon, Bishop Nick Baines said, “I am particularly delighted that Bishop Marcus Stock has agreed to be an Ecumenical Canon. Ecumenism is a wonderful thing and a difficult thing …We are united in Christ and yet the working out of that unity is often difficult.

“… We belong together and we need one another. Out unity as Christians matters; that we are brothers and sisters in Christ matters; that we are engaged together in the mission of the church – that is the ministry of reconciliation – matters.”

He concluded, “As the Bishops of Leeds,  I trust that we will be able to make a difference to the people of your diocese and mine, and the areas this covers ….. and that as churches together, even bishops together, we may live and proclaim a gospel which offers hope in a world that is characterised by threat.”

Bishop Stock is only the second Bishop of Leeds to be made an Honorary Canon at Bradford Cathedral. His predecessor, Bishop Arthur Roche was also made an Ecumenical Canon at the Cathedral.

Bishop Nick's sermon can be listened to in full here: http://www.bradfordcathedral.org/media/

Around a hundred head teachers from Church of England schools across the diocese have been meeting in Harrogate for a conference on the governments often controversial British Values requirements for schools.

Keynote speakers at the conference, ‘Whose Values? Responding to the British Values debate in Church Schools’, were Professor Mona Siddiqui, Professor in Islamic and Interreligious Studies at the  University of Edinburgh (pictured centre), the Rt Revd Dr Toby Howarth, Area Bishop of Bradford (second from right), and Dr Bob Bowie, Principal Lecturer of the School of Childhood and Education Science at Canterbury Christ Church University (second from left). Pictured with them are Bishop Nick Baines and Richard Noake, Diocesan Director of Education.

In June 2014, the then Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, announced that schools would be required to promote British values, and  regulations have since come into force. Schools must now actively promote the fundamental values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Diocesan Director of Education, Richard Noake, said the new Ofsted framework demanded that head teachers demonstrate how British Values are being taught in their schools… “It’s been a very short period of time for head teachers to get their heads round ‘how do we as schools deal with the British Values debate – and where do those British values sit within a church school context?’

“The Conference”, he added, “ is about giving head teachers the  opportunity to think more deeply  … about what do British Values mean for us in church schools.”

In his keynote speech, Bishop Toby Howarth (pictured right) said that the debate came out of a political context of national security and countering extremism but that, nevertheless, church schools could use the new framework positively. “This is a politicised and a difficult context … and as a society we are not used to talking about values …. So if the government comes up with these four values ‘out of the blue’ there is much more questioning of where these have come from and what the underpinning for them is.” But he added, “ In some ways this ought to be a gift for us in the Church of England and in our schools because we are able, much more clearly to be able to go back to where those values come from….The values we are talking about as Christians are rooted in the character of God – and we ought to feel at home in this debate.”

Bishop Toby said that the church needed to be un-cynical about “some very unhelpful wording”.  “Calling these ‘fundamental British values’ just makes it difficult…  These are a set of values that our nation, our government, has signed up to. That doesn’t mean that it’s an exhaustive list or that we cannot include other values in the ethos of our schools… We can criticise them but there are also useful and valuable things in here for our schools. “

Professor Mona Siddiqui, coming from an Islamic background, also took a positive view of the debate. She said the values being laid down for schools could be found in most western liberal societies. But the challenge, she said, was how those values were passed on to “a sceptical and often uninterested target group in their late teens.”  Education, she said, “Has been more about information rather than ‘formation’  ... It may be true that today we are producing smarter kids, but I don’t think we are necessarily linking that smartness with wisdom and ethical ways of thinking about what is known as our ‘inner life’.  How we help people ‘think well’ goes back to teaching values”, she argued.

Worship at the conference was led by pupils of two diocesan church schools - Aidan’s Flame (pictured) a musical group from St Aidan’s High School, Harrogate, and Holy Trinity school, Barnsley.

A new Share scheme and the question of whether the diocese should be called ‘Leeds’ or ‘West Yorkshire & the Dales’ were among the topics of the fifth meeting of Diocesan Synod held on March 12. Church leaders also debated the adoption of a Safeguarding policy, and the importance of being a ‘Fairtrade’ diocese at the meeting held in St Aidan’s Church High School in Harrogate.

A new system of calculating Parish Share unveiled

A new scheme for calculating the Parish Share or diocesan contribution paid by each parish was unveiled to Synod following months of consultations and meetings to try and come up with a fair system across the diocese.

In his Presidential Address, Bishop Nick Baines (pictured left) said Parish Share “simply tells us whether we really believe what we say we believe”,  and he quoted the Archbishop of Canterbury who described  a budget as "theology by numbers".

To read the Presidential Address in full click here.

Outlining the proposed system, Simon Baldwin (pictured left), a member of the Diocesan Board of Finance,  said the proposed scheme would be based on the number of clergy in a parish (‘allocation of resources’),  the relative ability to pay  of a parish (calculated from the Index of Multiple Deprivation) and the relative regular Sunday attendance (over the years 2013-15 and fixed for three years so as not to stifle church growth).  He added that there could be a 10% cap on decreases or increases caused by introducing the new system to cushion changes. In addition no parish would be asked for more than 80% of its unrestricted income.

The proposed scheme, possibly modified by further comments and suggestions will come back to the Diocesan Synod meeting in July for a final decision.

What’s in a name?

Introducing a discussion on the naming of the diocese, Bishop Nick told members of Synod that there was an urgent need to decide whether it should be called ‘Leeds’, its legal name, or ‘West Yorkshire & the Dales’, a name which he said caused confusion.

“I’m getting letters almost every week”, he said, “from people complaining ‘why don’t you use your proper title of the Bishop of West Yorkshire and the Dales?’ – the answer of course is that I’m not. Within the media  there is a complete lack of clarity both locally and nationally. Increasingly in the public sphere we are coming across it with politicians who don’t get it as well.”  

He said there was a need to create a visual identity for the diocese especially with the move to a new diocesan office,  and a proposal was tabled for discussion to call the diocese ‘Leeds’ with the strapline  ‘The Church of England in West Yorkshire & the Dales.’  In groups, Synod members discussed the proposal and wrote down their answers which will be considered before a decision is made.

Safeguarding

There was unanimous support for the motion “That this Synod reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding all God’s people; adopts the Policy ‘Safeguarding All God’s People’  in respect of its areas of responsibility; and strongly commends the Policy to parishes for their adoption and implementation”.

Diocesan Secretary, Debbie Child (pictured right on the left), introduced the strengthened Diocesan Safeguarding Team - (left to right) Narinder Lyon, Safeguarding Adviser for the Ripon Area;  Jenny Leccardi,  Safeguarding Adviser for Wakefield and Leeds Areas, Jenny Price, Safeguarding Adviser for Bradford and Huddersfield Areas and Support Consultant, Jackie Kerr.  She told Synod “the national safeguarding team, which is also rapidly increasing in size and capacity, has recently announced details of a national independent quality assurance audit of the safeguarding arrangements in place for all dioceses….The diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales is due to be inspected later this year”.

Archdeacon Paul Hooper (pictured with the team) who led the debate, said “I hope that each PCC across the diocese, will debate this, will own it , will then agree  that the document is to be adopted in the parish concerned.”

A Fairtrade diocese

Synod members enthusiastically supported a motion to work towards becoming a Fairtrade diocese by writing to all churches asking them, where not already registered, to register as a Fairtrade Church. A letter will also be send to all Church of England schools asking them, if not already registered, to register as a Fairtrade school - and a Fairtrade steering group will be set to steer the registration of the Diocese as a Fairtrade diocese.

The motion was put by Ven Bev Mason, Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven, pictured left with Kay Brown, Chaplain of Abbey Grange School who talked about the way schools can imaginatively adopt Fairtrade status.

The WYAD Board

Four members chosen and co-opted by the Board to be members of the new governing body, were ratified by Synod.

Simon Baldwin, Marilyn Banister, Jane Evans and Martin Macdonald have been chosen for their expertise in important areas of the Board’s work, including finance and communications – for the full membership see here.    

"Bishop of Leeds says, 'I feel a bit sorry for Judas'" was the headline in several papers this week in response to Bishop Nick's piece in the Radio Times. (Here, here and here).

Bishop Nick talks about a TV documentary which reappraises the life of Judas Iscariot. He says, "I feel a bit sorry for Judas.  Judas had invested himself in the revolutionary leadership of Jesus of Nazareth … only to find himself let down."

In the article Bishop Nick also announces the Radio Times awards for religious broadcasting and calls for programmes about faith to be broadcast throughout the year, not just Easter. (Vote here in the Radio Times awards for religious broadcasting.)

The full text of the Radio Times piece:

So, it's Easter again. And there's a programme about Judas on the telly.

When Bob Dylan decided to go electric some of his fans thought he had sold out. The infamous sound of a bloke shouting "Judas" said it all - one name pregnant with a hundred accusations.

I feel a bit sorry for Judas. He is not just another one of those characters in the well-known story of the crucifixion of Jesus; rather, he has gone down in history as the ultimate traitor, the cheap and nasty greed-merchant who sells his friend and his soul for a few quid. I wonder what his mother thought.

Well, it's a bit more complicated than that. Judas had invested himself in the revolutionary leadership of Jesus of Nazareth ... only to find himself let down. Trying to force the hand of the messiah didn't work, and, instead of provoking the ultimate uprising against Roman rule, the glorious leader simply let himself get nailed without resistance. No wonder Judas got upset.

I guess it's up to the observer to decide what was really going on with Judas - whether he is a traitor or a scapegoat. Whatever conclusion you draw, he's has had a lousy press. Just call someone by his name...

It's actually all about betrayal. And faith. And disappointment. And hope and meaning and living and dying. All the stuff of life as we all know it, in every age and every culture.

It shouldn't be surprising, then, that the case for or against Judas should be re-opened on Good Friday. After all, what better opportunity can there be for taking a fresh look at a religious story than hanging it on an Easter peg?

That's fine in itself. But, it begs the question why such programming shouldn't be scheduled at other times of the year. Why lock 'faith' stuff into the predictable slots when 'people who like that sort of thing' can be indulged for an hour or so? If sport and politics, economics and science can be exposed to the searching eye of the camera and the probing ear of the microphone throughout the year, shouldn't 'religion' get the same treatment - and not get pigeon-holed at the predictable times of the calendar?

Well, I celebrate those broadcasters that spot the creative opportunities to tell the stories and ask the hard questions. Faith provides a lens through which the stuff of human living and dying, leaving and losing, laughing and weeping, searching and finding can be explored. Faith isn't a box whose lid can be lifted from time to time in order to keep one section of the audience happy. Faith is about the raw stuff of life - and the questions about what it all means. Not just at Christmas and Easter, but all year round.

And this is why the Sandford St Martin Trust joins with the Radio Times to celebrate and reward excellent religious broadcasting. That's not broadcasting about religion for religious people; rather, it is telling those - often surprising - stories about people whose lives and interests and failings and celebrations shine a light on those questions that face us all as human beings. They offer a sort of vocabulary for thinking and asking and wondering.

No shoving stuff down people's throat. But, capturing the imagination and offering images and narratives that keep scratching away at our mind and memory, possibly opening us up to new, and sometimes surprising, ways of thinking and seeing.

Whether it's Gogglebox or Grantchester, Call the Midwife or Rev, a documentary or drama, there are some great programmes to celebrate.

Cast your vote.

Nick Baines
Bishop of Leeds

Chrism Mass celebrated at St. Paul’s Church, Old Town, Barnsley.

This Year’s Chrism Mass, celebrated by Bishop Tony for the diocesan clergy of the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda and their supporting parishes, was held in St Paul’s Church, Old Town, Barnsley as one of the town centre's 80th Anniversary event - and it was standing room only.

Geoff Wright, of St Paul's explained: "It was wonderful to have not only Bishop Tony celebrating with over thirty concelebrants, but also to have the Bishop of Leeds, Nick, preaching within a church so full that there was standing room only. 

Their Parish Priest, The Rev Canon Stephen Race said,“It was a delight and an honour to be able to host this magnificent event during our 80th Anniversary Year.  My parish volunteers were all happily exhausted afterwards, but I hope it will live long in our memories and the memories of those who travelled to be with us.” 

The next major Anniversary Event will be St Paul's Flower Festival on the 17th to 21st June. Everyone welcome.

I was one of 180 recipients, 90 ladies and 90 men, (the number or years of the Queen’s age) who received the Maundy Money from the Queen at The Royal Maundy Service held in St George’s Chapel, Windsor on March 24. 

This year, as the Queen was celebrating her 90th birthday, it had been decided that instead of holding the event in a diocesan cathedral with all the recipients being from that diocese, it would be held in St George’s Chapel,  Windsor and the Recipients would be invited from all dioceses in England and Scotland.  The names of recipients are submitted by their Diocesan Bishop.

Everyone had to be seated in good time so it was wonderful to be able to admire the magnificent architecture of the building and soak up the history and atmosphere.  The Lord High Almoner, the Right Reverend Dr John Inge, addressed the Maundy Recipients in the Nave prior to the service and then there was the procession of the College of St George and Chapel Royal  and the Royal Almonry Procession.  The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrived at the North Door and were presented with the traditional nosegays before processing into the Chapel.  

The Lord High Almoner led the service during which the Queen presented two leather purses to each of the Recipients, half after the first lesson and half after the second lesson.  The Red Purse contains a £5 coin, commemorating The Queen’s ninetieth birthday and a 50p coin commemorating the nine hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.  Both coins have been minted in 2016.  Historically, this sum of £5.50 is made up of £3 for clothing, £1.50 in lieu of provisions and £1 for the redemption of the Sovereign’s gown which, before Tudor times, used to be divided between the Recipients.  The White purse contains uniquely minted Maundy Money.  This takes the form of one, two, three and four silver penny pieces, the sum of which equals the number of years of the Monarch’s age. This year ninety pennies of silver coins (9sets of 10p per set).  The choir sang wonderful pieces of music especially “Zadok the Priest” which made your whole body tingle.

After the service we enjoyed a reception in the State Apartments of Windsor Castle where we could chat with Recipients from other dioceses, some of which I already knew.  Drinks and food was served and we were given a tour of the apartments.  It was such a wonderful privilege to receive the Maundy Money from the Queen and a day which both I and my husband Geoff will remember for ever."

Angela Byram is a Lay Canon Emeritus of Wakefield Cathedral and the Former Lay Chair of the historic Wakefield Diocese.

She has served on various committees in developing the Diocese of Leeds, West Yorkshire & the Dales from the three dioceses of Bradford, Ripon & Leeds and Wakefield.

She has been a stalwart of the Mothers' Union - both locally, nationally and internationally - she has served for 25 years in senior positions of the Mothers’ Union including Diocesan President (Wakefield), the first Provincial President for York Province and the Worldwide Trustee supporting the Mothers’ Union Provincial Presidents around the world.  Organised numerous services , pilgrimages and events including the Millennium  Fun Day at the Great Yorkshire Show Ground, Harrogate for MU members and families throughout England, Scotland, Canterbury, Wales and Ireland.

Since its creation two years ago, the Diocese of Leeds has largely been known as ‘The Diocese of West Yorkshire & the Dales’. However, given the confusion this continues to cause, in future, once new branding has been created, the diocese is to be known only by its official title, the Diocese of Leeds.

Bishop Nick says, “We have always legally been the Diocese of Leeds, but the experience of the past two years has shown that having two names for the diocese is simply too confusing for people both inside and outside the Church.

“As we head towards 2017 when we will finally be operating with one diocesan structure, we now need a new visual identity. For that we need to be clear about what we call ourselves so that confusion over the nomenclature doesn’t get in the way of messages we are trying to convey.”

Other disadvantages of the current name are that, while ‘West Yorkshire & the Dales’ mostly describes where we are (although it leaves out a number of places), it’s too long (and prone to errors in emails), and the connection between Bishop Nick and the diocese is sometimes lost. (He is the Bishop of Leeds; there is not a Bishop of West Yorkshire & the Dales).

Calling ourselves the Diocese of Leeds will also be consistent with other dioceses, which (as they have to be named after the See of the Bishop) are named after a city but cover disparate areas, eg Oxford (which includes Milton Keynes) and Lichfield (which includes Wolverhampton).

The proposal gained overwhelming support at Diocesan Synod in March and at the Diocesan Board meeting this week.

Bishop Nick adds, “There is no neat solution to a problem that is unique in the Church of England. What seemed expedient at the time of our creation has subsequently proved too confusing and problematic. And we need to sort it now.”

TIMING
A new visual identity should be available in July, at which point anywhere where the diocesan logo appears (eg publications, notice boards, web sites) will need to be changed. The precise timing of this will be made known in due course. (If the changing of notice boards presents difficulties for any parish, please contact Ashley Ellis.)

EMAIL ADDRESSES
It is expected that the email address @westyorkshiredales.anglican.org will change to @leeds.anglican.org in early May. (But messages to the former address will continue to be received for some time.)

Bishop Nick spend a morning at Bradford Forster Academy this week - a new secondary school and the third C of E secondary school in Bradford. It has begun with 150 year 7 students, and will work up to five year groups in 2019.

Bishop Nick observed an RE lesson, spoke in Collective Worship and met staff and students. He said, “Bradford Forster Academy is a school full of hope; it has a unique opportunity to create a new ethos, and to provide a Christian environment for effective learning and social development.”

Tessa Mason, Chair of Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust, says, "We were delighted to be able to show Bishop Nick how far the school has progressed in such a short time. We’re very pleased that it’s already become a central part of the community and are grateful for the support of our parents and partners in helping us make a really excellent start.”

Principal Diane Pickering says, “The vision for Bradford Forster Academy is to further raise the hopes and aspirations of students by generating self-belief and confidence.  Year 7 are a talented group of young people willing to embrace the range of learning opportunities that are available to them, and our focus on high quality teaching has seen the students make good academic progress.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust (BDAT) was set up in 2012 to support and sponsor Church of England Academies in Bradford on behalf of the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales. We provide a network of support and challenge, so that working together we can achieve our vision of improved outcomes and results for our children and young people. 

BDAT currently sponsors three C of E Primary Academies, St Oswald’s in Great Horton, Christ Church Academy in Shipley and St Philip’s in Girlington. We also support two secondary academies Bradford Forster Academy and Immanuel College which joined the Trust in the 2015-16 academic year.  By the end of 2016 we aim to have grown to support nine open Academies. Our rapid growth is in response to both the emerging political agenda encouraging schools to consider academisation, as set out in the Education White paper “Education Excellence Everywhere” and as a result of schools requesting permission to join the Trust.

For further information contact: 
Carol Dewhurst, CEO, Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust, 01274 909 120, www.bdat-academies.org

After 27 years of betrayal, my relief that the Hillsborough 96 have justice at last

I REMEMBER where I was on April 15, 1989. I was leading a youth weekend at Rydal Hall in Cumbria, eager to finish a walk in the hills so I could catch up on the Liverpool versus Nottingham Forest FA Cup semi-final being played at the same time. My brother was at the match in Sheffield, and I knew a few other people who had been lucky enough to get tickets.

I got back and turned on my car radio. I couldn’t understand what was going on - even the commentator on the BBC sounded so traumatised that for a long time he simply assumed we all knew. As the news then became clearer, so did the horror begin to dawn.

In the end 96 people died. That is enough for everyone in Liverpool to be connected in some way with someone bereaved. The classic journey of bereavement has shock giving way to anger, anger to grief, and grief to acceptance. However, here, it seems that the grief exploded in a sea of flowers and mementoes at Anfield, while the anger slowly burned. It burned for nearly a quarter of a century before a new inquiry was sanctioned.

It is still hard to buy a copy of the Sun newspaper in Liverpool today. Shameful allegations of fans’ alleged sub-human behaviour pushed grief aside and fired an anger that has simmered ever since. Police behaviour, doctoring statements and all the other stuff now well documented put the reputations of the officers concerned ahead of the grief of bereaved people.

Now a verdict of unlawful killing has been returned, this time on the basis of proper investigation and fully-informed inquests. After more than 27 years, those involved can now move on, knowing that the truth has been heard - not only about what happened on that dreadful day, but also about the deliberate manipulations that subsequently condemned a city to unrequited misery.

One constant throughout this appalling business was the bond between Yorkshire and Liverpool, my home city and the place where four generations of my family still live. One of the most impressive campaigners for justice came from Keighley - Trevor Hicks, who with his then wife lost two daughters in the crush at the Leppings Lane end of the ground. The city of Sheffield recognised from the outset its inescapable involvement in the huge grief of those who had been denied not only the lives of those they loved, but also the justice needed from such an avoidable tragedy.

It was perhaps neither random nor coincidental that the person asked to chair the independent panel, and whose work led to the new new inquests, was a Church of England bishop.

The then Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones, understood not only the anger of those offended, but also the need for the sort of justice that can lead to reconciliation.

Pulling back from the blame game, he was able to establish a panel that scrutinised documentation. Objective, rational and concrete, the panel was able to identify just where truth had been obscured, leads missed, facts misrepresented, evidence manipulated. His brief was to expose the truth and then leave it to the judicial authorities to address the consequences.

The bishop was equipped to chair this panel because he had the courage, clarity and committed impartiality to search for the truth, regardless of what it might cost those involved. It was also a pastoral response to the destroyed lives, wrecked relationships and demolished hopes of some very distraught people. He also clearly had the confidence of those paying for the whole thing that the narrative of events would be properly pursued under his leadership.

So, where to from here? Well, at least the bereaved - who held their final memorial service at Anfield last month - can know that the truth has been told and heard. Dignity can now be allowed where reputations lay questioned and character suspected.

Justice has been done and been seen to be done. If forgiveness is possible as those affected look to put this quarter of a century to rest, then it can now be credible - arising from knowledge of the facts (even uncomfortable facts) and full awareness of the degree of justified grievance they have borne for so long.

This changes something else. The police and others now deemed to be in some way responsible for the tragedy must address their personal and collective response. This will not be easy for them. Justice must in the end be liberating for everyone, even those for whom the truth is painful.

I am a Scouser and live in Yorkshire. The former Bishop of Liverpool has retired to Yorkshire. (The current Bishop of Liverpool was born and bred in Bradford, West Yorkshire.) The bond between the two is not sentimental. It is a fatal error ever to accuse Yorkshire people or Liverpudlians of sentimentalism. But, the shared experience of this grief and anger has constructed a bond that generates mutual respect when it comes to the game of football that should always bring competitive pleasure, but never bring death and humiliation.

In circumstances such as these we often speak of ‘closure’. Not that memories are closed off or emotions allowed to run cold. But, a sense of justice for those who can no longer speak for themselves - who can neither justify nor explain themselves - does allow a future unchained from the grief and anger that will not stop stinging until the sting itself has been drawn.

A verse in the biblical book of Proverbs pleads: “Open your mouth for the dumb!” It has been quoted as an indictment against those who allow injustice to prevail because to protest would be too costly or wearing or inconvenient. Today it can be cited with pride on the part of families, supporters, football clubs, cities and even bishops: the voice of the dead has been honoured and now they can lie in peace.

The Right Reverend Nick Baines is the Bishop of Leeds. He was born in Liverpool.

A ‘Whirling Workshop’ and an evening with Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy are just two of the 200 events at this year’s Bradford Literature Festival, which also features several people from our diocese, namely, two Bishops, a Dean and a Canon Theologian.

Bishop Nick, Bishop Toby, Dean Jerry Lepine and Professor Ben Quash are all taking part in this celebration of the written and spoken word from 20-29 May, along with many world-renowned speakers, artists and authors.

On Saturday 21 May (2-3.15pm), author, Christian and historian Tom Holland (right) is in conversation with Bishop Nick Baines, exploring the tensions that arise from presenting different versions of the same person through faith and historical narratives. If one account depicts Christ the son of God, the divine figure, how can this be reconciled with a separate account of Jesus of Nazareth, the man? - ‘Testing the Tension: Faith Narratives vs Historical Narratives’

And at 3pm on the same day, Bishop Toby Howarth joins Baroness Sayeeda Warsi to discuss what a modern place of worship should look like - a wide-ranging discussion of the architecture of faith, and its place in the modern world. More here. 

On 24 May (7.30pm), Ben Quash, Professor of Christianity & the Arts at Kings College London and Canon Theologian Bradford Cathedral will speak on ‘Art as a Reflection of the Divine’.

And on 29 May (6.30-8.30pm) in ‘Sacred Poetry’, Bradford Cathedral is the backdrop for an evening of celebratory verse and music from across the religious spectrum, presided over by the Very Revd Jerry Lepine. It will feature different kinds of devotional musical styles, including Bradford Cathedral Choir, the Sacred Wing choir, Keertan Rahal, Geetha Upadhyaya and Aviva Dautch.

On 22 May, children will be delighted by ‘Mixed up fairy tales’ with Hilary Robinson - an award winning radio producer from the BBC’s faith and ethics department.

The full programme can be found here.

As part of the five day festival, Ripon Cathedral Revealed, the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines has been in conversation with ITV Calendar’s presenter, Duncan Wood who interviewed him about a range of subjects – from  his early career at GCHQ to his radio broadcasts, from football and church attendance to making the Bible relevant and interfaith relations.

It’s the first time that a five day festival has been held at Ripon Cathedral, opening up the 12th century building to a wider public. The ‘Interview with Bishop Nick’ is just one of many events across the bank holiday weekend, with a food and drink festival, jazz, historical talks, guided tours, plays, choral music, and more than thirty floral displays, topped off with the Ripon Cathedral Beer Festival on Bank Holiday Monday.

At an opening Jazz and Canape evening, the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson spoke about the Cathedral’s future and unveiled a strategy document, “Growing God’s Kingdom” which includes plans for a major development of Ripon Cathedral and its buildings.

Dean John Dobson said, “This new Cathedral Festival celebrates the place of Ripon Cathedral  in the region it serves and we have welcomed visitors young and old from across the region and beyond to enjoy the cathedral’s rich heritage as well as the beautiful surroundings of Ripon.”

More than two hundred guests were entertained with jazz  - from the youngsters of the Richmond Jam Jazz Band – and a talk from Martin Fish, well-known gardener, writer and media personality,  as they were given a preview of the nearly thirty spectacular flower displays which are on show in the cathedral during the five days.

Seventy two different readers have been taking part in a  Biblethon reading passages from the Bible - pictured right Tony Milsum reading from the Psalms

A running feature of the weekend will be a food festival with stalls selling a wide variety of hot and cold food, exhibiting and selling everything from ale, pies and pizzas to seafood, sweets and sausages.

Other highlights in the provisional programme include embroidery display and workshops, drama with Terrible Tales of Ripon, behind the scenes with the choir , a carousel on forecourt, bell tower tours, spirituality and history talks, a charity exhibition and the now traditional Bank Holiday Monday Beer festival on May 2nd.

Dean John added, “The whole festival weekend offers a variety of activities including a food festival, children’s entertainment, concerts, live music, white rose workshops, behind the scenes with the Choir, Bell Tower Tours, finishing off with our well known Beer Festival in the Cathedral grounds on May day bank holiday Monday.”

More information about the Festival and what's on each day here.

 COUNTDOWN TO CATHEDRAL REVEALED

Wakefield Cathedral is poised to open its doors after a five-year makeover and has announced a festival of events to celebrate all that it does with headline act Yorkshire-born Clare Teal, winner of British Jazz singer 2015.

The Dean of Wakefield, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener, said: “From top to bottom, east to west; this is one of the most dramatic refurbishment of any Cathedral in this country for a long time.

“We have renewed the interior, the crypt and even under the stairs, and it’s fabulous.

“We will be opening our doors to reveal our Cathedral in all its glory with a festival of events to say thank you to all those who helped us achieve this and to celebrate all that we are and all that we do.

“We invite you to come and see for yourself!” he added.

The £6.5m programme has concentrated on renewing this Grade 1 listed building for mission and for use by the whole community.

Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, it began in 2012 with the removal of the pews followed by the complete refurbishment and overhaul of the nave. The second phase of the redevelopment, Project 2015, has seen the East End shine again, with clean walls, new lighting and electrics, a level floor, a renewed St Mark’s Chapel and the creation of a quiet area for those who want to simply sit or light a candle. The crypt – the engine room of the Cathedral – and the Chapter House have also been renewed.

The renewed Cathedral will be rededicated in a special service led by the Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines on May 14 and on that same day, the Dean and Chapter will launch a festival of events called This is Wakefield Cathedral: See for Yourself to showcase all that it is and all that it does.

Alongside daily worship, BBC Radio 2’s Clare Teal will headline on June 3 and other events include Bethlehem dancers, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band, Come and Sing Choral Classics, HM Queen’s 90th birthday celebration and weekly Tuesday lunchtime concerts and political debate.

Find out more and how you can buy tickets at http://www.wakefieldcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/this-is-wakefield-cathedral

Free tours of the renewed cathedral will take place everyday from Mon May 9 to Fri May 13. Anyone can join. Meet at 12 noon in the Cathedral.

More than 370 Readers from across the Diocese of Leeds gathered this week for an historic service at Bradford Cathedral. For the first time since the diocese was formed, Readers from every corner of the diocese came together to be licensed and make their declarations of commitment to their ministry of teaching and preaching.

During the service,  Bishop Nick Baines also commissioned the diocese’s first Diocesan Warden of Readers, Ven Dr Anne Dawtry (pictured left, centre) and assistant wardens for each Episcopal Area (l t r): Canon Ann Nicholl (Leeds), Mrs Julie Shield (Ripon), Mr Simon Dennis (Bradford), and Mrs Freda Jackson (Wakefield). (Mr Ian Grange (Huddersfield) was unable to be present.)

The service was also a celebration of 150 years of Reader ministry in the Church of England, a move which was intended to increase the effectiveness of the parochial system by having a dedicated group of lay people who would do pioneering work on the boundaries between the church and the wider community it serves.

Today there are more than 10,000 active Readers in the Church of England, most licensed to preach and teach in parishes but others as chaplains to prisons, hospices and schools – two readers, Karen Atkinson from Kirkheaton , an assistant head teacher,  and David Greenwood-Haigh (pictured left), a chaplain at Wakefield Prison, spoke about their ministry.

There was also thanks for those who had led reader ministry in the former three historic dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and Wakefield.

In his Address, the Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines said, “This evening, as we celebrate 150 years of reader ministry - a very distinctive ministry,  as we commission the Warden of Readers and the Area Wardens,  as we make the declarations and share the Oaths, this isn’t just a hobby, it’s not something that we do that somehow has taken us over and our identity. Our priority has to be our discipleship, our identity in Christ from which our ministry will flow.”

He added, “What I want to encourage you with this evening is to take this ministry seriously; to know that you have been called by God and that he expects you to put fire in the bellies of the people who worship with you, to whom you preach and among whom you teach.”

Voices of Craven

The Voices of Craven concerts will be taking place in several Dales churches from June 5th until June 25th.  

A series of concerts, which will link church and community and give amateur choirs the opportunity to perform with professionals, are taking place in churches across the Dales from Gargrave to Settle this June.

The Voices of Craven concerts will be staged from June 5th to June 25th, with Christian artists and musicians including Sarah Fox (June 5 and June13), John Bell of the Iona Community (pictured left) (June 22), the Ripon Cathedral Choir (June 19) and Swedish Jazz and Folk Gospel musicians, Anna and Andreas Andersson of the Scargill Community (June 8). More details of all the concerts below..

Vicar of Gargrave with Conston Cold, Revd David Houlton explains, “Voices of Craven grew out of discussions between Dales parishes to arrange a visit by Ripon Cathedral Choir - who are coming to sing choral Evensong for us at Kirkby Malham on 19th June.  Out of that came the idea of running other events at other parish churches and, in parallel, running village choirs with local choir rehearsals.” 

Among the objectives of Voices of Craven are to enjoy community singing, to build community, and to connect communities with their parish churches.  For the Queen's official birthday, choirs will sing at parish choral services of celebration, as well as joining with professional musicians for a Grand Finale at Giggleswick school chapel at the end of the month (Sat 25th June). 

Profits will be directed towards supporting music teaching, or possibly scholarships, for local young people. 

All events except church services are ticketed - though tickets for the John Bell event are free.

Wakefield Cathedral was brought to life vividly on Saturday when hundreds of people from across the region came together to celebrate the re-dedication of the cathedral, the installation of Bishops and Archdeacons and its re-commitment to mission and service.

The sun shone, the worship was beautiful and after the town crier proclaimed silence for the Bishop of Leeds, Bishop Nick addressed the gathered and charged them to take the word of Jesus Christ out into the world – a fitting message delivered as it was from the steps of the Cathedral in the heart of the city while the market bustled a little way further down the precinct.

It has taken five years and £6.5 to breathe new life into this Grade 1 listed building and everyone agreed it is a stunning transformation.

During the week the local news media had been busy showing the transformation and free tours attracted over 130 people new to the city and the Cathedral.

The Dean, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener welcomed the congregation and said:

“For five years, we have worked to restore this cathedral to the glory of Almighty God. Today, with joy and thanksgiving in our hearts, we come to rededicate this building, and to recommit ourselves to the service of God’s people. So many individuals and organisations have supported this project with their time, their money, their enthusiasm and their prayers, and we are delighted that many are here to rejoice with us today.

“Our gratitude is profound. You have all played a part in helping Wakefield Cathedral to shine again, and in opening it up for worship, and as a place where the whole community can come to celebrate, to converse, to mark moments of shared sorrow, to enjoy music and drama, to reflect, to pray.

“The Chapter is proud to look after this building, but it does so on behalf of the city and district, the diocese and the region.

“Today is a new start for our cathedral, and equips us to welcome God’s people from across our diocese more warmly.

 “Like our sister cathedrals in Bradford and Ripon, we are here to serve the whole of the Anglican Diocese of Leeds, and we mark this with the installation this afternoon of the Bishops and Archdeacons from the other episcopal areas.

As we gather now in God’s presence, we pray for the cathedral community, and for our beautifully renewed building.”

After Bishop Nick gave his address, Pennine Jazz struck up Oh When the Saints and led the congregation back inside the Cathedral where the chairs had been cleared for the service to segue into party with dancing, jazz music, champagne and canapés.

The features of the Cathedral were brought to life by local higher education project, Back Stage Academy with a unique lighting show.

The congregation included local dignatories, the vice Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, the Mayor of Wakefield, Sir Gary Verity from Welcome to Yorkshire and the former bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch and Bishop John Flack.

“We had a wonderful time,” said Jonathan.

A festival of events to showcase all the Cathedral offers runs until the end of June with headline act, BBC Radio 2’s Clare Teal, winner of British Jazz Singer 2015 on Friday June 3.

You can find out more about the festival and how to book tickets at www.wakefieldcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/this-is-wakefield-cathedral

Bless, O Lord, this cathedral, newly renewed to your glory. Pour out your Spirit on all who pray and serve and worship here, that for the people of our city and diocese, and for all who come through our doors, this may be a place where your love is known, your truth proclaimed, and your name glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen. The Wakefield Cathedral Prayer

View the video of the event here.