Reflection: Anglican Diocese of Leeds
Its Cathedrals and Pro–Cathedral, Leeds Minster.
A diocese with three cathedrals, Bradford and Wakefield, Ripon, and a Pro-Cathedral, Leeds Minster
The Diocese of Leeds was created on 20th April 2014. This followed a review, which started in 2009, by the Dioceses Commission. It will come as no surprise that this process was not without much debate and a daresay much heart ache. The scheme went to a vote within the dioceses involved Bradford and Ripon and Leeds diocesan synod voted in favour to the scheme, Wakefield did not. The scheme did not need of three dioceses to vote in favour. The proposal was approved by General Synod in July 2013 and in April 2014 the largest diocese, by area, in the Church of England was created, it is almost 2500 square miles (about 6500 km) with a population of over 2.3 million people, with over 650 churches.
For on the background to these proposal type into your search engine Anglican Diocese of Leeds Wikipedia has an interesting entry. It is important to type in the word Anglican as there is a Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds.
The architectural heritage within the Anglican Diocese of Leeds offers a rich variety of architectural styles reflecting time, the consequences of change and the preferences of the architects, Deans and Bishops.
My companion as I explore our cathedrals has been England’s Cathedrals (2016) by Sir Simon Jenkins. It is clearly my go to text, and I have quoted him on numerous occasions, and I am sure that some for the phrases I have used bare more than a slight resemblance to his but without reference to him for that I apologise.
The common feature of churches, minsters, and cathedrals the people for without them become the buildings as beautiful as they are are empty shells.
Visit the Cathedral and Minster web pages for more news about what goes on in the cathedrals and minster. Below are the web page links along with a few additional photographs.
BRADFORD Cathedral
Of Bradford cathedral Simon Jenkins writes, ‘Bradford cathedral is compact. The solid Tudor tower of 1508 is like a stout wedge driven into the ground to stop the building sliding downhill. The porch is big enough for a village wedding’. (Page 17)
WAKEFIELD Cathedral
Wakefield Cathedral – Christ. Culture. Community.
Speaking of modernisations Simon Jenkins speaks warmly of the ‘handsome Early Gothic arcades … and a friendly wooden roof. … The more recent renovation was extensive and successful, rendering the nave light and warm.’ He was less flattering regarding the door at the West end of the cathedral describing it as ‘jarring’ and ‘reminiscent of an airport security zone.’ (page 261)
RIPON Cathedral
Ripon Cathedral Celebrating Over 1350 Years of History
Nave
Crypt at Ripon Cathedral
Ripon cathedral evolved from a basilica church, that is a large public building with multiple uses. It was built by St Wilfred in AD 672. All that survives today is the stone crypt, the oldest structure of any English cathedral.
The site as we know it today was constructed in the time of Roger de Pont l’Évêque, Archbishop of York 1154-81.
LEEDS Minster
While the current Gothic Revival building was only completed in 1841, the Minster sits on the site of the oldest church in the city. The Minster was built as the Leeds Parish Church of St Peter. In 2012 it was given the title Minster to mark the late Queen Elizabeths Diamiond Jubilee. Its formal title is Minster and Parish Church of St Peter at Leeds. It is also a Pro-Cathedral, a pro-cathedral is a church named by a diocesan bishop which will serve as a cathedral without having the permanent status of cathedral.
Time of Reflective Prayer
A time to Pause and Reflect
Slow down, breath calmly,
Slowly breathing in and out and relax.
Lay on one side those things that unsettle your senses
and rest in the presence of God.
Please prayer for cathedrals and pro cathedral in the Anglican Diocese of Leeds
Loving God, draw us on the journey
to the places of holiness, the places of peace,
the places of encounter, the places of beauty,
the places where faith has been lived, your love made known,
your hope held out in the past, for the present, into your future. Amen
We join in with the Chet Valley Churches for I the Lord of sea and sky
Collect for the second week of Epiphany
Eternal Lord, our beginning and our end:
bring us with the whole creation to your
glory, hidden through past ages and made known
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Words from Psalm 139 (1-5)
O Lord, you have searched me out and known me;
• you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
You mark out my journeys and my resting place
• and are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
• but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
You encompass me behind and before
• and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
• so high that I cannot attain it.
Pause and reflection on the words from the Psalm 139, slowly read them again.
In our prayers we welcome those who are searching for faith.
Let us draw into our circle of prayer our:
Family and Friends
Local church and its leaders
wider community
widening our circle to include:
those in government and positions of authority
those who are oppressed, those who are hungry and homeless
those who are ill, those facing death
Merciful Father, accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
When asked about how to pray Jesus gave these simple but profound words, so let them be our prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil. Amen
Closing Prayer
Adapted from Bury Mission Community Prayer (Diocese of Manchester)
Loving God,
Jesus called his disciples to seek your kingdom and follow him.
You summon us to share work of our Pilgrim Community
Open our hearts to hear his invitation to be his disciples in this generation.
Grant us courage.
Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit.
Give us compassion, wisdom and resilience.
Pour on us your endless grace that we may flourish, and our parishes grow in faith and love, service and compassion,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen
+ In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Enjoy these moments! God bless.
John Rutters Deep Peace by Libera
Fr. Derek Akker
(Derek is a retired Anglican Parish Priest and a member of the congregations of All Saints & St James. Prior to his ordination he was accredited as a Methodist Preacher in 1968 and served within the Methodist Church until returning to the Anglican Church in the mid 1980’s)
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Parish of Kirklees Valley, Bury, (All Saints, Elton & St James, Woolfold) – In the Diocese of Manchester
Acknowledgements
Bradford Cathedral – Tim Green – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Wakefield Cathedral – Mtaylor848 – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
Ripon Cathedral – Christopher Hilton – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
Leeds Minster – Tim Green
Bradford Cathedral
Nave – Tim Green – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Stained glass – Mark Stevenson
Above Nave – Diliff – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Ripon Cathedral
Left Crypt – Martin Dawes Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
Leeds Minster, altar.
Altar – Alarichall – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
Nave – Michael D Beckwith Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
Opening prayer from the Association of English Cathedrals
Collect -The Archbishops Council 2004
