Liverpool Cathedral recognises its historical connections to the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans and the wider slave economy. While this part of our past is not something we are proud of, we are committed to addressing it head-on. To tackle these issues, we have established a Racial Justice Steering Group dedicated to identifying these connections, scrutinising them, and exploring ways to reconcile with our contested heritage and address the impact of racism within our culture.
Context
At Liverpool Cathedral, we are dedicated to promoting justice and mercy, which includes standing against racism and all forms of prejudice.
We’re excited to share our commitment to the Liverpool Diocese Racial Justice Strategy, “From Repentance to Repair.” Over the next five years, we aim to make meaningful changes that foster equality for all. Our leadership, staff, and volunteers are passionate about creating a culture that celebrates and respects everyone.
To bring this strategy to life, we’ve established a Cathedral Racial Justice Steering Group. This group, composed of Cathedral staff, volunteers, and supported by our local community and partner organisations, is dedicated to making our vision a reality. We invite everyone to join us on this important journey towards equality and inclusion.
The Slavery Truth Project
This project aims to deepen our understanding of the Church of England’s role in the enslavement of Africans, reflect theologically on this painful history, and reinterpret our buildings and monuments to consider the ongoing impact of slavery in all its forms.
In October 2020, the Cathedral Chapter embraced the principles and practices of the Slavery Truth Project (STP) to foster dialogue, explore historical interpretations, promote reconciliation, and pursue racial justice for the future.
We’re excited to announce the recent opening of a photography exhibition as part of the Slavery Truth Project.You can read more about this here.
The Triangle of Hope
The Triangle of Hope is nationally and internationally recognised for its efforts to raise awareness about the history of slavery. It connects historical and modern forms of slavery and racism, combining robust theological reflection on the evils of slavery with a focus on empowering individuals. Believing that God calls and equips each person to make a difference, the Triangle of Hope has mobilised many Christians, including numerous young people, as Christian activists.
Our Cathedral proudly supports the Triangle of Hope through the missional community Tsedaqah. Here, young people from Ghana, Liverpool, and the USA come together and live in a house on the Cathedral grounds, fostering a community dedicated to justice and change.
The Sankofa
The image above is Sankofa from the Twi (Akan) language found in Ghana and other parts of Africa. This is the image that the Cathedral is using as part of our racial justice work as we seek to interpret our contested heritage.
Sankofa literally means, ‘reach back to knowledge gained in the past and bring it forward to the present in order to make positive progress’ The King of Ghana, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, has given his blessing to the Diocese (through The Triangle of Hope) to use this and other Adkinra symbols in its reconciliation work.
We acknowledge
That we can do more to advance racial justice and confront the realities of our contested heritage. Many within our Cathedral community and those who visit are unaware of the trade in enslaved Africans and the Church’s complicity here in Liverpool. Our churches and Cathedral, like many locations in our city, house remnants of this painful history.
As a Cathedral community, we are committed to educating ourselves and engaging with both the historical roots of racism and the challenges we face today. Together, we seek to turn this into an opportunity for mission, justice, spiritual growth, vocational discernment, and mobilisation, ensuring we don’t miss this crucial chance to make a difference.
For more information about racial justice in the Cathedral, contact: racial.justice@liverpool.anglican.org