As we mark the one-year anniversary of the inception of the Cathedral Racial Justice Group, we take a moment to reflect on the significant strides made in our commitment to racial justice and reconciliation.
Since its establishment on May 8th 2023, our dedicated steering group has diligently planned and executed a comprehensive program of initiatives aimed at promoting racial justice and upholding the values of inclusivity and diversity that define Liverpool Cathedral.
From opening our archives to a research student from Hope University to explore contested heritage and the role of women in the Cathedral’s history, to hosting esteemed speakers like Professor Anthony Reddie from Oxford University, we have actively engaged in meaningful dialogue and exploration of our past. We have also taken tangible steps to support marginalised communities, such as providing additional assistance to homeless refugees in Liverpool and supporting Rebekah Okpoti’s Chamber Opera Adelaide Watt: The Unwanted Burden.
Our efforts have extended beyond academic pursuits, as evidenced by our engagement with the community through events like the Black History Month service and hosting pilgrims from Liverpool, Kumasi Ghana, and Virginia USA for a contested heritage tour.
Our commitment to racial justice was further underscored by the organization of the Racial Justice Sunday service and the curation of the Slavery & Repentance Exhibition, both of which served as powerful platforms for reflection and dialogue.
At Liverpool Cathedral, we recognise and acknowledge our historical connections with the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans and the wider slave economy. It is a part of our past that we are not proud of, but through our Racial Justice Group, we are dedicated to identifying these connections, scrutinising them, and exploring reconciling ways of responding to our contested heritage and the impact of racism within our culture.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, understanding, and justice within our Cathedral and the broader community.
The Slavery Truth Project aims to give us all a greater understanding of the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans and how the church in the Diocese of Liverpool benefited from it. We want to help our congregations reflect theologically on this terrible part of our history and to connect historic slavery with its modern forms to build activists against slavery and racism.
The Slavery Truth project will be running at Liverpool Cathedral in 2024 and places are open to people who worship at the Cathedral. Each participant will have the opportunity to engage with the history of these memorials and their place in the Cathedral, listen to stories from history and share their reflections on the cultural, social and faith connections of these objects.
To find out more please speak to Jennie Taylor or Merab Gill racial.justice@liverpool.anglican.org
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