Introduction

The Archbishop of York, The Most Rev and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell, has completed a joyous long weekend of mission and ministry in Lancashire, visiting many parts of the County across three days.   

The Archbishop’s journey across the Diocese took him to Burnley, Whalley, Blackburn, Lancaster and the Fylde Coast, including Blackpool Pleasure Beach Globe Arena for an evangelistic mission evening on Saturday night. 

Before the weekend, Diocesan Bishop Rt Rev Julian Henderson, the Bishop of Blackburn, was anticipating a ‘joyous and exciting’ visit … and so it proved to be.  

Archbishop Stephen said: “I had a fantastic weekend in Lancashire – there is much to celebrate and give thanks for. Thank you to everyone involved. My prayer is that we are confident in sharing our faith with others so that more may now the love of God and enter into a relationship with him.” 

Captions for the photos with this story in descending order can be found at end of this story.

Media coverage

Across the weekend media interest in the visit was high with the visit featuring on BBC Radio Lancashire multiple times; That’s Lancashire TV and many local newspapers across the region. 

• The Church Times on the whole visit. 
• Coverage courtesy of our Diocese featured on the Archbishop's own website. 
• BBC Radio Lancashire interview with the Archbishop on the morning of his first day in the County (also featured in key news bulletins throughout the day) … (from 1h 39m 45s)
• Further BBC Radio Lancashire coverage of the visit in a series of reports (at approx 1h 10m, 1h 45m, 2h 10m and 2h 45m). 
• That’s Lancashire TV (clip from their Freeview ch7 news bulletin on Twitter)
• Burnley Express coverage of the Archbishop’s visit to Burnley College to meet civic and business leaders and Ghausia Mosque in the town for inter-faith discussions with senior members of the Muslim community. 

Social media coverage

• View a flickr album of selected pictures from across the three days
• Meanwhile the Diocese’s own social media channels Twitter @cofelancs and on Facebook/BlackburnDiocese were very active throughout the weekend using #celebratelancs and many pictures plus a ‘video diary’ with the Archbishop as he travelled across the county; together with videos recorded with many other participants including Bishop Julian himself; Bishop Jill and Bishop Philip. The video diary films have been collated into one page on the website here.  
• On the Sunday the 10.30am service at Blackburn Cathedral was led by the Archbishop and marked the 900^th anniversaries of St Peter’s Church, Burnley, St Mary’s Church, Clitheroe and St Bartholomew's Church, Colne. Congratulations to all three churches! Members of the three churches also turned out in force for the service. You can watch it here.
• In addition to all the above, the main parts of the mission evening in Blackpool have been edited together for a video which is now available on the Diocesan YouTube channel.

Day 1, Lancaster, Burnley and Whalley

The Archbishop started his journey at Lancaster University, accompanied by Bishop Jill where he met with senior lecturer, Dr Anderson Jeremiah, at the Politics, Philosophy and Religion Department to discuss racial justice with students from local schools.

Bishop Jill said: “Our prayer was that Archbishop Stephen’s visit would help our growing partnership with Lancaster University. During the visit we gathered together schoolchildren from across Lancaster to look at issues of racial justice and the Gospel. We also had some encouraging conversations with senior representatives of the University.”

Archbishop Stephen then moved on to Burnley where his first stop was Burnley College and he mingled with civic, commercial and business leaders from the town for discussions over lunch. They included the Council’s Chief Executive, Mick Cartledge and the Mayor of Burnley, Councillor Cosima Towneley.

Speaking just before the Archbishop arrived, Bishop Philip said: “Nearly 6000 students study at Burnley College for a huge variety of courses. It’s a really energetic place at the heart of a really energetic town and I’m really excited the Archbishop is coming to Burnley; to find out more about the good things that are going on in education and commerce and to meet people of all ages, faiths and backgrounds.”

Later, Archbishop Stephen met with students from the college who peppered him with a variety of questions about his journey to becoming an archbishop and his personal faith.

The Archbishop commented: “Although I’ve met some great grown-ups and members of staff I think what I’ve enjoyed so far in my visit to the County is talking to the young people – including being quizzed on life and matters of faith and hope! Really inspiring.”

He then moved on to the Ghausia Mosque in Burnley where he was greeted by community leaders, including the Leader of Burnley Council, Councillor Afrasiab Anwar. After a warm welcome to the mosque, a fascinating inter-faith discussion was led by Andy Pratt, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire and Bishop’s Adviser on Inter-Faith Matters.

Archbishop Stephen said: “It was a fabulous meeting. We have received wonderful hospitality and importantly great conversations about where we can build bridges and friendships together and work for the common good.”

Councillor Anwar added: “It’s been a pleasure to welcome the Archbishop to Burnley and to this mosque as Leader of the Council but also as Chair of the inter-faith organisation ‘Building Bridges in Burnley’ – a role I’m passionate about. Building understanding and bringing communities together to learn more about one another helps to reveal all the things we have in common and allows for honest conversations.”

On his first evening in Lancashire it was on to Whalley Abbey, where the new Diocesan Centre for Christian Discipleship and Prayer is based, run by Director, Rev Adam Thomas.

At the Abbey on Friday night there was a wonderful open-air service attended by several hundred people from parishes across the Diocese and led by the Archbishop; who also blessed the Abbey site and the work of the new Centre.

People came from far and wide, including Blackpool, Lancaster, Leyland and many other towns and villages around the County. Music was provided by the Blackburn Cathedral Youth Choir; Blackburn Diocese Asian Christian Fellowship Choir and St Thomas’ Lancaster worship group.

Immediately preceding the service, members of the Abbey Steering Group joined Archbishop Stephen for a prayer walk in the grounds led by the Archdeacon of Blackburn, The Venerable Mark Ireland and Rev Adam Thomas.

Over dinner the Archbishop also heard about the incredible ongoing work to grow our churches which is happening now all over the County as part of our ongoing ‘Vision 2026 Healthy Churches Transforming Communities’; in a presentation given by Carolyn Barton, the Diocesan Director of Vision Delivery.

At Whalley, the Archbishop said: “The Abbey has always been a wonderful place but it’s so inspiring to see what has happened in the past year or so; with new life being breathed into the place, new management and new ambition.”  

• Visit the Abbey website for more information about the Centre.  

Day 2, The Fylde Coast including Blackpool 

On Saturday the Archbishop travelled to the Fylde Coast on a beautiful sunny day, that was perfect for many of the outdoor events planned, to see the work of churches in the area and to actively participate in a number of prayer, mission and ministry activities. 

A busy day included a ‘Teach us to Pray’ breakfast at Freedom Church, Mereside Estate in Blackpool with Rev. Linda Tomkinson, Pete Tomkinson and 40 Licensed Lay ministers; a faith and science event at St Thomas’ Blackpool with Curate Rev Emma Swarbrick and a half-term holiday weekend beach mission in Jubilee Park, Thornton-Cleveleys.  

Later, the Archbishop joined the Resource Church Leader of Blackpool Church (St John’s in Blackpool town centre) Andy Dykes; Bishop Jill and the Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Venerable David Picken plus many members of the Blackpool Church to head out into the streets and nearby shops and restaurants and offer prayer for any reason t anyone who wanted prayer … and many did.  

Commenting later, the Archbishop said: “It’s been great to meet so many people today. There has been an amazing transformation at Freedom Church for example, and it was also wonderful to be with Licensed Lay ministers and Authorised Lay Ministers from across the County to talk about prayer.  

Together we puzzled out ‘what is prayer’ and ‘how do we pray’. We came to the conclusion that the prayer Jesus teaches us gives us everything we need to know about how we pray and also – the challenge – how we live. 

“It was also great to pray in the streets of Blackpool itself later in the day. Everything we have been given in the church building has been given to us to be lived out on the streets – lived and also shared. The light of Christ shines in us.”  

Then it was on to the Pleasure Beach Globe Arena for the highlight of the three days – a mission event attended by people from the north, south, east and west of the County. 

They heard great music from a worship group made up of people from a number of churches across the Diocese; several moving testimonies and finally a powerful message calling people to Christ from the Archbishop himself.  

Bishop Julian said: “It’s exciting to be here at the Pleasure Beach and to be able to explain something of the story of the Christian faith to those who may not know it or heard it before.” 

Key excerpts from this mission event can be viewed in this special video on our YouTube channel here.  

Archbishop Stephen told the story of his own journey to faith and in particular a sermon he heard one day where he felt the preacher was speaking directly to him, directly from God.  

The Archbishop said: “I remember the challenge of his words, that this God was real. And not only was this God real but I only had one life and this life wasn’t a dress rehearsal for the real thing; this was the life that I had been given and what was I going to do with my life? I became a follower of Jesus.”

Day 3 – Blackburn Cathedral and East Lancashire

On the third and final day of his visit, the Archbishop led a service at Blackburn Cathedral which celebrated the 900^th Anniversaries of three East Lancashire churches. Delegations from St Bartholomew, Colne; St Mary Magdalene, Clitheroe and St Peter, Burnley, turned out in force on the special day. You can watch a full recording of the livestream on the Cathedral YouTube channel. Members of the three churches also turned out in force for the service. You can watch it here.

Archbishop Stephen commented: “That’s 2700 years of Christian witness and service from those three churches to their local communities and it reminds us of the joyful responsibilities we carry and continue to carry into the future, sharing what we have received.”

Reflecting on the whole visit after the service Bishop Julian, who is retiring in the summer, said: “As I look back over the three days I have lots of gratitude and give thanks to God. It gave the Archbishop the chance to engage with so many aspects of Diocesan life and has given him a real feel of what is going on the Diocese.

"This is also useful preparation for him as the Diocese goes into a vacancy for the role of Bishop of Blackburn; for the kind of person the Diocese needs to find for taking over my role when I step aside. And I have invited the Archbishop to continue to pray for us in the days that lie ahead.”

Archbishop Stephen summed up his visit by saying: “I’m hugely grateful for the time I’ve spent here in the Diocese. I do want to pay tribute to Bishop Julian in the last couple of months of his ministry here. He has been such a steadfast, faithful and creative presence; focusing the church on what really matters, which is to live and share the Gospel with others.

“I’ve met lots of great people, I’ve received lots of wonderful hospitality and seen great things and I want to assure the Diocese of my love, support and my prayers. I come to you as a fellow pilgrim. Together we are walking the way of Christ and together we do need to share that with others. It’s what our world needs. Thankyou and may God richly bless you.”

Captions for the above photos from top to bottom

• Archbishop Stephen Cottrell in full flow at the mission event at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Globe Arena
• Rev Jenny Wright, Archbishop’s Chaplain; Archdeacon of Lancaster, Ven David Picken; Archbishop Stephen; Rt Rev Dr Jill Duff, Bishop of Lancaster; Rev Dr Anderson Jeremiah and Rev Sam Cheeseman, Bishop’s Chaplain after the event at Lancaster University
• Students from Ripley St Thomas who attended the event at Lancaster University
• Civic and business leaders gather to join Archbishop Stephen and Bishop Philip North, Bishop of Burnley, for discussions at Burnley College
• The Archbishop and Bishop Philip, Bishop of Burnley with staff and A-Level students at Burnley College
• Leading discussions on inter-faith matters at Ghausia Mosque is Andy Pratt, centre left, Bishop’s Adviser on Inter-Faith matters as the Archbishop (second right) and Bishop Philip North, right listen on with members of the mosque community
• Archbishop Stephen Cottrell with the Leader of Burnley Council and Chair of the inter-faith organisation ‘Building Bridges in Burnley’, Councillor Afrasiab Anwar
• The Archbishop, at right, and Archdeacon of Lancaster, Ven David Picken join a prayer walk around Whalley Abbey on Friday evening with the Friends of the Abbey, led by Archdeacon of Blackburn, Ven Mark Ireland and Rev Adam Thomas, foreground left and right
• The scene at Whalley Abbey as people encircle the Abbey ruins ready for the open air service led by the Archbishop
• The Blackburn Diocese Asian Christian Fellowship Choir at the Whalley Abbey open air service with the Blackburn Cathedral Youth Choir behind
• Rev Emma Swarbrick and Archbishop Stephen at the Faith and Science Event at St Thomas’ Blackpool
• Archbishop Stephen speaking at the Thornton-Cleveleys Mission event
• Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev Dr Jill Duff (left) and Archbishop Stephen, third right and Rev Andy Dykes, centre left, with some of the people from the Blackpool Church who prayed in the town centre for people of the town on Saturday afternoon
• Chelsea Collier, Aaliyah Jervis-Theophilou, Ciara Jervis-Theophilou, Amalia Theophilou all from  Blackpool Church
• A group from from St Margaret’s, St Annes and St Marys Blackpool
• From left, the Archdeacon of Blackburn, Mark Ireland; the Bishop of Lancaster, Jill Duff; The Archdeacon of Lancaster, David Picken; Rev Anne Beverley, Dean of Women’s Ministry; Bishop of Burnley, Philip North; Bishop of Blackburn, Julian Henderson and Archbishop Stephen Cottrell with members of the Mission Event worship group prior to the event
• Front centre, left to right, the Dean of Blackburn, The Very Rev Peter Howell-Jones; the Archbishop of York, The Most Rev and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell and the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Julian Henderson with the delegation from St Bartholomew, Colne after the service to mark their church’s 900^th Anniversary
• Front centre, left to right, the Dean of Blackburn, The Very Rev Peter Howell-Jones; the Archbishop of York, The Most Rev and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell and the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Julian Henderson with the delegation from St Mary Magdalene, Clitheroe after the service to mark their church’s 900^th Anniversary
• Front centre, left to right, the Dean of Blackburn, The Very Rev Peter Howell-Jones; the Archbishop of York, The Most Rev and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell and the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Julian Henderson with the delegation from St Peter’s, Burnley after the service to mark their church’s 900^th Anniversary

Ronnie Semley, May 2022