By Ultan Russell, Diocesan ecumenical officer​

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Elsewhere in this issue we cover the wonderful ‘Two Cathedrals Pentecost Walk’ but a range of other events take place at our sister cathedral often under the radar – and here we highlight two recent ecumenical events there. 

The Annual Josephine Butler Awards 

This event was held on 9 June and began with Evensong. The Woman of the Year award went to Professor Hilary Russell who came to Liverpool to attend university in 1960. After graduating, she became a neighbourhood worker, then taught youth and community work and, after time raising her family, became a university hall warden for 10 years. She later joined the Centre for Urban Studies, exploring urban regeneration initiatives in the wake of ‘Faith in the City’ on Merseyside. 

The centre moved to Liverpool John Moores University in 1992 and became the European Institute for Urban Affairs, where she remained until retiring as Professor of Urban Policy in 2010. This period coincided with major regeneration initiatives on which she was involved in authoring major research reports.

Professor Russell combined all that with volunteering, including roles as chair of Merseyside & Region Churches Ecumenical Assembly (which preceded Churches Together in the Merseyside Region) and co-chair with Bishop John Rawsthorne of Feeding Liverpool, as well as a trustee of both Liverpool Hope University and Church Action on Poverty. Hilary also chaired the Committee that supported the work of the Churches’ Officer for the North-West, which did groundbreaking work on the extent of faith engagement in community action. She also served on the Diocesan Synod and its Bishop’s Council and as a lay canon of Liverpool Cathedral, and was a founder trustee of Together for the Common Good (T4CG). She is pictured above with her daughter Kate, Paul Lewis, and Dr Wendy Bignold (photo courtesy of Jason Burnet).

The Organisation award went to Triple C, a charity established over 20 years ago by the Anglican churches in Norris Green which supports individuals and families facing tough times. Through partnerships, Triple C works closely with local organisations, faith groups, and volunteers to make sure help reaches those who need it most. 

Finally, the Volunteer of the Year award went to Elisabeth (Liz) Clarke. From St David’s Church in Haigh (Wigan deanery), Liz has been active in the Mothers’ Union for 30 years. At the diocesan level, she is the prison lead, building links with Hindley and Liverpool Prisons and facilitating the MU campaigns combatting domestic abuse and modern-day slavery. 

Meeting of the guides from the two cathedrals

The friendship and mutual support between the two sets of cathedral guides probably predates the Pentecost Walk. This has led to an annual meeting alternating between the two cathedrals, held this year on 6 June. This has been enthusiastically supported by Canon Neal Barnes at the Anglican Cathedral and Deacon Paul Mannings at the Metropolitan Cathedral. Paul is an ecumenical project in himself, as his son Stephen is the director of music at our sister cathedral and his daughter-in-law is the Revd Kim Mannings, rector of Prescot!

Canon Neal Barnes said: “It was a very joyful, convivial and encouraging event and stands alongside the long list of ways that the two cathedrals have been working, and continue to work, so closely on many fronts. It is a joy that we can share worship together, campaign together on issues that affect our communities (witness the recently published CTMR report ‘Manifesto of Hope’), have signposting to each other’s cathedrals, share help and advice with security, and host joint choral events.” 

A prayer for guides

‘Heavenly Father, bless all who enter this House of Prayer.
Grant us, as guides, the wisdom to share its history with clarity, 
the patience to welcome all who come, 
and the grace to be instruments of your peace. 
May our words inspire and our welcome make every visitor feel at home here. 
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.’