Visibility matters - Why we held a Pride Eucharist at Manchester Cathedral
Manchester Cathedral curate Revd Steven Hilton. In June 2021, for Pride Month, he interviewed Nathaniel Hall, a theatre-maker, actor, writer and HIV activist from Manchester, best known for his role in award-winning drama It’s A Son on Channel 4. WATCH our LGBT Q&A with Nathaniel Hall (57 mins).
The cathedral altar for the Pride Eucharist
The worship group from St James & Emmanuel church, Didsbury led music for the Pride Eucharist.
Following the Pride Eucharist at Manchester Cathedral, we caught up with Cathedral Curate, Revd Steve Hilton to find out why having this celebration as part of the city’s LGBT+ festival is important:
One of the thrilling things about ministry at Manchester Cathedral is the way we’re never quite sure how things will turn out!
As we sang the final verse of How great Thou art, led by the worship group from St James & Emmanuel church in Didsbury, I had a spine-tingling sensation that assured me (once again) that I was a loved child of God.
The Eucharist for Pride had attracted more than 120 people. Some were regulars from our Open Table congregations in north Manchester and Salford, but many had wanted to come in protest and solidarity, and to worship over the Manchester Pride festival weekend.
It was the most wonderful and blessed privilege to preside alongside Rt Revd Mark Davies, Bishop of Middleton, who preached a moving sermon. He wore the pectoral cross of one of his predecessors, Bishop Ted Wickham. Bishop Ted facilitated the first meeting of the North Western Homosexual Law Reform Committee at Manchester’s diocesan offices in the city centre in October 1964. That committee eventually became the Campaign for Homosexual Equality. It seems to me that for a long time, Manchester has been at the very heart of change, challenge and reform, not least in matters of human sexuality.
I’m a very small cog in our work together at Manchester Cathedral. But I share in our vision that our task is to grow and build community, making a difference in the world with the good news of Jesus Christ. We are trying to live our faith in practical ways and to be an inclusive cathedral. Under the leadership of Dean Rogers, this vision is at the heart of our endeavours.
I have been asked: ‘Why do you need a specific eucharist for Pride?’ The simple answer is, ‘we don’t’. But the more nuanced answer is that we have a long way to go until LGBTQIA+ people (for the most part) will feel safe in the church and that includes our buildings.
LGBTQIA+ people continue to experience discrimination and prejudice and, in the church, it is done in the name of truth and in the name of God. For me personally, as a public minister, this is a source of great sadness and is the reason why visibility matters. As Bishop Mark said in the service:
We will continue to pray for justice - Jesus-shaped justice - that will enable ALL God’s children to know they are loved and that in Christ all are welcome.
Across the Church of England we are in the middle of a big, national conversation called Living in Love & Faith. For many LGBTQIA+ folks, this might feel like yet another church process which results in more hot air and no concrete change.
