Stephen Cottrell, the ArchbishopArchbishop Bishop who also presides over a group of dioceses or provinces. of YorkYork 1. A Roman city and early centre of Christianity. 2. Diocese and province under the leadership of the Archbishop of York., was at Liverpool CathedralCathedral (Latin cathedra' throne') Church which contains the throne of the bishop and hence the mother church of the diocese on Monday 5 October for a teaching event all about the Lord’s Prayer. This was the culmination of a tour in the Northern Province of the Church of England, as well as online events in Canada and the DioceseDiocese A geographical area composed of a number of parishes, under the administrative and spiritual jurisdiction of a Bishop. of Europe. The tour was part of FaithFaith 1. Belief and trust in someone or something. 2. Acceptance of particular religious teachings. in the North, a movement of prayer, storytelling and Church Planting.
Over a hundred people came to the cathedral to hear Archbishop Stephen delve more deeply into the Lord’s Prayer and share how it can show us a way to live as well as a way to pray. Local people shared what the Lord’s Prayer means to them, the Archbishop gave an address which was then followed by a panel discussion and questions from those present.
The tour began in 2025 at Selby AbbeyAbbey 1. Community of monks or nuns under the rule of an abbot or abbess. This is the higher grade of monastery, as opposed to the lower priory. 2. Building which they occupy. and since then Archbishop Stephen has spoken to thousands of people in churches and schools across the North and beyond about the Lord’s Prayer, the prayer JesusJesus (Greek form of Hebrew 'Joshua' meaning 'Yahweh [God] is salvation') Also given the title Christ, meaning 'anointed one' or Messiah. His life is recorded mainly in the Four Gospels although he is also mentioned by the Jewish historian Josephus (c. 37-c.100) and the Roman historian Tacitus (c.110). taught his disciples to pray. Free resources on the Lord’s prayer for churches, schools and individuals are available at www.faithinthenorth.org
The evening at Liverpool Cathedral was part of a day in the Diocese of Liverpool where Archbishop Stephen visited The Deanery Church of England High School in Wigan and St Philip’s Church of England Primary School in Westbrook. He then travelled to St Helen’s MinsterMinster Originally a church with a group of clergy which served a large area. Later used to describe a church staffed by many priests or a monastic community before meeting members of a community project at St Mary’s, West Bank who have come together to create a 30-meter-high poppy display to be hung from the tower of their Church for Remembrance.
Archbishop Stephen said, “It was wonderful to conclude my Lord’s Prayer Tour here in Liverpool. Over the last 20 months many people have told me that they often say the Lord’s Prayer without really stopping to think what it means. And of course many others don’t know it all. I hope that the tour has helped people dig into the beauty and the challenge of the prayer Jesus taught us and also enabled hundreds of schools to teach children the prayer. It has been a wonderfully encouraging undertaking. I have learned so much. These words of Jesus teach us how to live as well as how to pray.”
Theo Sheridan-Watts, Programme Manager for Faith in the North said, “Finishing the Lord’s Prayer Tour today in Liverpool was such a joy. The churches and schools we visited in Warrington, Widnes, St Helens and Wigan were a real example of the church at its best, serving the communities they find themselves in and living out the prayer that Jesus gave us to teach us how to live.”
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heavenHeaven The dwelling-place of God and the angels and eventually all those who will live with God for eternity.,
hallowedHallowed Blessed, consecrated, holy be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptationTemptation The inclination to do things which are known to be wrong or unhelpful, particularly the desire to resist what God wants. In the Garden of Eden the Devil in the form of the serpent tempted Eve to disobey God by eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Gospels describe how the Devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness.
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.