BRONZE statues of two of Merseyside’s most revered religious leaders were unveiled yesterday before thousands of worshippers. The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, and the Archbishop of Liverpool, the Most Rev Patrick Kelly, led a procession of up to 3,000 Christians through Liverpool yesterday on a Walk of Witness.
They took it in turns to read a specially-created memorial liturgy as they walked from the Metropolitan Cathedral to Liverpool Cathedral.
Half-way between the two cathedrals on Hope Street, they stopped to unveil a 15ft bronze statue designed by sculptor Stephen Broadbent honouring the work of Bishop David Sheppard and Archbishop Derek Worlock.
Among the first to admire the memorial which takes the form of two bronze doors was Grace Sheppard, wife of Bishop Sheppard, and Margaret Hayward, step sister-in law of Archbishop Worlock.
The sculpture was paid for by public subscription after an appeal from the Daily Post’s sister paper the Liverpool Echo, which saw hundreds of donations flood in from individuals, congregations, councils, companies and organisations.
Yesterday’s unveiling, during the Merseyside Churches Together walk, is the culmination of a three-year campaign to honour the memory of the two Christian giants who worked together to bring greater harmony between Catholics and Anglicans in the city.
At the statues Cllr Paul Clark, Lord Mayor of Liverpool, and Sara Wilde, managing director of Trinity Mirror NW2, publisher of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo, gave short addresses.
In his address, Bishop James Jones said: “The memorial is a fitting tribute to the work that Bishop Sheppard, Archbishop Worlock and ecumenical leaders did for the city and people of Liverpool.”
Archbishop Patrick Kelly added: “It’s fitting the memorial should be dedicated at the Two Cathedrals’ Service on a walk which they made together on many occasions.
“True to them and their predecessors, Archbishop Beck and Bishop Blanch, this dedication takes place precisely in the context of this walk that every second year renews commitment to the ecumenical journey.”
The tradition of a public display of Christian Unity began following the visit of Pope John Paul II to Liverpool on the Feast of Pentecost in 1982.
The papal visit broke with tradition by visiting both the Anglican Cathedral and the Catholic church.
This bridge-building example was followed up three years later by Merseyside’s church leaders who committed themselves to a Covenant of Unity. Yesterday this commitment was recalled through a Covenant Prayer read by Rev Canon Michael Wolfe – an ecumenical officer when the covenant was signed.
Following this Archbishop Patrick, Bishop James and Rev Phil Jump led a memorial liturgy acknowledging the work of Archbishop Worlock and Bishop Sheppard recognising their place not only in the history of Liverpool’s Churches but also in the history of the city itself.
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