The Revd Canon Liz Hassall has been appointed by the Archbishop of York as the new Archdeacon of York.

Canon Liz Hassall is currently Rector of the York City Centre churches and Associate Area Dean of York. She took on the role of Acting Archdeacon of York in April 2025 and represents the Diocese of York in the Church of England’s General Synod. 

As Archdeacon, alongside Bishop of Selby the Rt Revd Dr Flora Winfield, her responsibilities within the Archdeaconry of York (the City and Vale of York, and from the western edge of the Wolds to the far side of Selby) include overseeing church property, supporting clergy, and ensuring that proper and legal procedures are followed within deaneries and parishes, and for appointments.

Liz said, “Serving in the York City Centre Churches is a privilege which I have hugely enjoyed and valued over the last few years. Working as the Acting Archdeacon of York has been a fascinating and rewarding journey and, after a period of prayerful discernment and a full appointment process, I’m delighted and honoured by Archbishop Stephen’s invitation to accept the challenge of continuing in the permanent role, and broadening my ministry to serving the people of the villages and towns of the Archdeaconry of York.“

Archbishop Stephen said, “We rejoice in the appointment of Canon Liz Hassall as Archdeacon of York. Her faithful service and commitment to the mission of Christ in this diocese has already borne great fruit. We pray for God’s continued blessing on her as she takes up this new and wider ministry.”

Liz will be collated as Archdeacon of York in the near future – timings for the service will be published as soon as they are confirmed.

The diocesan Worship Working Group has just launched its new video podcast series, Working out Worship.

The Worship Working Group, established last year as part of the diocesan commitment to equipping and inspiring worship across the Diocese of York, has released the first five episodes of its new series, beginning with the question, What is the Point of Worship?.

After discerning the need to resource the whole people of God, with a focus on enabling everyone in our worshipping communities to engage in how worship works and how it can be transformational, the video podcasts were designed to be creative, engaging, and accessible to everyone.

Each twenty-minute episode explores an aspect of worship, in conversation between two or three people – a reflective conversation to help the listener consider theology and practice, and then what that might look like for us in our contexts and traditions.

Sammi Tooze, Diocesan Discipleship Adviser, says, “I am so pleased to see this video podcast series come to fruition! The members of the Worship Working Group have done a wonderful job in creating this new resource, which I’m sure will be helpful to many people in their discipleship and their ministries.

“It is wonderful to see this group joyfully resourcing the churches with whom we serve, asking questions and exploring topics which most of us encounter week-by-week, but might not have fully considered their meaning or others’ points of view.

“The conversations we have recorded so far have been fascinating to listen in to, and I’m really looking forward to hearing how people and churches across the diocese make use of them.”

All episodes can be accessed in video format or audio podcast. The first five episodes have just been released:

• What is the Point of Worship?
• The Theology and Practice of Welcome
• We Believe: Celebrating 1700 years of the Nicene Creed
• The Theology and Practice of the Gathering, and The Place of Scripture in Worship

The next episode on Advent will released in mid-November, amd January’s episode will explore worship with two Brothers of the Taizé community. Following this, each episode will be released on a monthly basis.

You can access the podcast through the links below:

A Celebration of Lay Ministries Service will be held on Saturday 27^th September at 10.30am in York Minster to recognise and affirm the ministries of lay people in the Diocese of York.

This Eucharist service will celebrate the breadth of lay ministries across the diocese. It will include the authorisation of Authorised Lay Ministers (ALMs), the admission and licensing of Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) and Licensed Lay Workers, as well as a recognition of those who are taking on other forms of Lay Ministry. There will also be an acknowledgement of the LLMs who have given long service.

As the body of Christ in the Diocese of York, its people and church communities will give thanks for the rich gifts of those who serve in a variety of lay ministries, all of which are a vital part of the ministry of the whole people of God as participants in God’s mission to the world.

The service will include:

• the authorisation of Authorised Lay Ministers. ALMs are lay people active in church life who have a particular gifting, vocation or calling to lay ministry, i.e. those called to work collaboratively alongside their wider ministry teams with a focus on growing, nurturing, and serving the wider parish community.
• the admission and licensing of 17 new Licensed Lay Ministers, and three LLMs transferring into the diocese from elsewhere. Long Service Awards will be presented to three LLMs whose ministry has continued for many years. Licensed Lay Ministers are lay people who represent the church in a public, representative and leadership role. Expressed in a wide variety of ways, their ministry is focused in three main areas: Teaching the Faith, Enabling People in Mission and Being Leaders in Church and Society.
• A celebration of people who have been commissioned in their parishes as Mustard Seed Community Ministers – people who are leading and serving in mission in the Low Income Communities of the Diocese of York.

David Boddy, who is being licensed as an LLM, said, “The formation journey towards becoming an LLM has been an enormously enriching one for my faith and discipleship, deepening my understanding of scripture and theology, and getting to know the diverse traditions of the Church of England from the hugely supportive peers and mentors I’ve encountered. I’m looking forward to continuing on this journey, sharing the gospel and taking part in God’s mission for the church in my home parish and at work.”

Emma Peers, also being licensed as an LLM, said, “The past year has been one of learning, but also of listening – tuning in to the still small voice and the nudges, discerning where God is calling me to serve.

“I am eager to serve God in new and creative ways, supporting existing initiatives, building on past experiences, and exploring new ministry opportunities among a new and evolving team.  I am learning to trust God’s timing and seasons, and I look forward to this next chapter, continuing to listen closely for his guidance in directing my steps for the growth of his kingdom. My prayer remains: that God will take me, shape me, and make me his own in ministry.”

Lynn Comer, Warden of Lay Ministry for the Diocese of York, said, “I’m so glad we’re able to celebrate the huge variety of lay ministry we have in our diocese, and it’s wonderful to see so many people saying “yes” to God’s calling on their lives. Our lay ministers play an essential role in the life of the Church, so it’s great to have this opportunity to recognise their skills, gifts, and commitment to serving their communities.”

Archbishop Stephen will be presiding at the Eucharist, and the Revd Canon Dr Ian McIntosh will be preaching – his last service with the diocese as Director of Mission and Ministry.

Those being admitted and licensed as Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) are:

Cleveland Archdeaconry

• David Boddy – the Benefice of North Thornaby
• Tricia Frith – Benefice of Osmotherley w Harlsey and Ingleby Arncliffe (held in plurality w Cowesby, Felixkirk w Boltby, Kirkby Knowle, Leake w Over and Nether Silton and Kepwick)
• Mark Sutcliffe – the Benefice of Ingleby Greenhow, Bilsdale Priory & Kildale with Kirkby-in-Cleveland

East Riding Archdeaconry

• Jill Barton – the Benefice of Hull, St Cuthbert
• John Dixon – the Benefice of Emmanuel Bridlington and Barmston with Fraisthorpe
• Nicky Goforth – the Benefice of Great and Little Driffield (held in plurality w Langtoft w Foxholes, Butterwick, Cottam and Thwing)
• Chris Huggins-Manners – the Benefice of Sutton in Holderness, St Michael (held in plurality with Bilton-in-Holderness)
• David Sadler – the Benefice of Scarborough St Columba and St James with Holy Trinity

York Archdeaconry

• Sharon Beanland – the Benefice of Aberford w Micklefield
• Enid Bramley – the Benefice of Riccall, Barlby and Hemingbrough
• Joan Foster – the Benefice of Riccall, Barlby and Hemingbrough
• Alan Johnston – the Benefice of Copmanthorpe (held in plurality with Askham Bryan & Bolton Percy w Colton)
• Daniel Khan – the Benefice of Copmanthorpe (held in plurality with Askham Bryan & Bolton Percy w Colton)
• David Marles – the Benefice of Rural East York
• Emma Peers – the Benefice of Acomb St Stephen
• Rachel Reid – the Benefice of Acaster Malbis (held in plurality with Appleton Roebuck w Acaster Selby and Bishopthorpe)
• Ursula Warrington – the Benefice of York St Michael-le-Belfrey

Being admitted and licensed as a Licensed Lay Worker:

• Hannah Smith – the Bishop’s Mission Order known as ‘G2 York’ (York Archdeaconry)

Those being licensed on transfer are:

• Cathie Hallsworth – the Benefice of Bridlington Christ Church with Bessingby and Ulrome (East Riding Archdeaconry)
• Sue Sherwin – the Whitby, Coast & Moors Primary Care Network (Cleveland Archdeaconry)
• Petronella Spivey – the Benefice of Pickering w Lockton and Levisham (Cleveland Archdeaconry)

List of Long-Serving Readers

Readers with 65 years’ service

• Clive Jackson

Readers with 40 years’ service

• Les Bingham
• Michael Sargent

Readers with 25 years’ service

• Jean Faulkes
• Jane Shaw

The Revd Canon Dr Ian McIntosh has announced that he will be stepping down from his role as Director of Mission and Ministry on 3rd October 2025.

Ian joined the diocese in the summer of 2021, having previously served as Head of Formation for the National Ministry Team. Ordained in 1990 alongside his wife, Nicola, Ian has held positions in the Dioceses of London, Leicester, St Alban’s, Ely, St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, and York.

In the Diocese of York, Ian has drawn together the work of the Lifelong Learning Team, the Vocations Team, and the Multiply and Mustard Seed Teams.  He has developed new work with Growing Healthy Churches, Discipleship, Start of Lay and Ordained Ministries and more recently with Racial Justice.  He has also built a wider Mission and Ministry network to include the work of Wydale, Social Justice and our work with Children and Young People. In the last year, he has also been acting Director of Ordinands.

Ian said, “After a season of growing a Mission and Ministry team who work well both together and with our bishops, we are about to enter a new season which will need different impetus and leadership.  I have noticed within myself a level of weariness that suggests that this is a good moment to step back and to allow others to take this work on. I am also at that stage of life where I would like to step into paid work that is part-time in order to have space for family and for hobbies. I am definitely not retiring and will be actively looking for work which might be a bit more hands-on in terms of the nurturing and formation of individuals and communities.

“Whilst I have nothing formally to move onto yet, I would value your prayers for all that is to come. I am very grateful to many people across our diocese with whom it has been a privilege to share this work over the last 4 years.”

Peter Warry, Diocesan Secretary, said, “Ian’s quiet and unassuming approach to his work has had a huge impact not just on the Mission & Ministry Team but on all that we have been doing as part of Living Christ’s Story. His commitment to supporting all those in lay and ordained ministries has been unwavering, as has his advocacy for Mustard Seed, Multiply and Revitalise. We will miss the richness of his input to the leadership team of the diocese as well as his deep pastoral concern for all those with whom he has worked – although sad to see him go, we wish him well and will always be grateful for his time amongst us.”

Ian will be preaching at the Celebration of Lay Ministries Service at York Minster on Saturday 27th September which will be his final diocesan event – all are welcome.

Movements of clergy and others, into, out of and between posts in the Diocese of York

The Revd Nigel Ely, Senior Site Chaplain at Hull University Teaching Hospital, has resigned with effect from Sunday, 21st September 2025 to take up a new role as Chaplain at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW).

The Revd Canon Ian Holdsworth, Assistant Curate of the Benefice of Nafferton with Wansford and the Benefice of Hutton Cranswick with Skerne, Watton and Beswick, will resign with effect from Friday 31st October 2025.

The Revd Robert Owen, Assistant Minister in the Benefices of Derwent Ings and Escrick and Stillingfleet w Naburn, retired from 18th August 2025. The date of his final service was 17th August 2025.

The Revd Stephen Maughan, Parish Priest of Hedon, Withernsea and Hull (St Charles Borromeo), in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough, has been appointed as Assistant Curate of the Benefice of Selby St Mary (Selby Abbey).  The licensing by the Bishop of Selby will be held at Selby Abbey on Sunday 12th October 2025 at 6.30pm.

The Revd Andrew Pearson, Priest in Charge of the Benefice of Aldbrough and Goxhill with Mappleton and Withernwick, has resigned from Friday 31^st October 2025. The date of his final service will be Sunday 26th October 2025.

The Revd Graham Potter has resigned as Rector of the Benefice of Eston with Normanby to become Strategy Enabler for Middlesborough and Area Dean of Middlesborough with effect from 1st November 2025. His final service will be held on 5th October 2025.

The Revd Dr Susan Pulko, Rector of the Benefice of Hedon, Paull, Sproatley and Preston in Holderness, has been reappointed as Rector of the Benefice of Hedon, Paull, Sproatley and Preston in Holderness for a period of two years. The licensing by the Bishop of Hull will be held in a private ceremony at Hullen House on Tuesday 23rd September 2025 at 1.00pm.

The Revd Cate Turner, Interim Rector (3 years) of the Benefice of West Buckrose, has been appointed as Rector of the Benefice of West Buckrose. The institution by the Bishop of Selby will be held in the Parish Church of All Saints Church (Church Lane, Settrington, Malton, YO17 8NP), on Tuesday 23rd September 2025 at 7.30pm. 

The Revd Eva Ward, Assistant Curate of the Benefice of Thirsk, has been appointed as Associate Priest of the Benefice of Topcliffe, Baldersby with Dishforth, Dalton and Skipton on Swale. The licensing by the Bishop of Whitby will be held in the Parish Church of St James, Baldersby on Wednesday 1st October 2025 at 7.30pm.

Every week, the Diocese of York offers a new reflection and prayer resource on video, for personal use or for churches to use in their Sunday worship, whether it’s in your church building or online.

Find the video here, or at vimeo.com/dioceseofyork.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell has invited contributors to join him in taking turns to offer this video resource, which you can also find via the Diocese of York’s Facebook feed.

Please use it and share it as you wish.

**Click ‘CC’ at the foot of the video window for subtitle (Closed Caption) options**

• See previous Sunday Reflections
• archbishopofyork.org

image: Heritage officers Claire and Laura, Lottery Heritage Project manager Richard Hiscockswith the historic wall hangings of All Saints Church as a backcloth. credit: East Moors

George Gyte, a member of the Saint Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail Planning Group, writes:

On Saturday 13th September, the Saint Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail invites walkers, history lovers, and church enthusiasts to join a unique day out in the beautiful southwest corner of the North York Moors. Join this Ride and Stride event raising funds for the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust and our rural heritage churches.

This is no ordinary hike. It’s a stunning 12-mile architectural trail through hills and dales, linking together rural churches designed or rebuilt by the celebrated Victorian architect Temple Moore. Guided by our pathfinders Joyce Garbutt and Mal Gyte, and with Reverend Ian Robinson lending his local knowledge along the way, the walk promises a rich blend of scenery, heritage, and community.

The day begins at 8am in Helmsley’s Cleveland Way Long Stay Car Park, where walkers can park and be transported to our starting point at the small, hidden Church of Saint Mary Magdalene in East Moors. From there, the route weaves through Roppa Wood and Baxtons Bank, across Helmsley Moor, and up to the Newgate Bank Car Park for morning coffee and cakes. The sweeping views of Bilsdale from here are worth the climb alone!

From the moor tops, the trail dips down Broadway Foot to the River Rye, crossing the historic Shaken Bridge into Hawnby, then climbing again towards Tylas Farm — the original site of Byland Abbey — for your packed lunch and a well-earned rest. The River Rye then leads us to the medieval Bow Bridge and into the heart of Rievaulx, where tea and toilets await at the Victorian Rievaulx Methodist Chapel. Across the lane, the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin — once the slipper chapel to Rievaulx Abbey and remodelled by Temple Moore in 1906 — offers another highlight.

The final leg takes in Rievaulx Terrace, Griff Farm, and the former military road through Duncombe Park, revealing spectacular views over Helmsley Castle and the Walled Garden. The day concludes at All Saints Church, Helmsley, one of Moore’s finest reimaginings, with a 4pm Celebration Service accompanied by the Bilsdale Silver Band. Tea and refreshments will be served, and visitors can also enjoy an exhibition by the acclaimed North Yorkshire artist and printmaker Anna Matyus, whose work captures the beauty of Yorkshire’s abbeys, priories, and churches. Visitors can also find out more about our exciting Lottery funded All Saints restoration and preservation project and the work of our two Heritage Activities Officers Claire Midgeley and Laura Turner.

This is a Gathering Walk — join for the whole route or meet us at one of the key points along the way:

• 8.30am – East Moors start
• 10am – Newgate Bank (coffee stop)
• 12.30pm – Tylas Farm (lunch)
• 2.30pm – Rievaulx (tea)
• 4pm – All Saints Helmsley (service and refreshments)

To help with transport planning, please let us know if you’re coming and where you’ll join the trail.

The walk takes place during the Heritage Open Days Festival (12th–21st September), when all ten churches in Helmsley and Upper Ryedale will showcase their architectural treasures — Saxon, Norman, Elizabethan, and Victorian — many with local artwork on display.

That weekend offers an extra feast for heritage fans:
Friday 12th September – the renowned North Yorkshire artist Anna Matyus opens her three-day exhibition of prints and etchings of abbeys and churches, at All Saints Church, Helmsley. Click here to see the poster.

Saturday 13th September – The SAPT Gathering Architectural Trail walk and service.

Sunday 14th September – Martin Vander Weyer, writer, The Spectator columnist, and raconteur, gives a talk at All Saints on Temple Moore, Vicar Gray, and the hamlet churches, with wine and canapés to follow. Click here to see the poster.

Whether you come for the history, the scenery, the walking, or the company, the 13th September trail promises to be a day where past and present meet, step by step, in the North York Moors.

The Archbishop of York has visited the Junction Multibank in Middlesbrough, calling on the government to scrap the two-child limit and take urgent and decisive action on child poverty.  

During the visit, the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell met with multibank staff and local leaders, to hear about the impact of child poverty in Middlesbrough and the surrounding areas. The Multibank, which has distributed 1.5 million items to more that 224,000 individuals since it opened in November 2024, seeks to meet the immediate needs of families who are struggling with the challenges of hardship. It distributes support via a network of 1,259 referral partners, who provide on the ground relationships with families seeking support.  

During the visit, Archbishop Stephen said: “I have been inspired by the work of the Junction Multibank and the efforts of local anti-poverty charities in the Tees Valley to support children and families. But the need for their services shames us as a society. As children head back to school, I hope and pray that the government will facilitate joined up policy to address systemic failures that cause child poverty, so that all our children grow up with hope, dignity and access to opportunities.” 

Beth Major, CEO of The Junction Foundation, who host the multibank in Middlesbrough as well as providing varied support to families across the local area, said:  “It’s a privilege for The Junction to lead The Multibank locally, supporting professionals across Tees Valley to tackle child poverty and seeing the impact it’s had in such a short period of time. This initiative meets essential needs with dignity and compassion—helping level the playing field for children through items like school supplies and hygiene products. While it’s deeply saddening that such a service is necessary, it’s a vital response to the disproportionate impact of poverty in our communities.” 

The visit particularly sought to highlight calls on the government to scrap the two-child limit and benefit cap as part of their child poverty strategy, due to be released in the autumn. Figures published in April by the DWP confirm that 19,580 families in the North East were hit by the two-child limit. Analysis from the North East Child Poverty Commission found that of these families, 59% are single parent families, 47% are families with at least one adult or child with a disability or health condition, and 52% of families have at least one parent or carer in work.  

During the visit, Archbishop Stephen held a roundtable discussion with local leaders who are working to address rising levels of poverty in the Middlesbrough area. The discussion focussed on the impact of poverty on families in the region, and the steps government need to take to impact on children’s futures.  

During the discussion, Lesley Storey, CEO of My Sister’s Place, a charity which supports women who have experienced domestic abuse and violence and their families, said: “Across our services, we are seeing people who feel deep shame because of the stigma of abuse and violence, and then on top of that the stigma and shame of poverty. There is no route to ending child poverty without abolishing the two-child limit. It’s not an easy thing, but there is no route without it. Children have a childhood today, and they don’t get another chance to re-live this.” 

Lisa Pickard, CEO of Five Lamps, which supports more than 25,000 socially and financially excluded individuals across the North East and Yorkshire, through financial inclusion and housing support, youth services and home care, said: “We see the impact of child poverty every day. Today is the last day of our summer holiday activities, and even from last summer we are seeing worsening need. Kids only have one chance at a childhood. We are storing up an economic crisis for the future if we don’t deal with it now. We’re putting money into rebuilding communities, but we’re not investing in children.” 

Helen Howson, CEO of Citizens Advice Darlington, Redcar and Cleveland, said: “The stigma and blame that people experiencing poverty feel is something we crucially need to address. So often, people we see are blamed for their own circumstances. As a society we need to say enough. We need better for people. Do we value our young people or don’t we?” 

Shola Ajetunmobi represented Turn2Us, who work on financial exclusion in the region. She said: “We support families who are in a constant struggle to keep up quality of life for their children. Children miss out on activities, and children are in fear of asking for things they need or want. They feel the disparity between them and their peers. The two-child limit must be scrapped.” 

Natalya Robson, team lead for child poverty and digital services at Stockton and District Advice and Information Service, supports a project providing benefit advice in schools.  She said, “I don’t know when providing food, shelter and beds to children became something we aspire towards. It should be a basic right. You only get one childhood. It is system failure when children can’t dream bigger than the things they urgently need.” 

Katrina Morley, Founder and CEO of Tees Valley Education, a multi-academy trust based in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and co-author of Tackling Poverty and Disadvantage in Schools, said: “We must understand that the journey to where we are now is because things have been getting worse over the last ten years. There isn’t a cohesive spirit of putting kids first. If we look after our children, everybody benefits. The kids I work with don’t have a lack of ambition – they have a lack of opportunity. People who make policies haven’t walked these streets or lived in these houses. We must tell the real living story of people’s lives.” 

Paul Wales, CEO of Actes Trust, said: “We have to invest in our young people, because they are not getting their childhood back. We need to work together, as organisations, to get the support to people who really need. The work we do mentors and advocates for kids. We pick them up when there has been in a bump in the road.” 

The visit comes as a growing number of leaders are calling on the government to abolish the two-child limit, including recent calls from former Prime Minister Gordon Brown to introduce reforms to gambling taxation to pay for the two-child limit and benefit cap to be scrapped, and lift half a million children out of poverty.  

Every week, the Diocese of York offers a new reflection and prayer resource on video, for personal use or for churches to use in their Sunday worship, whether it’s in your church building or online.

Find the video here, or at vimeo.com/dioceseofyork.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell has invited contributors to join him in taking turns to offer this video resource, which you can also find via the Diocese of York’s Facebook feed.

Please use it and share it as you wish.

**Click ‘CC’ at the foot of the video window for subtitle (Closed Caption) options**

• See previous Sunday Reflections
• archbishopofyork.org

Every week, the Diocese of York offers a new reflection and prayer resource on video, for personal use or for churches to use in their Sunday worship, whether it’s in your church building or online.

Find the video here, or at vimeo.com/dioceseofyork.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell has invited contributors to join him in taking turns to offer this video resource, which you can also find via the Diocese of York’s Facebook feed.

Please use it and share it as you wish.

**Click ‘CC’ at the foot of the video window for subtitle (Closed Caption) options**

• See previous Sunday Reflections
• archbishopofyork.org

Every week, the Diocese of York offers a new reflection and prayer resource on video, for personal use or for churches to use in their Sunday worship, whether it’s in your church building or online.

Find the video here, or at vimeo.com/dioceseofyork.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell has invited contributors to join him in taking turns to offer this video resource, which you can also find via the Diocese of York’s Facebook feed.

Please use it and share it as you wish.

**Click ‘CC’ at the foot of the video window for subtitle (Closed Caption) options**

• See previous Sunday Reflections
• archbishopofyork.org

In July, a group from the Diocese of York went on a pilgrimage to Taizé. Joined by Archbishop Stephen and other Church of England Dioceses, our group joined in the rhythm of life that Taizé offers through worship, Bible study, and community activities. One of the pilgrims, Sonya Bushell, writes:

Recently I joined a pilgrimage to Taizé organised by the Diocese of York. It’s very hard to summarise an entire journey but here a few reflections!

Arriving at Taizé is always a bit of a culture shock – you adapt to the simplicity of accommodation and food, you’re given a job for the week, and you’re introduced to the daily routine. After a few days, you settle into a routine. My week at Taizé was spent exploring beautiful French countryside; meeting young people from all over the world, living a life of simplicity in community; discussing life’s challenges, faith and how to live meaningfully and kindly in the world; and singing beautiful music in a church three times a day.

I always describe Taizé as a cross between a festival and a monastery – the kind of place where one minute you’re learning a Hungarian dance and drinking cider, the next you’re looking up at the stars, and then you’re singing by candlelight. It’s a place where everyone is welcomed and included, regardless of belief (or lack of belief), country or background. I love how Taizé combines inclusivity and welcome with a sense of commitment and deep rootedness to God.

The theme of the week was ‘hoping beyond all hope’ – such an important concept for the times we are living in. During the week, we were able to share our doubts, sorrows, or fears – and yet we were also encouraged to reflect on where we found hope and how we could build hope. I was so grateful for the opportunity to be honest about life’s struggles whilst also being prompted to look for, and nurture, goodness and hope in the world.

I was also deeply moved by Taizé’s commitment to solidarity with those suffering – I attended a deeply harrowing talk from a doctor who had recently returned from Gaza. The hope that Taizé talked about was not a hope built upon ignoring others’ suffering – it was instead a hope that involved recognising suffering, striving towards something better, and holding onto something (God) beyond worldly powers or human limitations.   

I came to Taizé with many questions. I’m not sure I got any answers. But I got the space to share my questions with others and reflect on life. I was invited into a generous, simple and hopeful way of living. It was a life which encouraged us to be kind to one another, and in sharing and receiving kindness, we could perhaps see a reflection of God’s goodness. I left with more peace, more hope and more love in my heart.

Of course, now I am back in my ordinary life and the pressures and challenges of life seem to press in again and displace memories of Taizé. However, there are two things that stay with me. Firstly, I see the importance of making time for rest and reflection. Secondly, I realised that although there is so much suffering and atrocities in the world, it is goodness and not evil that humans long for. I find hope in this – hope for humanity and hope that this longing for goodness reflects the goodness of God.  

I finish this reflection with a poem I wrote at Taize.

Glimpses of God at Taize

We are all singing.
Candles are flickering.
Is God here?
Someone is laughing.
Someone is weeping.
Is God here?
Someone is hoping.
Someone is doubting.
Is God here?
We are all being saved.
We are all saving each other.
And the goodness of God is here.

To see our full collection of photos, you can view our Flickr album here.

A brief history of the Taize community

Just as many people were fleeing France in the Second World War, Brother Roger decided to start a monastery in a remote village. During the war the monks sheltered Jewish refugees, at great personal risk. After WW2, Taizé welcomed both French and German people and sought to welcome all. Taizé hosted East and West Germans during the cold war, and after the fall of the Berlin Wall Taizé became known as a place where young people could gather from all across the world. Yet the brothers weren’t just offering a place to camp and chat – instead they invited young people into their rhythm of daily life (work, discussion, reflection and worship).

Taizé music was developed to allow young people from all over the world to join in with worship (Taizé music consists of beautiful repetitive chants, designed to be sung in multiple different languages). Taizé is unusual in that it is a place where Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox Christians can all worship together. Although most people who attend Taizé are Christians, agnostics, atheists and people of other faiths are welcomed.

Every week, the Diocese of York offers a new reflection and prayer resource on video, for personal use or for churches to use in their Sunday worship, whether it’s in your church building or online.

Find the video here, or at vimeo.com/dioceseofyork.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell has invited contributors to join him in taking turns to offer this video resource, which you can also find via the Diocese of York’s Facebook feed.

Please use it and share it as you wish.

**Click ‘CC’ at the foot of the video window for subtitle (Closed Caption) options**

• See previous Sunday Reflections
• archbishopofyork.org