18/06/2025
The latest stop on the Lord’s Prayer Tour of the north of England took place last night at Carlisle Cathedral. People gathered from across the Diocese of Carlisle to reflect on The Lord’s Prayer and its significance for today’s world.
The evening began with a showing of Then as Now, a short film by Oliver Murray which explores the enduring significance of the Lord’s Prayer.
Young people involved in a Wigton cell group, part of the Solway Network Youth Church, shared some of the things they had learned whilst looking more deeply into the words of The Lord’s Prayer. Lewis, one of the group’s members said, “When we studied The Lord’s Prayer we found that the prayer Jesus taught all those years ago is still relevant and has meaning today. Sometimes praying feels overwhelming but the Lord’s Prayer feels like it’s relatable, like a life guide and role model.”
Following this, Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York shared the importance and relevance of The Lord’s Prayer to our world today. Those present were encouraged to pray and live by it as part of their daily missionary discipleship, using it as a pattern for living.
Theo Sheridan-Watts, Programme Manager for Faith in the North said, “It’s been great to be at Carlisle Cathedral and see people engage with The Lord’s Prayer in different ways. Listening to people talk with each other about what they find inspiring and challenging about the prayer shows that it is as relevant to us today as when Jesus taught it to his disciples. Our hope is that this will prompt further discussions and many will look afresh at this ancient prayer.”
Archbishop Stephen said, “I was delighted by the welcome we received in Carlisle today. People were open and willing to engage with the challenge of The Lord’s Prayer and think about how this can show us the way to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.”
The tour is part of the Faith in the North initiative which looks to encourage a movement of prayer, storytelling and church planting inspired by the Northern Saints. The focus for 2025 is The Lord’s Prayer, for 2026, Pilgrimage, and in 2027, Baptism.
Visit the website to learn more and to access free resources: www.faithinthenorth.org
A Prayer for Faith in the North
Loving God,
guide by your Spirit
the churches of the North;
that following in the footsteps
of the Saints who have gone before us,
we may walk in the way of Christ,
share God’s love with others,
and build your Kingdom of peace
in the communities we serve.
We ask this through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.