BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON BRADFORD
Bradford is a vibrant and exciting place to live and work. The mission and ministry opportunities in the City
are enormous, not least in being at the cutting edge of social change and of Christian-Muslim relations in
Britain.
The City is named after the ‘broad ford’ that crossed Bradford Beck, a tributary of the River Aire which
flows through Leeds. It has many significant and creative sons and daughters; this is the birthplace of Delius
and the home town of JB Priestley and the Brontë family. The City owed its main period of prosperity to
wool. The Dales and upland Pennines produced good woolbearing sheep and the wool was transported first
by canal and then by railway to Bradford, where a great Wool Exchange and textile industry grew using
local coal, iron and water. People were drawn from the countryside to the City and, in the late nineteenth
century, immigrants began arriving from Germany and other European countries. From the 1960s onwards
others, particularly from rural Pakistan, arrived as economic migrants to work in the mills and within a
generation large numbers decided to settle in the City. More recent immigrants are from Eastern Europe.
The demise of the textile industry led to a decline in industrial and commercial activity and the loss of
much creative leadership - issues the City is seeking to address through regeneration. However imaginative
plans to rejuvenate the City Centre and other key areas have come largely to a halt after the success of
some schemes such as the Lister Mills and Salts Mill developments. The Westfield development in the heart
of the City Centre is a source of constant frustration and a symbol, for many, of the City’s inability to tackle
key problems although it has recently been announced that work on this will progress by the start of 2014.
This has significant implications for the footfall in the City.
UPDATE ON THE DIOCESE
The Dioceses Commission proposal for the dissolution of the three West Yorkshire Dioceses of Bradford,
Ripon & Leeds and Wakefield and the creation of a single new Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales
has been passed by General Synod and this will now come into being from Easter 2014. Whilst to a large
extent the implications of the scheme for the three Cathedrals affected are still to be worked through, the
Commission has acknowledged that there should continue to be three Cathedrals of equal status within
the new diocese. The Director of Strategic Development and Operations will be involved in significant
discussions concerning the future development of Bradford Cathedral within this new arrangement. It will
involve exploring ways in which the Cathedral, as a community of mission, might serve both the whole
Diocese and the Bradford Episcopal Area. The new Bradford Episcopal Area will comprise about 50
parishes in the Metropolitan District and its nearer rural environs.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE CATHEDRAL
The Cathedral Church of St Peter was created in 1919 from the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul in
the Calverley Deanery. The historic patron of the living is Simeon’s Trustees. The Dean is also Vicar of
Bradford and the Cathedral is an important focus of Christian witness in the centre of the City.
Current Staff
The Dean - Jerry Lepine, new to post this summer.
The Canon Pastor - Andy Williams
The Canon Precentor - Sam Corley
The Music Department report to the Canon Precentor
Director of Music
Cathedral Organist (Part-time)
Assistant Director of Music,
Choir Administrator (Part-time)
The following Staff will report to the Director:
Education and Visitor Officer
Inter-Faith Officer (Part-time)
Treasurer (Part-time)
P.A. to the Dean and Administrator
Cathedral Secretary
Administrative Clerk (Part-time)
Youth Worker (Part-time)
Head Verger
Assistant Verger (Part-time)
Assistant Verger & Handyman (Part-time)
City and Cathedral
Over the last few years good relationships have been developed between the Cathedral and the City
Council, local businesses, mosques, schools, the Court, police and local charities. This list is constantly
expanding as new connections are opened up. The Cathedral works hard at its hospitality ministry and all
the Staff find themselves involved in one way or another. During the year many organisations come to the
Cathedral for special services and finding ways to fit in the number of Carol Services during December has
become a challenge!
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The Cathedral Chapter
The Cathedrals Measure 1999 required the establishment of three bodies in English Cathedrals: Council,
Chapter, and the College of Canons. Taken together these three bodies constitute the cathedral as a legal
entity but under the Measure it is, specifically, ‘the duty of the Chapter to direct and oversee the
administration of the affairs of the cathedral,’ including its worship, mission, vision, strategy, finances and
buildings. Membership of Chapter is drawn from the Cathedral Staff and congregation and the Diocese
(appointed by the Bishop). Meetings are monthly.
Congregation and Worship
The Sunday congregation are at the heart of Cathedral life and to a certain extent the Cathedral is a large,
city centre parish church.
Connections forged between the Cathedral, the Metropolitan District and the Diocese resulted in a
doubling of the number of special services (now 50 per annum) held at the Cathedral and 17 statutory
services are conducted each week. Though the majority of the congregation live outside of the City, many
are active in volunteering roles and the Cathedral has a reputation for being a welcoming and inclusive
community. In the main, with confidence and esteem now restored, the congregation is looking to be taken
forward, not least in drawing in more young families and people who live in the local area.
The Cathedral does have a significant proportion of older people in the congregation; many have been part
of its life for years and others have been drawn in through bereavement ministry; a number are on their
own.
The Cathedral Choir continues to support the worshipping life of the Cathedral in ways which are widely
appreciated. The arrival of a new Director of Music in January 2012 has resulted in significant
developments, not least the recruitment of twenty new probationers. Most of the other staff in the music
department are grant funded until 2019. The main worship is choral (with Choral Evensong on three
evenings a week) but broader styles of worship at non-choral services have been explored in addition to
the current monthly Taizé Prayer service. Recent examples are reflective healing eucharists and other
meditative evening services, children’s liturgy at festival times, pilgrimages, Celtic style worship, Prayer for
Bradford, youth services and use of worship bands for special services.
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Children and Young People
The Cathedral's high-quality education work with children and young people is in a strong position, with
around 2000 children coming for visits and workshops each year. The Cathedral was given a quality award
from the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom in 2011, and its education work brings in volunteers
from different churches around the City to assist. Developing opportunities for children to explore their
spirituality is the next stage of this work.
Children’s Space runs effectively on Sunday mornings. A youth group based around choir members was
established in 2006 and a part-time youth worker was appointed in July 2011 to develop this work. There
is scope for developing effective formation and nurture across the generations. As a means of reaching the
local residents, a weekly toddler group began in 2011 and is well-used.
Finances
In 2001 a failed Millennium Project led to a period of turmoil and challenge. With the appointment of Dean
David Ison in 2005 the Cathedral began to build a sound platform for the future with new auditors and a
new treasurer. The Cathedral was also discharged from administration. The financial rehabilitation of the
Cathedral culminated in the second half of 2011 with the completion and signing of the outstanding audited
accounts for 2003-2010, all without qualification from the auditors. Small surpluses have been made in
most years since 2003 and the Cathedral has received some helpful legacies. Nevertheless, finances remain
tight and establishing a secure financial base is a key priority for the Cathedral in the short to medium
term.
Buildings
The Cathedral building is in a good state of repair. The medieval Parish Church was extended by Sir Edward
Maufe in the 1950s and early 1960s and is distinctive and attractive. The Cathedral produced a
Conservation Management Plan in 2009 with funding from English Heritage and a scheme to remodel the
Chapter House and Lady Chapel and to redecorate the Maufe extension was completed in 2011 at a cost
of £250,000. A CFCE (the Cathedrals’ Fabric Commission for England) grant of £118,000 in 2012 has
enabled the repointing of the outside of the East End and the congregation is looking forward to the 50th
Anniversary of the consecration of this half of the Cathedral on 3rd November 2013.
The Cathedral owns property on the other side of Stott Hill (Clergy House and Cathedral Hall) and these
have been in need of development for some time. We are currently involved in advanced discussions with
two partners for the development of each building.
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Eco Cathedral
The ‘green agenda’ is important to the Cathedral community. It holds Fairtrade certification and a weekly
Fairtrade stall has been running since 2007. It is the second cathedral in the country to be awarded 'Ecocongregation' status (2010 & 2013) and the first in Britain to install photovoltaic panels on its roof (2011).
The Cathedral aims to develop its commitment to social and global justice.
The Arts
The Cathedral is a much-loved venue for concerts, and a popular programme of weekly organ recitals
has been developed in recent years. Artspace was formed in 2007 to promote the Cathedral as an arts
venue and this initiative has led to a very successful programme of events and exhibitions. These initiatives
were an important step into the cultural life of the City and sustaining such a busy series of events
alongside an increasing number of services is a growing challenge, given the size of both the building and
the staff team.
Safeguarding
Bradford Cathedral is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and young people and
expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
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