In Manchester Diocese, we recognise that we still have much to learn, in a world where many still struggle for racial justice. We are committed to advancing this cause, grounded in our Christian calling to promote equality, unity, and inclusion and tackle racism. Our aim is to create an environment where people of all heritages can thrive and fully participate in the life of the Church, reflecting the diversity that God has created; and where the values of hospitality, welcome and generosity are at the heart of our life together.
Manchester is a diverse diocese, and our commitment to racial justice is a direct response to the call to embrace all people as part of God’s Kingdom. While 75% of the population identify as being White British, 25% of the population identify as being of Global Majority Heritage – 15% as Asian or Asian British, 4% as Black African, and 2% as Black Caribbean. New members of our Christian communities from Hong Kong, Iran and Afghanistan are further enriching the diversity of our diocese.
The Story so Far…
Our recent work on racial justice was launched in 2019 when representatives from the diocese’s Racial Justice Group addressed Diocesan Synod which passed a motion confirming the need to affirm that Black lives matter in our country, and recognising the ongoing challenge to all forms of continuing racism in the Church of England.
Significant progress has been made since then and the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit has recently awarded our diocese over £1 million to help this work develop further. This funding will support four key initiatives:
- We will be rolling out the Shades diversity and anti-racism programme beyond its successful pilot in Bolton Deanery, making it available for young people in our schools and parishes across the diocese.
- We will also be able to provide direct support for our Global Majority Heritage congregations, through the work of our Intercultural Mission Enabler, Canon David Onabanjo.
- We will be focusing on development and training for our clergy and lay leaders, enabling our parishes to welcome people from all backgrounds and ensure they are supportive of and open to the recruitment of clergy from GMH backgrounds.
- And we will also be able to award small grants for innovative local parish projects.
Shades Diversity and Anti-Racism Project
The Shades Project helps schools and churches create an inclusive culture where children and young people from all racial backgrounds can thrive. The project creates safe spaces which empower participants to celebrate diversity, champion differences, and live out the love of Christ.
This project developed out the Children Changing Places project in Bolton Deanery and includes Shades collective worship, Shades Identity and Faith Workshops, Shades Ambassadors (discipleship) groups and Shades CPD sessions for school staff teams.
Responding to the news of this additional funding, Catherine Anderson, Headteacher at St James’ CE High School in Bolton commented,
“It's impossible to convey the positive impact the Shades Project has had in our school. Both our staff and pupils have been fortunate to benefit from this caring, faith-driven programme focused on racial equality for young people. I’m delighted that Shades will now be extended to more schools in our diocese.”
Support for Global Majority Heritage Congregations
Our Intercultural Mission Enabler, Canon David Onabanjo will extend the direct support he is able to congregations from Global Majority Heritage communities, helping them to grow and fully participate in the life of the Church. Over 40 congregations are currently gathering in our diocese, some worshipping in their mother tongue, others worshipping in multicultural services, and all wishing to be part of our diocesan church family.
Reflecting on the changes he has seen in his congregation, Fr. Paul Hutchins, Rector at the Most Holy Trinity Blackley said,
“When I first started we had sparks of promise as a multicultural congregation, but in a relatively short space of time we have seen a huge increase in attendance, welcoming new worshippers from Ghana, Nigeria, and South India… they are making Anglican churches in Manchester their spiritual home.”
Clergy and Lay Leader Training
The funding will also be used to provide training to clergy and lay leaders, with the aim of promoting diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all church leaders are equipped to combat racism in their local context, and fostering an inclusive environment. Canon David Onabanjo, said,
“My conversations with clergy, including those I have met through the Intercultural Kingdom podcast, have shown that we need to continue supporting leaders in helping parishes welcome increasingly diverse communities and tackle racism. We will be using the best training resources—both nationally and locally—to enhance the accessibility of our churches to people of all heritages and promote racial justice.”
Small Grants for Local Parish Projects
The diocese will offer small grants of up to £3,000 to support local initiatives that foster racial justice, diversity, and inclusion at the grassroots level. These initiatives will be used by parishes to address the specific needs of their communities.
A Racial Justice Lead will be recruited to provide broader support for the Racial Justice Programme by disseminating good practice, reviewing impact and progress and supporting the implementation of other recommendations from the Church of England’s report From Lament to Action.
Our Call to Racial Justice
As we reflect on God’s call for unity, we return to biblical passages that emphasise the imperative of oneness among believers.
1 Corinthians 1:10 says, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
In his letter to the Galatians, St. Paul writes in 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Job Opportunities
Vacancies for roles in the Racial Justice Programme Team and Shades Team will be advertised soon.
Launch Events
Get involved in this programme by attending one of our launch events either in person or online. These events will provide the opportunity to learn more about our racial justice programme, meet some of the people already involved in this work, and find out more about the new job roles that are available.
If you know of anyone who might be well suited to a role in this area, please encourage them to attend. We look forward to seeing you there.
The first event will take place in person at The Ascension, Hulme, from 10 am to 12 pm on Saturday, 26th April 2025. Book your place here.
The same event will be held online on Thursday, 1st May 2025, from 6 pm to 7.30 pm. You can book your spot here.
Resources
Recommended reading: Ghost Ship by Azariah France-Williams
Church of England Minority Ethnic Mental Health Toolkit
A Million Colours
In 2022, to celebrate Black History Month, we released ‘A Million Colours’ - a music video featuring children from Church of England schools across Greater Manchester.
‘A Million Colours’ was written by singer/songwriter pair Ni-Cola Jackson and Paul Saxon, and through its lyrics, the song conveys the message that everyone is equal before God and people of every colour are significant and loved. It challenges us to use our voices and speak up for people of all races and religions.
The video is part of the Shades Project, which aims to champion racial diversity and inclusion within schools in our diocese. The project aims to raise awareness, foster understanding of each other’s differences, and instil dignity and a sense of belonging for all children, young people and adults in our school communities.