National Cathedrals Conference

Welcome to the National Cathedrals Conference ‘Different Country: Different Church’. This is a four day event held from May 16 to May 19 where key players from our Church of England cathedrals and ecumenical partners will gather at Newcastle Cathedral to “draw breath” after recent difficult times, and exchange wisdom on the challenges and opportunities for the future direction of the Church and society.

We have taken inspiration from that great mission agent, Pope Francis, who with our own Archbishops, reminds us never to give up on the world, but calls us to serve those on the world’s margins and, in so doing, renew the church.

We will hear from leaders in their field on the issues of social, racial and climate injustice and be able to collaboratively and cooperatively shape our vision in the face of these three big challenges that beset our communities, our country, our nation, and our world.

We want to draw on the wisdom of people in public life and senior Church leadership, and those bringing ecumenical and theological expertise, and to ground all this with practical ideas and resources that can support our work and mission.

We will ask: how do we serve a world that in Europe and North America has become increasingly alienated from religion, but at the same time how can we plant seeds in fields where our mission might lie?

We will have a safe space to meet each other, opportunities to learn together, to network, to discuss common problems, and there will be surgeries available from staff at the National Churches institution and more.

All this will be held in a framework of prayer, worship, welcome and conviviality.