Carlisle Cathedral celebrates contribution of migrants to UK

The Cathedral is one of a number of venues across the country to sign up to the One Day Without Us national day of action on Monday 20 February.

The Rev’d Canon Michael Manley, Canon Missioner at the Cathedral, said: “We’re delighted to be a part of this national campaign which intentionally celebrates the contributions being made by migrants.

“We are living in challenging times politically and socially, on both a national and international level. Views and opinions can easily become polarised and as a direct result, people can suffer.

“So we need to ask people to stop and think about what is being said about those migrants to the UK and how they are being represented.

“As Christians, now more than ever, we must do all we can to reach out in love, grace and humility to everyone as we bear witness that God is for all.”

As part of its involvement with the One Day Without Us campaign, the Cathedral is inviting people to tie the ribbons to the gates throughout the weekend as well as on Monday at 1pm.

A banner is also to be placed on the gates which reads: “We welcome and celebrate all peoples, all nations. God is for all” and there will be some poetry reading at the Monday event.

Nationally, the One Day Without Us day of action will see people offer support to migrants by wearing badges, posting selfies or pictures and putting up posters.

People are invited to take part in a unifying action at 1pm on Monday 20 February and to post on social media using the hashtag #1DayWithoutUs.

Premier’s Northern Correspondent Ian Britton has been in Carlisle to meet the Rev’d Canon Michael Manley, Canon Missioner at the Cathedral.