Latest Posts
These are the hands: how has Covid-19 constrained gestures?
In this week's blog, our Poet Theologian Hannah Stone reflects on how Covid-19 has constrained our gestures and, in particular, how a steadying hand offered to a fellow passenger or a pat on the shoulder are embargoed, yet we rely on our own and other's hands. ...
Organising reflections: the power of stopping, “being with” and listening
Leeds Citizens and Leeds Church Institute work together to employ a local Community Organiser, Becky Howcroft. In the second in a series of theological reflections related to the work of Leeds Citizens, Becky reflects on the importance of 'stopping' and simply 'being...
Abdullah Adekola reads his poem ‘Neighbourhood Library’
Listen to Abdullah Adekola read his poem ‘Neighbourhood Library’ published in the anthology And The Stones Fell Open: A Leeds Poetry Anthology available here. It’s really important to reflect on Leeds experiences in light of the Black Lives Matter movement. Abdullah...
Jason Allen-Paisant reads his poem ‘Black Walking’
Jason Allen-Paisant reads his poem ‘Black Walking’, published in the anthology And The Stones Fell Open: A Leeds Poetry Anthology available here . Dr Jason Allen-Paisant is a Lecturer in Comparative Literature at the University of Leeds and his work has been...
Creativity in Lockdown
Our Poet Theologian, Hannah Stone, considers the urge to get creative in lockdown and considers whether the 'new normal' will be a place of greater creativity, be that physical, emotional or political transformation. At the start of lockdown I was full of plans...
Come the Revolution, by Testament
It feels really important to reflect on Leeds experiences in light of the Black Lives Matter protests. Playwright and lyricist, Testament, lit up the Minster with his spoken word performance of Come the Revolution, published in the anthology And The Stones Fell...
Faith and Activism: Religious Protest in the age of BLACKLIVESMATTER
Leo Joslin, postgraduate student and member of staff at Leeds Church Institute, reflects on the role and purpose of faith in activism and protest today. Leo's article is also published in our Summer CITYtheology magazine. A protest movement in the 21st...
You Know The Way For Me
As lockdown eases, our Poet Theologian in Virtual Residence, Hannah Stone, shares her own fears and concerns and asks us to consider, as we acclimatise to the outside world, how can we practice trusting that God does indeed ’know the way for us’? So, lockdown...
Bearing one another’s burdens
This week our Poet Theologian in Virtual Residence Hannah Stone considers the mutuality of support; honouring the need we have for each other at a personal level, as well as the symbiotic relationship of institutions and organisations. Last week, the big news...
Trials, tribulations and determination in the art of online musical creation
Sarah Stead from Musicultural Conversations, a project sponsored by Leeds Church Institute with funding support from Leeds Inspired and Open Source Arts, has written a reflection on the preparations for their Online Workshop for Refugee Week 2020 (15th-21st June)....