Latest Posts
Making a Good City
This report, made in partnership with the One City Project, explored reflections on urban life and faith. The research took place over a period of two years and involved twenty five consultations. The aim was to explore contemporary Leeds with reference to four...
LCI's new director well placed to further work of social cohesion
Dr Helen Reid has been announced as the new Director of the Leeds Church Institute. She succeeds Margaret Halsey, who has been in the post for the past nine years. At a time when religious issues often spark controversy in the media and social cohesion is high on the...
Controversial or contemplative? Leeds Big Bookend Festival.
2013 was the 25th anniversary of one of Leeds' most controversial cultural offerings - the poem V, written by Beeston born, Tony Harrison. When it was aired on Channel 4 in 1989, towards the end of the Thatcher government, it provoked the wrath of Mary Whitehouse, the...
Education
LCI’s educational programme is shaped by four areas of interest: Learning for Mission. Learning for Discipleship. Learning in Context. Learning in the City. 1. Learning for Mission: Responding to contemporary events/concerns and the history of mission in Leeds....
History
Leeds Church Institute was founded in 1857 by the Vicar of Leeds, Dr Walter Hook. Victorian Leeds was a place of considerable contrast between industrial affluence and urban poverty. LCI for some time flourished as a place of lively debate at the interface between the...
Social Media Values
Our aim is for this site to be a space for learning and discussion related to the city of Leeds. We’d love you to contribute – feel free to leave comments and let us know if you’d be interested in writing a post or have an idea for a topic for discussion. Anybody can...
Library
LCI’s library overlooks one of Leeds’ most iconic landmarks, the Corn Exchange. You’re welcome to come and spend time in the library – bring your lunch and we’ll make you a drink! We stock books ranging from classic theology to the latest explorations of faith,...
Stories with no Voice
And then there are the stories that can't be told; voices silenced by fear or force, lack of education or resource, censorship or disempowerment. In a small group workshop held on Sunday 9th June, space was made to hear and reflect upon stories from the margins of our...
Storytelling from the Traditions
Stories make us who we are. They are loved by young and old and in every culture they are spoken and heard. They shape our identity and define communities, both making us distinct and uniting us. On Saturday 8th June, Storytelling from the Traditions provided a unique...
Author talk: Journey Home
On Saturday 8th June, LCI were pleased to welcome author Jennifer Kavanagh to help us reflect upon the concept of home. As well as being the author of six books, the former literary agent has run a community centre in East London, worked with street homeless people...