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This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’ Zechariah 7:9
Connected Lives is the Cathedral's research project which considers our history in all its forms. It aims to shed light on individuals who are memorialised within the fabric of the Cathedral, including their connections to the transatlantic slave trade, Indian colonialism, interfaith relations, racial injustice and any legacies that may still endure.
Connected Lives aims to seek justice in the pursuit of knowledge, ensuring that the stories we share within this sacred space are truthful and transparent. By bringing these stories to light, we hope to create a space where reflection and understanding can flourish.
To scrutinise and explore this research, Gloucester Cathedral invited individuals from the city’s diverse communities to form a Contested Heritage Panel. The panel actively seeks to effect positive change by providing a safe space to engage in discussion on findings from the ongoing project, respecting any sensitivities the research presents.
So far, the project has researched six individuals, the biographies for which can be read below. We hope you find these stories insightful. Our research is continuing and, as more is understood, these biographies may be changed or updated.
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These individuals were identified by the City Review of Heritage Assets.
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The ceiling of the Thomas Chapel was identified by the City Review of Heritage Assets.
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Bishop Arthur Cayley Headlam was Bishop of Gloucester from 1923-1945.
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Admiral Christian was Gloucestershire’s second Chief Constable.
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Sarah Morley is commemorated in one of the largest and most beautiful monuments in the Cathedral.
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Samuel Hayward was identified by the City Review of Heritage Assets.
Merciful God,
you are righteous and love justice:
stir the hearts of your people that,
rejoicing in our diversity,
we may repent of the wrongs of the past,
and, by your grace, seek the peaceable kingdom of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Gloucester Cathedral will respond to any findings in keeping with its principles of social justice, seeking to address its history with transparency.
We welcome those from different communities to assist with this research. If you are interested in volunteering your time on this project, please get in touch with reception@gloucestercathedral.org.uk.
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