If you have never been to Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral, you have missed a real treat. It is an enormous building, yet manages to feel warm and intimate at the same time as being vast and impressive.
I really like Liverpool and the cathedral is a brilliant place to visit. It has a great little café and the Lady Chapel is one of the most beautiful churches you can visit. As with all churches, the trappings of religion abound, but it is the scale of the building that is noteworthy.
It is the largest cathedral in the whole of the United Kingdom and the fifth largest in the world. Gilbert Scott designed it and it took more than 70 years to build. Seventy years! Just remarkable; poor old Gilbert didn’t live to see his building finished!
I was there, feeling very proud indeed, at the service of ordination, as the Bishop of Liverpool welcomed 14 new deacons into the church. My daughter was one of these. To say that the service was uplifting just doesn’t begin to describe it. I have never seen so many people in one building; more than 2,000, all seated and exuding joy.
There was a lot of clapping, even more crying and singing. It was a celebration and a recognition that each of these 14 was ready to serve in their church in their own way. I’m not especially religious but it was marvellous.
It was one of those ‘watershed’ moments in life. When you are aware that something significant is taking place. I remember my children being born, of course, and my grandson too. I remember particular events, only of significance to me. This was one of those and I know that we all have them. They are moments to be treasured, to be held close and nurtured.
Photographs are great, but it is the mental memory which is so special, as the whole experience is stored away in our minds. The lead-up to an event, what the weather was like, even the expressions on faces are part of the memory. These are the moments which can lead to feelings of nostalgia, of affection, of amusement and, as in this case, of intense pride.
It is a strange sentiment, pride, isn’t it? We don’t seem to talk too much about it, but it is tremendously important. It can have a negative connotation, but in its purest state is a sense of satisfaction related to something which has been done. Sometimes, we feel proud of ourselves, of an achievement, perhaps, but to feel that sense of deep pleasure in the achievements of those who are close to you is just wonderful.
It is more than the ‘congratulations’ or ‘well done’ comments, even though these are important things to say. It is much deeper than this; it is to be shouted about, to be revelled in and to be posted on billboards. How many times have you said to someone that you are proud of them? If you haven’t done it recently, do it now. It’s really good to hear it.