awesome and intimate

this is tracy emin's neon sculpture beneath the huge stained glass window in liverpool cathedral. when she visited the cathedral she sensed the presence of christ or so it seems... it's in pink but i quite like this black and white. this is a photo that is included in a booklet 'awesome and intimate', a spiritual trail guide round liverpool cathedral that has just come out. together with a friend dean, we were invited to create a spiritual trail round the cathedral and take photographs for it. this has now been produced into a small booklet with a series of photographs and ten reflections/meditations with a map to guide you round. you can pick it up for free if you visit. the thinking behind this is that often people visit and can get a heritage tour which is all fine and good but it is also a spiritual place, a space for reflection, quiet and prayer. if you visit let us know what you think.

Comments

[cheryl]

we're in liverpool in just a couple of months... i love liverpool cathedral, such an amazing space. can't wait to see what you've done...

[Carole]

Lovely - will definitely do it in the summer break and let you know how it goes.

[Linda]

Hi Jonny, I did this yesterday and thought it was great. The cathedral is a fantastic space, and although I've been several times, the guide introduced me to things I'd not noticed before so for that it was brilliant. Especially appreciated the reflections at the Lady Chapel and 'nostrils'/breath, and I'd not visited the chapel of the Holy Spirit before, so that was a treasured find.
The only downside was that the guide wasn't on prominent display. I asked at the information desk on arrival and the man behind there didn't know where to find one. It was only because I looked pretty keen to do this that he went and found someone who could then locate some copies - I thought that was a real shame as it should be easily accessible to any visitor not just those who seek it out. Great pictures, great words, thanks!

[Richard]

Hi Linda,

Really glad you enjoyed the trail. There is a display with booklets and posters next to the large candle stand (which most visitors/tourists go to). In fact the booklets which are going like hotcakes - we put a dozen or so out twice a day as we're trying to give out the 10,000 from our first print run over a year or so!

The display is sometimes moved for big events, for example we've recently hosted graduations and some very large corporate dinners so that may have coincided with your visit.

It's very frustrating the the welcome desk volunteer didn't know! We rely on a large number of volunteers some of whom are only in a couple of times a month so although they should all be very clear on what is available it can take ages for something new like this to become established in their thinking.

We realy massively on a large number of volunteers as we are determined to remain free to enter (unlike so many cathedrals who now charge) and get no central state or church funding so finances are a huge challenge. That means things aren't always as slick and professional as we'd like but it's still a wonderful place to be and work.

By the way although the trail is already out we're planning a formal "launch" event in the Autumn with Roger Phillips a local radio celeb which should also give this wonderful resouce a higher profile.