City cathedrals resourcing rural churchgoers: a study on the impact of the Exploring the Sunday Gospel programme

Abstract

One understanding of Anglican cathedrals is that their ministry, like the ministry of the bishop whose cathedra they house, stretches beyond the city and embraces the whole diocese. The advent of digital and online technology has brought the ministry of cathedrals much closer to homes throughout the diocese. The present study examines the impact of the Exploring the Sunday Gospel programme developed by Liverpool Cathedral on the spiritual journey of one senior rural churchgoer who turned towards Liverpool Cathedral when her own rural church ceased to offer services during the pandemic. The data support the value of a programme designed to equip churchgoers to engage in depth with the Sunday Gospel before hearing the Gospel reading proclaimed during the Sunday Eucharist, whether in-person or online.