Prayers for trouble-torn Sri Lanka at Cathedral Fund launch

Jane Young (pictured left), widow of former Bishop of Ripon, David Young , was the guest of honour at Ripon Cathedral last month as the diocese came together to celebrate 21 years of the Sri Lanka link and launch a new fund in Bishop David’s name aimed at strengthening the link further. Clergy and laity joined in a Sri Lankan Eucharist which included liturgy and hymns from Sri Lanka, and prayers for the war torn nation and its people.

The 21st anniversary was marked by the launch of the David Young Sri Lanka Fund which aims to raise £25,000 to assist in the costs of travel hospitality and study for groups and individuals to and from Sri Lanka.  Sri Lankan Information  Packs were given out at the service for use by schools and churches, containing details of  the Link,  the David Young Sri Lanka Fund appeal,  and study sheets on six areas of mutual learning: - Education, Hospitality, Peacemaking, Interfaith relations, Worship and Culture. More packs are available free of charge on request from the Diocesan Office or from Link officer Barbara Belsham (0113 273 7192).

In his Address, Bishop John said there was much to learn from a minority church which played an important part in political and interfaith life. “The Sri Lankan church is marked conspicuously by hope – by the way in which, within all the difficulties and tensions in that land there is an assurance of hope…We need now to renew the ways in which people can travel to and fro in order to meet face to face, in order to pray with one another and to understand one another. The Fund which we begin today and which we will develop through Lent, will establish that deeper learning of one another as it develops  the link. We have learned a lot from the church in Sri Lanka. We have been immensely privileged to share with them in the joys and sorrows of their ministry - and we have sought to enable them to share in our own joys and sorrows . From today we build on our learning from one another. “

Gifts can be given sent for the David Young Sri Lanka Fund to Hollin House, Weetwood Avenue Leeds LS16 5NG made payable to “The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds Charity.”