Churches and Cathedrals in the diocese have begun hosting hustings across the 28 constituencies within the boundaries of the Diocese of Leeds
The Dean of Ripon, Very Revd John Dobson is pictured, chairing a lively meeting at Ripon Cathedral at the weekend with the four candidates for Skipton and Ripon Julian Smith (C), Alan Woodhead (Lab), Andy Brown (Green) and Jack Render (Yorkshire).
Churches are being invited to add details of any hustings to the special hustings webpage interactive map here.. where you can also see if there are meetings scheduled for your area.
Among hustings already listed, St Peter's, Shipley holds hustings on 1st June, 7.30pm; and St Mary's Church, Whitkirk, 4th June at 8pm. St Mary’s, Burley, on behalf of Churches Together in Burley and Menston will be holding a hustings for candidates campaigning in the Shipley Constituency. The meeting will be held at St Mary’s Parish Church at 7.30 p.m. on Friday 26th May.
Bradford Cathedral will be holding hustings (for Bradford West) on Sunday 28 May at 5.30pm. The Dean of Bradford, the Very Revd Jerry Lepine said “This week we have been presented with many ideas from the political parties in their election manifestos. There is so much information to take in. As the city’s cathedral we want to give the local community an opportunity to seek clarification from the candidates and also give the candidates an opportunity to talk about what matters to them and why they want to be our MP.”
Faith has a central role to play in politics and this general election, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York say. In a pastoral letter to the parishes and chaplaincies of the Church of England, Archbishops Justin Welby and John Sentamu urge people to set aside "apathy and cynicism" and draw new inspiration from the ancient Christian virtues of "love, trust and hope".
You can read the letter and further information on holding hustings on our General Election webpage here.