VISION

 
 
 
 

We are all on a journey.

We are a Church of England parish church, within the Liberal Catholic tradition, and we value imagination, questions, justice, beauty and hospitality.


Ascension Church Hulme is a church which attempts to pay attention to power. We seek to provide a sense of home to all, but especially marginalised and minoritised groups of whatever shape or shade.

We aspire to be a place where those voices can be heard, and those stories can be told. We desire to stand alongside friends across Hulme, working shoulder to shoulder to see our desire for a Hulme which is stronger and has a greater sense of agency to effect positive change. We would like to spark people into organised community groups where they can feel they belong and belong together. 

We are grateful for the legacy of Fr. John Methuen and his willingness to offer Sanctuary to Viraj Mendis, a Sri-Lankan student who sought political asylum at Ascension Church Hulme in the 1980s. For two years he found shelter here. There was a Viraj Mendis Defence Campaign as people worked around the clock to ensure he had a level of security and felt a sense of solidarity. 

You are welcome to come and get involved and to help us create the next season of life at Ascension Church Hulme. You could be part of our next set of stories. We wish to be an interconnected cluster of small groups doing big things. Come and see, then go and tell. 

 

or maybe we could put it this way…

Once upon a time there was a place called Ascension Church Hulme.
It was a lovely refurbished house with many, many rooms.
One or two were decorated with pictures on the walls,
a smattering of furniture, some rugs on some floors.

And other rooms were empty, awaiting tender loving care,
to realise their potential, the home would love you to be there.
Love to hear your laughter, there. Love to learn your wisdom, there.

So bring your paint, bring your bucket, bring your tears,
bring your mop, make your pottery, your music,
then promote it in our shop.

The proceeds, for us to proceed, to plant new seeds,
in the newly tilled soil, upturned car parks,
breaking hard ground.

There is a strong past,
a podcast, tune into the sound.

We wish to be sustaining, and sustainable,
whilst remaining uncontainable.
More process, less product,
more mystical, less statistical.

Inclusive and distinctive,
with a bias to the impoverished.
Less programmed more instinctive,
in order for more to flourish.

Equal pleasure, we can measure,
we pursue beauty, the authentic, and the true,
The beginning of another chapter,
About Us, is also about you.

So come with your honesty,
come share our responsibilities,
let’s collect up our authority,
and build a world, we wish to see.

Whether through contemplation,
or sacrament or art,
we are a community of communities,
ushering in sites of relief.
Accepting our mortality,
joining together, in failure and grief,

Yet together in delight,
when we struggle, and we fight,
to tunnel under the victim making systems,
and find the light,

The light shining on the dark skin,
of Africa’s daughter and son,
joining with white working classes,
hand in hand, one tribe, one.

Those with different wiring,
Are the ones from another plain,
Come and bring your gifts,
There is no need to explain.

It’s our ambition, for coalition,
a joint justice and creative mission.
We await your decision to our invitation,
its an open house, to participate,
based in Hulme to spread love,
and demolish structures of hate.

So bring your pen, bring your notes,
share your heroes, favourite quotes,
make your mark upon these walls,
leave your legacy in these halls.

Can you hear the song?
You’re in the chorus,
will you come and belong?
and be About Us?

by Father Azariah France-Williams