Visitors from the Diocese of Hong Kong Island enjoyed a busy programme learning about our region during a recent visit.
The Rt Revd Arun Arora, Bishop of Kirkstall, and the Revd Canon Dave Ho Young, Rector of Moor Allerton and Shadwell, visited Hong Kong in January of this year to develop links with the Anglican church there.
In response to this the Rt Revd Dr Matthias Der, Bishop of Hong Kong Island, his wife, Rachel, the Revd Canon Dr Lam Chun Wai and the Revd Christine Ho paid a return visit to the Diocese of Leeds from Thursday, April 16 to Wednesday, April 22.
These visits form the basis of exploring a formal diocesan link between Leeds and Hong Kong Island.
While in the Diocese of Leeds, Bishop Matthias and the other delegates explored some of the churches, schools and social action projects across our diocese.
In the first few days they met with Jonathan Wood and senior staff in Church House to gain an understanding of the breadth of our diocese; were hosted by the Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Acting Bishop of Leeds, for a meal with the bishops and senior clergy; and enjoyed being welcomed to Bishopthorpe Palace by the Archbishop of York and had a tour of York Minster by the Dean of York.
Over a busy weekend, they were welcomed to St Peter’s Harrogate by the Revd Canon Dr Alan Garrow where they met Hong Kong members of the congregation and enjoyed afternoon tea at Betty’s.
On Sunday, Bishop Matthias was the preacher at Bradford Cathedral and at Evensong at Leeds Minster the preacher was the Revd Canon Dr Lam Chun Wai.
There was also an opportunity that evening for the delegation to meet with Hong Kongers who are part of the congregations of both St Barnabas’ Alwoodley and Leeds Minster.
On the final two days of the visit, the delegation visited Headfield Church of England School in Dewsbury with the Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, Bishop of Huddersfield; and were hosted by staff and students at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield.
They were also able to meet staff and brethren from St Hild’s College and the Community of the Resurrection.
On their final day in our diocese, Bishop Matthias spoke at the Leeds Episcopal Area clergy breakfast at Holy Trinity Boar Lane and inspired those attending with stories from Hong Kong Island.
They were welcomed to St George’s Crypt to hear more about their ministry with homeless and vulnerable people in Leeds, attended a reception by the Lord Mayor at Leeds Civic Hall, and finally paid a visit to Wakefield Cathedral to meet the Very Revd Philip Hobday, Dean of Wakefield.
Revd Dave said: “We are thankful for the friendship that is developing between the Diocese of Leeds and the Diocese of Hong Kong Island, for the connections that have been made, and we look forward to seeing how this partnership between our dioceses develops in the future.”