Beloved Community 2026: There is Hope in Colour

Hosted by Unkle Mykel

Conversation. Art. Film. Poetry. Music. Community.

Join us at Bristol Cathedral for Beloved Community 2026: There Is Hope in Colour, a day bringing together artists, thinkers, faith leaders, performers and communities to explore remembrance, justice, hope and belonging.

Centred on Let There Be Light, a major new stained glass commission by artist Joseph Ijoyemi, this year’s gathering opens up conversations around history, memory, identity, reparative justice and the role of art in creating spaces for dialogue and hope.

Rather than simply looking back, There Is Hope in Colour asks what we can create together now.

Whether you’re interested in art, social justice, faith, history, culture or community, you’re warmly invited to join us for a day of conversation, creativity and reflection.

On the Day

Expect a rich programme of conversation, art, film, poetry, live music and participation across Bristol Cathedral.

Panel Conversation

The day’s panel will explore questions of remembrance, justice, faith, identity, heritage and belonging, with opportunities for audience questions and discussion.

Lord Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick CBE
Member of the House of Lords and internationally recognised leader in education, social responsibility and international development.

Bishop Bernard A. Morris
Bishop and Pastor of Inns Court Church and Family Centre, with a longstanding ministry in faith, community leadership and theological education.

Vernon Samuels OLY
Former Olympian, mentor and community leader working with young people around mental health, education and race equity.

Victoria Otomoso
Theologian, author, lecturer and public speaker whose work explores faith, formation and lived experience.

Euella Isis Jackson
Creative, cultural leader and advocate whose work explores identity, community, social change and opportunities for underrepresented voices.

Live Music, Poetry, Film & Performance

Featuring:

• Miles Chambers
• iThe Boy Is Great
• Asha Elia
• Cleo Lake
• Maxine Barclay
• What Sounds Does the Black Atlantic Make? by Alberta Whittle
• ONE CHOIR of St Paul’s, directed by Robert Short
• DJ Set
• Plus more to be announced

Let There Be Light

Artist Joseph Ijoyemi will introduce Let There Be Light, his new stained glass commission for Bristol Cathedral.

Responding to the Cathedral’s historic Good Samaritan Window, the work explores how light, colour and storytelling can help us engage with difficult histories while imagining hopeful futures.

The project is being developed alongside Windows of Our Own Making, a programme working with students from Bristol Cathedral Choir School to explore stained glass, history, identity and creative making.

Our Shared Values

We believe that we are all God’s children, beloved in Christ, and we seek to reflect that in our treatment of one another.

Listen

Listen with respect to the lived experiences of others and be mindful of our own assumptions and biases.

Learn

Make space for difference, recognising that we will not always agree and that we all have something to learn.

Love

Be courageous in supporting one another and help create a space where everyone can participate fully.

There Is Hope in Colour

Throughout the day, visitors will be invited to contribute to a participatory reflection space exploring hope, justice, remembrance and belonging.

Questions may include:

• What does hope look like?
• What should we remember?
• What do we want future generations to inherit?

Visitors will be invited to leave their own reflections as part of a collective response created throughout the day.

Photography & Filming

Photography and filming will take place throughout the event for documentation, promotional and archival purposes.

If you would prefer not to be photographed or filmed, please speak to a member of the event team on arrival. We will do our best to ensure that your preference is respected throughout the day.

Accessibility

Bristol Cathedral is committed to being a welcoming and accessible place for all visitors.

Please note: There is currently no step-free access between the Nave and the Cloister. Visitors who are unable to use stairs can access the Cloister, toilets and associated facilities by exiting through the main Cathedral entrance and re-entering via the Cloister car park. Our team will be happy to assist if required.

If you have specific access requirements or would like to discuss your visit in advance, please contact the Cathedral team:

[email protected]
0117 926 4879

Read more about building accessibility