Did you know Manchester Cathedral has strong links with Portugal?
In 2017, we worked with Portuguese artist Cristina Rodrigues who designed a bespoke series of seven embroidered altar frontals for the Cathedral entitled, The Kingdom of Heaven. It was here our relationship with Portugal and the region of Castelo Branco began.
Last week, Dean of Manchester Rogers Govender and the Cathedral’s Director of Fundraising and Development Anthony O’Connor visited Castelo Branco to strengthen our ties with the region and to deliver our altar frontals for repairs by Christina and her team of specialist embroiderers.
The pair met with the new Mayor of Castelo Bianco President Leopoldo Rodrigues, visited the Academy of Arts and made a special trip to the Church of Senhora da Orada (Holy Rosary Church) to pray and drink water from the mountains. The Church is a very holy place and the venue where the new President took his oath of office when elected. The reredos and altar in the church date from the Roman era. Extensive restorations and refurbishments are being planned.
Mayor Rodrigues will now visit Manchester in October to meet with our local government and universities to establish more beneficial links between our regions. It is hoped Manchester Cathedral’s choir will also complete a short tour in March 2023 to sing during a Cathedral mass and at the Castelo Branco day celebrations. A number of additional events to strengthen our links are being planned – watch this space!
The Kingdom of Heaven altar frontals designed and created by Cristina Rodrigues can be viewed at Manchester Cathedral.
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