What Is The Re:Imagine Global Peace Event At Bradford Cathedral This November?

An evening designed to get people thinking and talking about what peace really means in today's world. This isn't your average panel discussion; it's a genuine experiment in public dialogue, aiming for real connection and fresh imagination.

So, what’s this event all about?

On Friday, 21st November 2025, Bradford Cathedral is opening its doors for 'Re:Imagine Global Peace'. Forget everything you think you know about formal talks. This gathering is designed to be a completely different experience. Instead of speakers talking at an audience from a stage, this is all about encounter and risk. It’s an evening that mixes expertise with personal stories and even a bit of uncertainty, creating a space where new ideas about peace and reconciliation can pop up unexpectedly. The whole point is to move beyond just talking about problems and start sparking some fresh imagination about the future.

It’s a chance for a community to come together and explore some big questions about diplomacy and relations in a world that feels more divided than ever. The dialogue is at the centre of it all, a shared exploration of what it takes to build lasting peace, both in our own backyards and across the globe. Previous events in the Re:Imagine series have delved into topics like interfaith understanding, proving that this format can lead to some really powerful moments.

A conversation with some serious experience

Guiding this unique conversation will be a trio of people who know a thing or two about building bridges. The lineup is pretty impressive, bringing together different perspectives on conflict, community, and culture.

• David Porter: Originally from Belfast, David Porter has spent decades working on peacebuilding. Think about the big historical moments – he was a key figure in the lead-up to the Good Friday Agreement, which was a massive step towards peace in Northern Ireland. He’s worked as the Canon Director for Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral, a world-famous centre for peace, and even advised the Archbishop of Canterbury on tackling deep conflict. He brings real, lived experience of what it takes to navigate issues of identity and historical trauma to achieve reconciliation.
• Kersten England CBE: A well-known face in Bradford, Kersten England knows the city inside out. As the former Chief Executive of Bradford Council and the current Chair of the Bradford City of Culture Board, her work has always been about strengthening the local community. She understands how culture, arts, and strong community relations are the bedrock of a peaceful and vibrant place to live. Her insights on building trust and hope from the ground up will be a core part of the dialogue.
• Revd Canon Ned Lunn: As the Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts at Bradford Cathedral, Ned Lunn is all about bringing diverse communities together. He sees the Cathedral not just as a historic building but as a living space for connection and conversation. He believes that creativity and imagination are key to solving some of our biggest challenges, making him the perfect person to help steer this unique event. This is a conversation guided by a Canon with a mission.

Why hold this conversation in Bradford?

Some might wonder, why Bradford? Well, it's actually the perfect spot. The city has a rich history of different cultures living side-by-side, making it a real-life example of the challenges and opportunities of intercultural life. It’s a place that understands the importance of dialogue and building strong community relations. And the Bradford Cathedral itself is more than just a venue. As Canon Ned Lunn points out, it’s a place that has stood for over 1,400 years as a symbol of hope and connection. A place where people have always gathered to make sense of the world.

Canon Ned Lunn says,

“Peace is not simply the absence of conflict. It is about building trust across difference, weaving together diverse communities, and imagining new possibilities for how we live together. Bradford, with its rich intercultural life, is the perfect place to host such a conversation—and the Cathedral, standing at the city’s heart for over 1,400 years, has always been a space where people come together to seek meaning, connection, and hope. That makes it exactly the right place to ask how peace can be re-imagined afresh today.”

The whole event is a testament to that vision, linking the global peace conversation to a specific, local community.

Learning from the past to build a better future

The quest for peace is something every generation grapples with. We see the cost of conflict and promise to do better, yet the cycle often continues. David Porter brings a powerful reminder that history has lessons to teach us. His experience with the peace process in Northern Ireland is hugely relevant today. That conflict was deeply rooted in questions of identity, belonging, and history – themes that are at the centre of so many global conflicts right now.

David Porter explains,

"Faced with the cost of conflict each generation says never again. Yet the elusive quest for peace continues. There is much to learn from the peace process in Northern Ireland, a conflict about identity, belonging and historical trauma lived out in the UK. While no conflict or peace process is the same, these deep themes resonate and fuel the violence of many of the conflicts we see today.”

This event is an opportunity to listen to that experience and think about how those lessons in diplomacy and reconciliation might apply elsewhere. It’s about understanding the deep-seated reasons for conflict and using that knowledge to foster better relations and a more peaceful future. It's an exploration of global peace through the lens of real, hard-won experience.

How to be part of the conversation

This unique event is a chance to be part of something different. It's more than just listening; it’s about participating in a shared exploration of hope and possibility. It is about fostering a new kind of conversation about a difficult topic.

Re:Imagine Global Peace takes place at Bradford Cathedral on Friday, 21st November 2025, starting at 7:30pm. If you’re ready to join the dialogue and explore what global peace could look like, you can book your spot now. Tickets are £15 each (plus a booking fee) and are available through Eventbrite. This is a chance to engage in an important conversation about our shared future, led by David Porter, Kersten England, and Ned Lunn. Don't miss out on this evening of food, stories, and profound intercultural mission.

You can find tickets for the event on Eventbrite by searching for 'Re:Imagine Global Peace at Bradford Cathedral'.