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

It’s easy to switch on the news and feel a bit rubbish about the state of the world. With stories about conflict popping up all the time, it can feel like real, lasting peace is just a fairy tale. But what if there was a different way to talk about it? A new event happening at Bradford Cathedral on Friday 26th September 2025 is aiming to do just that. It’s called Re:Imagine Global Peace, and it’s not about sitting through a boring lecture. Instead, it’s an experiment in public conversation, mixing food, surprising stories, and a genuine search for peace in a way that gets everyone thinking. This is a chance to join a unique dialogue about a really big topic.

This isn't your average talk

Forget everything you think about formal events. The Re:Imagine Global Peace event is designed to be completely different. There’s no stuffy panel of experts talking at you for hours, and no awkward Q&A session at the end. Basically, this gathering is all about real conversation and connection. It’s happening over food, because sharing a meal is one of the best ways to break down barriers and get people talking properly. The whole idea is to bring together people with experience, people with questions, and personal stories to see what new ideas can pop up. It’s a space for genuine dialogue, where using a bit of imagination is encouraged to think about the future. The aim of this unique public conversation is to spark fresh thinking about how peace can actually work, both in our local community and across the world.

The people guiding the chat

Leading this special conversation are two people who have spent their lives thinking about these exact issues. The main guest is David Porter, a Visiting Professor of Faith and Peaceful Relations at Coventry University. He’ll be in a conversation with Bradford Cathedral’s own Revd Canon Ned Lunn, who is the Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts. Together, they’re not there to give answers, but to guide a dialogue that everyone can be a part of. Their combined experience offers a powerful starting point for the evening’s exploration into peacebuilding and reconciliation. This event brings their deep knowledge into a relaxed setting, making a complex subject feel much more accessible.

Hope from a history of conflict

David Porter isn’t just an academic; he has lived and breathed the subject of peacebuilding. Originally from Belfast, he was right in the middle of the long and difficult process that led to the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland back in 1998. That was an agreement that many people thought would be impossible after decades of conflict and pain, a period often known as 'The Troubles'. His work shows that even in the most divided places, there can be hope. He helped people on opposing sides find a way to imagine a different future, something that requires incredible patience and trust. His experience in peacebuilding didn't stop there. He also worked at Coventry Cathedral, which is famous around the world for its work on reconciliation. Think of reconciliation as the process of helping people who have been enemies find a way to live together again. It’s a tough job, but his story shows it can be done. The lessons from Northern Ireland are a powerful reminder of both the fragility of peace and the real possibility of creating it, offering a beacon of hope for other areas of conflict.

“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.”

A global conversation in a local spot

So, why is this event happening in Bradford? It turns out, it’s the perfect place. Bradford is known for its rich intercultural life, where people from all over the world have built a shared community. It’s a city that understands the importance of interfaith relations and building connections between different groups. This makes it a brilliant backdrop for a conversation about global peace. As Canon Ned Lunn points out, peace isn’t just about the absence of fighting.

“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 important bits

This special event is part of the Re:Imagine series, which creates spaces for brave and creative conversations about today's biggest challenges. If you're curious about what a real conversation on peace feels like, this is one to check out.

• What: Re:Imagine Global Peace
• Where: Bradford Cathedral
• When: Friday 26th September 2025 at 7:30pm
• bradTickets: £15 each (+ booking fee), available from Eventbrite.