Is the northern province still distinctive? Some of us think so. In geographical, social and ethnic terms, it is as varied as the south – though overall far less affluent, and signs are that the gulf is widening. Recent reports highlight the massive problems that face many of its urban church buildings, alongside many good stories of regeneration and fresh expressions. The financial and staffing crises bite very hard in many places.

Our size – 14 dioceses, including the little one that lies ‘across’ – gives us a certain commonality despite very different diocesan styles, and at Synod we do our business pragmatically. Our meetings of Convocation are shorter, not because we don’t have strong views, but because we want to get things sorted: there is work to be done! On the other hand, fixing the boundaries for Regional Training Partnerships was a long and bitter slog, though two of the four regions are now well-sorted.

How are we faring with our new Archbishop? We trust that his thoroughly inclusive installation a year ago set the tone on race, gender and sexuality, and he is getting to grips with the culture of the north. Incidentally, Manchester recently installed a black dean – a sixth-generation South African Indian. He spent the day before his installation in the city centre handing out pink gerberas and asking young people for feedback. Apparently they weren’t sure where the Cathedral was, but thought it should be playing rock music. Whether this counts as a media triumph I’m not sure.

Since then we have had the ‘Manchester Passion’, a BBC rather than church-inspired initiative which juxtaposed rock music with the gospel, with a definite northern feel. It was a risk which the church backed, as well as the City Council, whose Muslim Lord Mayor, much-involved in inter-faith dialogue, has brought about a change of tone. It could either have been awful or brilliant, and in the event it was the latter, both for the participants who crowded Albert Square and for those who saw it on television. We shall not be able to look at Waterhouse’s town hall clock – the scene of the resurrection – in quite the same way again.

In some parts of the province the inclusion of women in ministry is rather taken for granted; in others, tensions run high. But I take comfort from the fact that several priests opposed to the ordination of women have recently rung my wife to congratulate her on her imminent priesting. They work with her as diocesan director of education, and wanted quietly to affirm their new relationship. Such things happen up and down the land, of course, but the northern accent gives it a particular flavour.

Michael Ainsworth
Manchester