Guest Blog by Debbie Sayers Fullwood
Southport’s Interfaith Annual Lecture took place on Sunday (15th February 2026).
The Archbishop of Liverpool, The Most Reverend John Sherrington, delivered this year’s lecture, which he titled ‘From Encounter to Peace Building: A pathway from Nostra Aetate to Fratelli Tutti to Pope Leo XIV’.
He said, ‘’We are all children of God. Meeting up with other faiths, and treating their members with dignity, builds relationships and gives us the opportunity to emphasise what values we have in common.’’
After his address, which took place at Holy Family Church on Brompton Road in Southport, the Archbishop answered questions from the audience.
People of many different faiths and no faith at all attended and took part in the discussion of how interfaith can achieve its goal of mutual respect, promoting friendship, understanding and cooperation among faiths who want to work together for the peace, social cohesion and well-being in our town.
Pictured left to right at the event are: Father Kevin McLoughlin, Imam Ibrahim Hussain, Archbishop of Liverpool, The Most Reverend John Sherrington, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Dr Crispin Pailing MBE, Debbie Fullwood, Southports Interfaith Group chairperson, The Member of Parliament for Southport, Patrick Hurley and Dr Selwyn Goldthorpe, who is the Chairman of Southport & District Reform Synagogue and Secretary to the Southport Interfaith Group.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown or email: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
