Love and resistance at Chester Pride
Members of the Wesley Church Centre and Open Table Chester community preparing to march in the city’s Pride parade with a banner saying ‘All Are Welcome’. Two are carrying crosses painted in rainbow colours. PHOTO: Kate Matthews.
DURING the Chester Pride parade on Saturday 16th August, dozens of members of the city’s Wesley Church Centre marched with a Christians At Pride banner.
Members of the Wesley Church Centre and Open Table Chester marching in the Chester Pride parade past the front of the church where more community members are standing on the ramp to show support for everyone in the parade. PHOTO: Tim Macquiban.
This Methodist congregation, which has hosted the Open Table Chester community since 2018, received a huge amount of support from the public and other churches in Chester. Church member and Centre Co-ordinator Kate Matthews explains what happened next:
The flags and other decorations around the church on the day of Chester Pride spoke of our commitment to inclusion and our message of love.
The following Sunday morning we shared photos of the day with the congregation at morning worship, and reflected on the importance of our presence there.
Later that day was the Open Table Chester Pride service, moved from its usual slot on the second Sunday of the month to coincide with Chester Pride. Open Table Network patron Alex Clare-Young led a powerful reflection on Pride, protest, and how just showing up, just existing, is an act of protest and solidarity.
As folk arrived early to set up, they found that somebody had torn the Pride flag bunting from the church railings and thrown it on the street. This was a painful reminder that our belief in an inclusive God often makes us a target for those with opposing views.
“This was a painful reminder that our belief in an inclusive God often makes us a target for those with opposing views.”
The torn Pride Progress flag bunting on the table at the back of church. PHOTO: Kate Matthews.
I wrote the poem below in response to this act, as a way to process the hurt:
Torn and tattered
What did we do to incite such rage?
Such darkness
overshadowing the vibrant hues.
Hands, delicately crafted by Creation
used to rip apart the fabric of our existence
silencing us with violence.
We dare to dream
to be clothed in God’s multicoloured love
God’s dazzling grace.
The monochrome dreams
of hate and destruction
leave naked, vulnerable fear.
Torn and tattered shreds, rescued
in hands delicately crafted by Creation
and laid down with reverence.
Laid down to rest
to repair and heal
to rise once more.
