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The Rev. Kate Bottley visits the beautifully restored Gorton Monastery in Manchester. Songs of Praise has followed the story of this magnificent Franciscan church and friary over many years and has witnessed its transformation from ruin to restoration. In the latest chapter of the story, Kate hears how new research is revealing the monastery to be a fine example of sacred geometry in architecture. For centuries, people have observed that certain ratios and proportions are found again and again in the natural world. These phenomena are known by some as sacred geometry because they are believed to replicate the architecture of the creator. Many sacred buildings have been designed along these principles and now Gorton Monastery is being recognised as one of the best examples.

Kate also visits the Oasis Centre in Gorton, a Christian project at the heart of the community that offers everything from free meals to crisis support and literacy lessons. It was set up by Victoria Armstrong, who tells Kate that it all began when she came to Gorton as a student and had an extraordinary encounter with God. 26 years on, she’s still in Gorton and the community have just raised £1.1 million for a brand new, purpose-built centre.

Bishop of Manchester David Walker shares his childhood memories of Gorton Monastery and tells Kate about a new initiative to help the homeless this winter. Churches of all denominations across the city are coming together and working with the Muslim community to open churches and mosques as night shelters throughout the coming months.

And JB Gill is in the centre of Manchester meeting those behind a new Christian movement that aims to reconnect the Church with the radical teachings of Jesus. The movement is called Red Letter Christians, a name inspired by Bibles that print Jesus’s words in red. JB meets the founders, US Christian activists Dr Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne, as well as the British church leaders that are bringing the movement to the UK.

Music:
Thy Hand, O God, Has Guided - Huddersfield Choral Society, Gorton Monastery
Angel Voices Ever Singing - St David’s Cathedral
It Is to You I Give the Glory - St Elisabeth’s Church, Reddish
Faithful One - St Thomas the Martyr's Church, Newcastle
Thula Baba - Pumeza with Tessera, Gorton Monastery