Holy Week Photography Project 2019 *Post Updated*

For our journey through Holy Week and into Easter day next year, 2019, the Bradford South Methodist Circuit would like to invite local photographers to capture a series of images. We hope that these images will show the broad themes of death and Resurrection which permeate our thoughts throughout this season by photographing places and situations around the City of Bradford. The Following document sets out the suggested inspiration for each of the photographs throughout the series.

It is the intention of The Bradford South Methodist Circuit that these photographs will form an exhibition in a gallery upstairs at The Peacock Bar on North Parade through Holy Week and Easter. The cost of publishing the images for display will be met by the Circuit.

There will be an opening night exhibition on the evening on Palm Sunday, 14th April (the Sunday which proceeds Holy Week) this exhibition will be open for viewing during The Peacock bar’s opening hours during Holy Week and the final ‘Resurrection’ photos will be unveiled during our Easter ‘Beer and Hymns’ at 7:30pm on Easter Day.

All contributors will be asked to provide a short biography and self portrait which will be printed in a program given to those who visit the exhibition.

The following passages should serve as inspiration for each of the images.

Monday Photograph 1- Jesus in the Garden

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?’ he asked Peter. ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’

He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’

 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!’

Tuesday Photograph 2 – Jesus is betrayed

 

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.’ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him. Jesus replied, ‘Do what you came for, friend.’[d]

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?’ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Wednesday Photograph 3 – Jesus is denied by Peter

 

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him. ‘You also were with Jesus of Galilee,’ she said. But he denied it before them all. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said.

Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant-girl saw him and said to the people there, ‘This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.’

He denied it again, with an oath: ‘I don’t know the man!’

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, ‘Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.’

Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know the man!’

Immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Thursday Photograph 4 – Crowned with Thorns

 

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers round him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said. They spat on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Friday Photograph 5 – Jesus Dies

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’).[d]

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, ‘He’s calling Elijah.’ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.’

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

Easter day and beyond – Resurrection – 5 Photographs showing the life and rebirth of Bradford

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’

 

Photographers wishing to take part in this project are invited to submit their photograph for the first of the series to starnoldsbradford@gmail.com as soon as possible.

All photographs you would like to be considered for the exhibition will need to be submitted before Sunday 3rd March in order to allow time for the exhibition to be curated and the images prepared for display.

Thank you

£1 Chicken

Living life right in the city, love this place tho times be gritty.
So many crims, too many victim.
Too many shops sellin one pound chicken.

Bradford city, Bradford grime.
Walking streets means spending time, with all people many equal
Many lost brothers with an urban shine

Shine be shady lost lights for days, walking through the valley of a permanent haze.
Clouds drifting from suits really smell like tango.
Different sweet smell from the hoods and mans though

Bimmer engine screaming after dark, racin through the city past city park.
Young soldier feelin it, fearless in rage.
Tomorrow’s lost soul, T&A front page

Problem shared be a problem split, problem child might end up slit.
Hand to arm wrist open out so to rest laid,
Another father gone repeat to fade, repeat to fade

Or take the pain out with chems and beer.
Sink another cheap whisky bottle here.
Or if that buzz don’t hop, Pay a visit to another magic phone shop

Hear the pain take it in so feelin it,
Pray to God that He might be healin it.
See the good in brothers light on be flickin
But there’s still too many shops selling one pound chicken

Waitrose Weekend

St Arnold’s was featured in the Waitrose Weekend magazine this week…

You can pick up a copy in their stores or download their app

It does seem to have created some interest and quite a few questions!

If you’d like to know more please follow me on twitter @starnolds or email me at starnoldsbradford@gmail.com

Thanks!

The Broadway

  
Standing in a line with over 100 people in front of me and around 500 behind 35mins before opening time gave me a real chance to take in the atmosphere of expectation surrounding today’s opening of Bradford’s new shopping centre. 
Before joining the queue my lad and I had walked around one of Bradford’s other jewels, the beautiful urban garden that is City Park. It was a good chance to reflect on how far this City has already come. When I first experienced Bradford it was on a night out with a girl I had met online (that same girl would later become my wife). That was 11 years ago before mirror pools, before the renovation of the West End, before The Independent Quarter, when the Odeon’s future was undecided and Westfield was still just a muddy hole. 
Usually I’d have gone for a coffee at one of my favourite ‘new’ independent cafes, The Pavilion, but this morning I was drawn to an older venue. I succumbed to the temptation of the Red Cups and visited the old (yes Guardian readers, the old) Starbucks. After our drinks we made our way back past One of the entrances to the exciting Sunbridge Wells project and the tables outside Wetherspoons. There were a number of contractors sitting outside who I assume must have worked through the night to ensure The Broadway would meet its deadlines. They were wearily lifting well deserved pints when I stopped to thank them. They didn’t really seem to understand and looked at me as if I was quite mad. I obviously didn’t do a very good job of explaining how The Broadway can represent more than just shops. 
Back to the queue and the building anticipation. I’m glad that I decided to be there. All around me people were being Bradford at its best. A whole range of people cutting across all of Bradford’s cosmopolitan community were ready to celebrate together. 

I’d really only decided to go along because of the belated inclusion of a new Bradford Brewery bar and I’m glad I did. 
The Made Of Bradford bar is a spectacular example of what the hard working people of this city can achieve. Work had carried on all through the night with finishing touches made just hours before opening. The designer David Craig, who’s other work in the city will be familiar to anyone who has visited a number of bars in the trendy Independent Quarter, has done a wonderful job of bringing a sense of Bradford’s industrial heritage to a shiny new shopping centre. I also love the accents of claret and amber he’s used to bed the bar into the psyche of the city and the huge pink ‘Made of Bradford’ sign that boldly and unashamedly contrasts and clashes with everything. 

  
The Broadway have been using the hashtag #newcitysoul in their marketing. They have, quite understandably, taken some flack for suggesting that Bradford needed a ‘new’ soul and that they could be the ones to provide it. The truth is Bradford will always have a deep sense of soul. It already lives in the streets, the buildings and most of all the people. Perhaps talking about reviving, rediscovering or releasing that soul would have been a better idea. As I walked through the crowds and spent time talking and listening with folk today that’s certainly what seemed to be happening.
I think the council leader, Dave Green, probably summed things up best when during his speech today he talked of Broadway as providing the ‘straight edges of a jigsaw’. There’s still a lot of gaps to fill in but at least now we have a better idea of the picture that might be created.
My call to anyone who reads this is the same as it has been for the last couple of years. I encourage you all to rediscover your city, visit the places you thought you knew and see just how much they have changed, #lovewhereyoulive and remember to always #bigupbradford