ROSE CASTLE, the home of the Bishops of Carlisle for 800 years, has formally opened its doors as a centre of peace and reconciliation.
Vacant since 2009, it was bought with a donation on behalf of the Rose Castle Foundation, a charitable organisation chaired by the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Revd James Newcome, and the Emeritus Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge, Professor David Ford (News, 9 September). Its founding director, Sarah Snyder, has been appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury’s adviser for reconciliation (News, 29 July).
The centre seeks to “foster deeper understanding between people of faith, with the secular world and with the environment”, the Foundation’s mission statement said.
Ms Synder told the newspaper the The Cumberland News: “We are open to anyone who is experiencing conflict. Rose Castle was built as a fortified castle to resist the enemy.
“We are turning that on its head now and using the castle as a place where people can be reconciled. We want people to find a way to work together.”
Ms Synder said that anyone who was in disagreement or conflict could use the castle. “This could include people locally or faith communities who disagree,” she said.
“It may be that the church is in conflict or other communities. We will be offering faith-based mediation.”