THE Archbishop of York preached at choral evensong at York Minster on Friday as part of the launch of his “Lord’s Prayer Tour” across the north of England.

The initiative invites communities, including schools, to learn the prayer by heart, and to understand the words and meaning through teaching, reflection, and music.

In his sermon, Archbishop Cottrell used music as a metaphor, saying that the Lord’s Prayer was “a song of heaven on earth”, and that every person had an instrument in this orchestra, whether they wished to play or not.

“The will of God, the good purposes of a good and loving God, God’s good purposes for the whole creation, for this earth and for everyone and everything in it, is like a single beautiful, clarifying note played and resonating throughout the universe.

“Everything else is tuned to it. Or at least it can be and should be. Making it so is the missionary challenge of the gospel and the invitation of God’s kingdom.”

He continued: “The universe, the whole creation are held together in harmony by the single note of the will of God, played throughout the ages by the Holy Spirit and from which everything else is tuned. The music is complex and beautiful. But it is held together, it is held in tune and we are part of it.”

The service included the première of a setting of the Lord’s Prayer by the composer and music educator Lucy Walker.

The tour and newly commissioned music is part of Faith in the North which has been developed to encourage prayer, storytelling, and church planting, inspired by northern saints including Hild, Cuthbert, Bede, and Paulinus.

Later this year, on 10 October, churches, schools, and individuals across the north of England will be invited to come together to say the Lord’s Prayer as one.