Sunday mornings are still segregated. Taste of Heaven seeks to change that

With music ranging from Irish fiddle to Nigerian drums, Coventry Cathedral was alive with colour, sound and God’s spirit for the Taste of Heaven festival. But behind the joy lies a deeper call, explains Roger Harper

A young South Asian woman in a white and gold loose Asian trouser suit dances with a young Chinese woman in a vibrant silk embroidered jacket. A young black British man in a bright shirt throws out his four limbs in dance. 30 dancers weave together with enthusiasm. A Portuguese woman leads us in proclaiming ‘Holy Holy Holy’ in various languages – Santo, Pobitro, Heilig, Shèngjié…We sing to an Irish fiddler-led jig and to a Nigerian drummer-led chorus and to a, mostly white, swaying Gospel Choir.  The congregation, with plenty of white Brits, sways, shuffles and smiles. 

Welcome to the Taste of Heaven Intercultural Worship Festival, which was held at Coventry Cathedral this past Saturday. 

The day was run by Intercultural Churches, an organisation first catalysed by Adam and Karina Martin after they moved into the centre of Derby in the early 2000s and, to their surprise, gathered a very diverse church community. Intercultural Churches developed as a relational network. 

For the Coventry Day, Adam wrote: “Our vision and hope is that today will be a joyful celebration of the rich cultural diversity of the UK church and a beautiful offering of worship to the Lord who has won our hearts. We pray that you will be inspired by this little ‘Taste of Heaven’ and return with a vision to explore intercultural worship in your own home church.”

Musicians were keen to take part. On the Main Stage in front of the Cathedral Choir Stalls we were led in worship by Dave Bilborough, Celtish, Bridge Music…