As I answered the door to The Enterprise, I was expecting a delivery of art supplies, but I was greeted by an unfamiliar face with a huge smile. The Reverend David Bell introduced himself and told me that he had just moved into the local area. He said he had walked past the office on a number of occasions and he was curious to know who United Response were.

After a brief chat over a coffee, Revd. Bell explained that he was a priest in London and he holds monthly services at St Paul’s Cathedral. Without hesitation, he invited a group from The Enterprise to visit the Cathedral. We put two dates in the diary and we began planning our trip.

On the first visit, David accompanied Siobhan and Support Worker Ross Brem-Wilson into London and showed them around St Paul’s.

Siobhan said:

I had a fantastic day out at St Paul’s. It was great to get to see the building from the inside.

Three weeks later in early November, The Enterprise gathered a bigger group and made our way to St Paul’s. While the weather wasn’t on our side, as we stepped off the bus outside the Cathedral, we were left speechless by the sheer size of the venue. The stone building looked stunning, with a towering dome and angels carved outside.

From left to right: Sam and Matt under the Cathedral dome

As we climbed the steps at the front of the church, we were welcomed by Reverend Bell in his cassock – a coat worn by priests. He told us that his service was about to start and that he had saved us front row seats.

Under the grand dome of the Cathedral, the Reverend’s voice commanded the room and everyone listened carefully. You could hear a pin drop while he spoke. We were honoured to have been invited to this and even more proud when Rev.d Bell mentioned United Response by name in his midday prayers.

Private tour: inside the Cathedral

Once the service was over and Revd. Bell had changed out of his robes, he then gave us a private tour of the whole Cathedral. From the upper altar to the font and Easter candle, he knew every inch of the venue and shared some amazing facts about each section.

One of the highlights and something that shocked me was a mural to victims of Covid and the war in Ukraine. I had always thought that churches only displayed religious artefacts, so I was quite tearful when I saw these monuments.

Always curious, Alex asked lots of questions about the Cathedral, including when it was built and who painted the artwork. After a tour of the first floor, we headed down to The Crypt. This is where a number of historical figures are buried including Florence Nightingale, Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson and Arthur Wellesley, The First Duke of Wellington. Although it was a bit dark and scary down in The Crypt, the honour of being so close to the burial grounds of such legends was exciting.

Historical figures: Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson’s grave

Once we made our way through The Crypt, our time at St Paul’s Cathedral had come to an end. With a quick visit to the gift shop, the Reverend thanked us and showed us the way out. We then made our way home… but not before a quick stop in McDonald’s!

Thank you Reverend David Bell – we appreciate your support and all you do for the community.