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Karen Backhouse› Special Collections Librarian Archives & Special Collections

The Sheppard-Worlock Library is named after two extraordinary religious leaders: Bishop David Sheppard (Anglican Bishop of Liverpool) and Archbishop Derek Worlock (Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool). Together, they played a pivotal role in the formation of Liverpool Hope University and in transforming Liverpool's sectarian divisions into a model of ecumenical cooperation.

'Better Together' designed by Stephen Broadbent, located on Hope Street, Liverpool.
Sources: Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Man vyi, public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

‘Ecumenical Foundation’

Liverpool Hope University has a unique ecumenical foundation, being the only university in Europe where Catholic and Anglican colleges came together to form an integrated Christian institution. The university emerged from the federation of three teacher training colleges: Saint Katharine's College (Anglican, founded 1844), Notre Dame College (Catholic, founded 1856), and Christ's College (Catholic, founded 1964). These institutions merged to form the Liverpool Institute of Higher Education in 1980, later becoming Liverpool Hope University College in 1995 and finally Liverpool Hope University in 2005.

‘Fish and Chips’

The library's name honours a remarkable 20-year partnership of two men, who served as Liverpool's religious leaders from the mid-1970s until the 1990s. David Sheppard became Anglican Bishop of Liverpool in 1975, and Derek Worlock was appointed Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool in 1976. Their collaboration was particularly significant given Liverpool's historical reputation as 'the Belfast of England' due to deep-seated religious sectarianism. The men became inseparable in their work, earning the affectionate nickname 'fish and chips' because they were often seen together in the newspapers.

The men became inseparable in their work, earning the affectionate nickname 'fish and chips' because they were often seen together in the newspapers. They adopted the principle of doing 'everything together, except the things which conscience forces us to do apart'. This included joint press statements, protest marches, government submissions, and even joint sermons.

Video: A profile of Sheppard and Worlock's time in Liverpool (Songs of Praise)

‘Visit of Pope John Paul II’

Sheppard and Worlock's partnership extended far beyond symbolic gestures. They worked tirelessly during the difficult 1970s and 1980s, addressing unemployment, poverty, poor housing, and racism in Liverpool. They stood together through major crises including the Toxteth riots of 1981, the Heysel stadium disaster in 1985, and the Hillsborough tragedy. David Sheppard was the main driver behind the Church of England's influential 1985 report Faith in the City: a call for action by Church and nation, which transformed attitudes towards inner-city communities.

Their ecumenical work culminated in the historic 1982 visit of Pope John Paul II to Liverpool, when Sheppard welcomed the Pope into Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral before the papal mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral. This extraordinary gesture symbolised the religious reconciliation they championed.

‘Better Together’

The partnership between Sheppard and Worlock achieved remarkable success. In January 1994, they were jointly awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool.

Derek Worlock died of cancer on 8th February, 1996, just four days before he was due to receive the Companion of Honour awarded in the 1996 New Year's Honours. David Sheppard, who had been a Test cricketer for England before his ordination (and remains the only ordained minister to have played Test cricket), died of cancer on 5th March, 2005.

Their legacy is commemorated not only in the library name, but also in a 15-foot bronze statue on Hope Street, unveiled in 2008. Titled 'Better Together', the sculpture by designer Stephen Broadbent, features two open doors framing views of both cathedrals, symbolising the unity the two men managed to achieve.

The Sheppard-Worlock Library is named as a permanent reminder of two leaders whose friendship and shared commitment to social justice helped heal deep divisions and directly enabled the creation of Liverpool Hope University's unique ecumenical mission.

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