Why is the library called the Sheppard-Worlock Library?
Answer
The Naming of the Sheppard-Worlock Library
The Sheppard-Worlock Library at Liverpool Hope University is named after two extraordinary religious leaders who played a pivotal role in the university's formation and in transforming Liverpool's sectarian divisions into a model of ecumenical cooperation: Bishop David Sheppard (Anglican Bishop of Liverpool) and Archbishop Derek Worlock (Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool).
The Historical Context
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.
A Partnership That Changed Liverpool
The library's naming honors the remarkable 20-year partnership between Sheppard and Worlock, 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 two men became inseparable in their work, earning the affectionate nickname 'fish and chips' because they were always seen together and frequently featured in 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.
Their Impact on Liverpool and the University
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. Bishop 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 toward 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.
Critically, both men played a prominent role in the formation of Liverpool Hope University itself. Their vision of Christian unity and collaboration directly inspired the university's ecumenical foundation and mission. The university's name derives from Hope Street, the road connecting Liverpool's Anglican and Catholic cathedrals—a physical manifestation of the bridge Sheppard and Worlock built between their communities.
Recognition and Legacy
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 8 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 5 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 features two open doors framing views of both cathedrals, symbolizing the unity these remarkable men achieved.
The Sheppard-Worlock Library thus serves 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.