Wirral artist’s work to be blessed by Archbishop of Canterbury

Terry Duffy, from Hoylake, creates unique technicolour copes – a semi-circular religious vestment worn by senior members of the Christian church.

His latest cope was created following a trip to South Africa in 2014 when he met with Archbishop Tutu at Cape Town Cathedral.

The meeting and long discussion with Archbishop Tutu resulted in Duffy being inspired to create a Truth and Reconciliation cope for the great man himself and although designed and created while the Archbishop was still alive, the Covid-19 pandemic prevented any chance of delivery, before he died in December 2021.

Tutu and Duffy in Cape Town

Terry Duffy said: “Victim, No Resurrection generated a deep response in Archbishop Tutu because it reminded him of the cruel and horrific realities of Apartheid, the inhumanity and lives lost and destroyed during that time.

“It led to discussions with Cape Town Cathedral’s Dean Michael Weeder from which the Tutu Cope painting emerged and which was then turned into this beautiful vestment itself.

‘Victim, no Resurrection’ cope

“The process for every cope I have made has been a profoundly moving experience, then becoming a great honour when the cope is blessed and worn by the people they are designed for as they seek reconciliation between peoples.

Duffy’s work is set to be blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at Lambeth Palace in London on February 3 before it travels to a new home in South Africa.

He added: “The blessing ceremony will take on extra poignancy now that Archbishop Tutu has sadly died, but I am still very pleased that the cope will go to South Africa and be used by others as a symbol of what he and others strived for and which, of course, continues today.”