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Cathedral news
November 2018
Sub-Dean's Corner
Dear Friends,
The Dean is taking a well-deserved sabbatical during November, December and January and I will be standing for him over this period. We wish him a refreshing and enlightening time away.
November is a time for remembering: those we have lost, especially those who have died in the last year, and those who have lost their lives in times of conflict between peoples and nations. How we long to live in a world without war! That longing is reflected in the song of Isaiah we prayed in the Cathedral on the day I write this: ‘Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.’
The prophet Isaiah’s statement indicates that war-making and peace making are learned activities. For eight years after I left school, I was periodically taught how to make war by the South African state. All that learning did me no good at all. It was the church that taught me to make peace, and that learning changed, and continues to change, my life. I urge you to use this season of remembrance to find a practical way of learning to be a peace-maker.
On 9 November, Oasis Inspire will be holding a special event in the cathedral which is part of a national project to give every young person in the country an opportunity to participate in a peace initiative in 2018, to mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. What a vision! For more information, visit their website/.
I wish you all a peace-filled season of remembrance.
David
Canon David Holgate
Weeping, but with hope
The Venerable David Sharples, Archdeacon of Salford
I always find the All Souls Requiem a moving and poignant service, which is usually accompanied at the Cathedral by the beautifully understated Durufle setting. It is also a reminder how attitudes to death have changed profoundly over the years. Today, death is the great taboo. The litany in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer includes the petition,
From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence, and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, (Common Worship has ‘dying unprepared’).
Manchester Sleepout
This year we are supporting our friends at the Booth Centre by sleeping out for one night, on Friday 9 Novemberto help raise funds so that they can continue the fantastic work they do and to highlight some of the hardships that people have to face every night.
The Booth Centre work with people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and help them plan for and realise a better future.
In October, Joanne, Katie and Laura visited the Booth Centre to find out more about the amazing work they do. Over 200 people visit the Booth Centre each week. The drop-in cafe and wellbeing hub is open every weekday for people to visit. Those attending the centre have access to specialist partner organisations such as health professionals, podiatrists and dentists. The money you have donated will ensure this work continues.
Here’s what Katie thought about her first visit to the Booth Centre:
“I was so grateful to have been showed around the Booth Centre with my two colleagues. The extensive work of the lovely team there is amazing! When I left I felt deeply grateful for the staff, who work so hard to support Manchester’s homeless. It isn’t until you go and visit such a place that you realise the work of these charities and just how much they need our help and support. For this very reason, I will be taking part in the Manchester Sleepout, experiencing the hardships of homelessness and hoping to raise as much money as I can for such an amazing charity. Thank you to the Booth Centre, a charity very close to my heart”.
Those taking part include Joanne Hooper, Natasha Price, Katie Burke, Laura Henshaw and Gareth Screeton.
Volition beekeeping project
-shortlisted for first Church Times Green Health Awards
Laura Henshaw, Volition Volunteer Manager
Volition’s beekeeping project was one of ten shortlisted for the first Church Times Green Health Awards. Our beekeepers, Canon Adrian Rhodes and Amber Sanchez, Director of Volition, Anthony O’Connor, and our volunteer, Andrew Redmond, attended Lambeth Palace on 2 October where the winners were announced.
The day included interesting presentations around the importance of gardens and nature, and how they can help to promote healing and wellbeing. This was Andrew’s first trip to London and he had a great day, including visits to the top sites, and of course, the beautiful Lambeth Palace. We would like to congratulate St Paul’s, Camden Square for winning with their Woodland Garden project. Here’s to next year!
We have a winner… Manchester Cathedral Poet of the Year 2018
Andrew Rudd, Poet in Residence
Congratulations to Ian Dudley, from Oxford, who takes First Prize in the Manchester Cathedral Poetry Competition, 2018. Read his poem 5 AM: Paradise: First Light’ below.
The competition was judged by poet Malika Booker, who went through over four hundred entries to find the most vivid and moving pieces. You can read the winning and commended poems in the competition booklet, available from the Cathedral website or office. Thanks to all those who took part in the competition. Do consider submitting a poem in next year’s competition!
Commemorating 100 years since the end of WWI
Throughout November, Manchester Cathedral will hold three related exhibitions to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the end of the First World War: a commemorative bee sculpture, the Royal Mint’s Armistice 2018 £2, designed by our Artist in Residence and commemorative coin and legacy postcards commemorating the Battle of Manchester Hill.
Bee-member: Lest we forget
Over the summer we hosted twenty bees as part of Bee in the City including Bee-member: Lest we forget designed by pupils from Gorse Hall Primary School in Stalybridge. Their bee was inspired by and a tribute to those who fell in WW1, as well as a celebration of local Stalybridge heroes Jack Judge, LS Lowry and Beatrix Potter. Gorse Hall Primary School held a whole school competition with over 400 entries, and then selected seven overall winners to create the final design.
Handel’s Messiah
Christopher Stokes, Organist and Master of the Choristers
This year’s performance of Handel’s great oratorio, Messiah, will take place on Saturday 8 December at 7pm in Manchester Cathedral. Manchester Cathedral Choir will be joined again by the well-known soprano Nicola Howard and violinist Catherine Yates to provide a rich and colourful presentation of Handel’s commentary on the life and death of Christ. The combination of Charles Jennens’ inspiring libretto and Handel’s memorable score bring the Scriptures to life and make a stirring and exuberant way into the true meaning of Christmas.
Tickets are £25 and £15 and can be purchased online.
Christmas at Manchester Cathedral
During December, there are lots of fantastic concerts and services taking place at Manchester Cathedral.
From the Lord Mayor’s Carol Concert, concerts and services by Henshaws, the Booth Centre, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and many more to the Cathedral Sing-along and the very popular Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
We hope you will be able to join us for one of these events.
Details of the events, including ticket information are available on the events section of the website.
Community Page
Marcia Wall, Canon Precentor
Shared Harvest Lunch
30 September, Harvest Sunday, was celebrated with a community shared lunch. I’m always amazed at people’s generosity. Thank you everyone for your kindness in donating food for the Booth Centre as well as bringing something to share with your Cathedral friends for lunch. We had a very enjoyable time, with visitors and new and old members of our Sunday congregation talking and laughing together.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Our Harvest Lunch was also an opportunity for people to support the work of the Macmillan Nurses. Pauline Dimond and her team ran the fund raising table. Congratulations to Margaret Freelord for guessing the weight of the cake! We raised £121.70 on the day. Thank you everyone for your donations to support the amazing work that the Macmillan Nurses do.
Who's Who
Some of you may recognise the member of staff featured this month!
Gareth Screeton previously worked at the Cathedral for 10 years as Verger before leaving to work at Manchester Airport. Gareth has returned to work at the Cathedral as Senior Verger.
What is your favourite film? Homeward Bound, Top Gun and Dirty Dancing.
What music do you like? A range including classical, country and pop music.
Do you have any hobbies?
A Keen Manchester United supporter, enjoying walking, snooker and meeting friends and watching The Bill dvd’s.
What was the last place/you visited on holiday? I enjoyed a holiday with my family in Hastings last August.
Contact Us
The Cathedral clergy and staff can be contacted via the Cathedral Office on 0161 833 2220 or via the Who's Who page on our website.
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