The Dean's Corner

Real Life Bible Interpretation

David Holgate, Canon for Theology and Mission

Twelve years ago, Rachel Starr and I wrote the SCM Studyguide to Biblical Hermeneutics, drawing on our experience of teaching trainee clergy and lay leaders how to develop life-affirming Bible interpretations for and with others.

Despite the technical title, the book became a standard textbook and we have been asked to prepare a second, revised, edition.  Our publisher thought this would be a simple matter of updating the book, but we have found that we need to make many changes, because the world has changed so much since 2006 and so have we.  We both no longer live in Salisbury. Rachel went to Argentina to do a PhD on violence against women and now trains people for ministry in Birmingham.  I became principal of the college and got deeply involved national theological education, before moving to Manchester to become a church and community theologian based at the Cathedral. Your lives will also have changed since 2006.

The world is a very different place.  The financial crisis of 2008 has made most of us poorer and a few ridiculously richer.  Migration for asylum or economic survival has become a hot political issue, people are worried about employment, health and social care, justice for those who are marginalised and what we can do to prevent ecological disaster.

Back in 2006, many of other standard books on biblical interpretation hardly mentioned these issues.  Now they are unavoidable.  We have updated our coverage of many of these as well as tackling some new ones.  Rachel is reflecting on how the Bible can combat violence against women and I have written on my experience of interpreting the Bible with people of other living faiths here in Manchester.  We have new sections on Queer interpretation, exploring how LGBT readers can find courage and wisdom to live the truth of their lives and help others to do the same. And we have a new section on ecological interpretation, insisting that we need to shift our focus so that we read the Bible with all living things, and the whole cosmos, in mind.

Our revised book will be out in 2019, but don’t wait for that.  Start asking your own real-life questions of the Bible.  One suggestion: get a copy of The Jewish Study Bible (2d ed., OUP, 2014) and find out how our Jewish neighbours interpret the TANAKH, their name for the Old Testament.

Manchester Literature Festival

Cathy Bolton, Manchester Literature Festival Co-director

Caption: Elif Shafak giving the Manchester Sermon in 2015

Michael Morpurgo ‘preaches’ in Manchester Cathedral
Friday 12 October, 7.30pm

We are looking forward to this year’s sermon which will be delivered by the beloved children’s author, poet and playwright Michael Morpurgo. Michael’s sermon will explore our relationship with the natural world: our exploitation of it and myopia to a growing environmental crisis.  The Manchester Sermon is sponsored by Castlefield, responsible financial advice and investment specialist based in Manchester.

Manchester Cathedral has provided a truly magical and atmospheric backdrop for many Manchester Literature Festival events over the past decade, including musical and semi-dramatised readings by Margaret Atwood (The Year of the Flood) and Sarah Dunant (Sacred Hearts).  We are particularly proud of our collaboration with the Cathedral on the annual Castlefield Manchester Sermon. Following in the footsteps of John Donne and John Henry Newman, well respected poets and authors are invited to pen a sermon responding to a burning issue of the day and help reinvigorate this lost literary art form. The first Manchester Sermon on the theme of temptation was delivered by Jeanette Winterson in 2010, and other writers taking up the challenge have included Sir Andrew Motion, Elif Shafak, Kamila Shamsie, Lionel Shriver and Ali Smith.

The role of storytelling and the arts in providing alternative spiritual sustenance and ethical enlightenment in an increasingly secular and sceptical world has been a common concern for many. We have been pleased to see how writers have used the commission opportunity to examine different kinds of faith and belonging, and how the sermons have been successful in bringing together people from a range of backgrounds and cultures.

Do come and see how Michael Morpurgo takes up the sermon challenge this year.

For full details and to book a ticket visit manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk

Volition News

Laura Henshaw, Volition Volunteer Manager

We have a number of success stories from the past two months. A new cohort started in July, and a new group will be joining us in September. Two of our participants have moved in to paid work, another volunteer is due to start a job soon, and two others are on a training programme which will lead to employment.

A number of employer partnerships have flourished over the summer, we have entered three awards, and The Printworks ran their ‘Adopt a Bee’ initiative, choosing Volition as their charity.

Finally, a huge thank you to all of our volunteers, both in the Cathedral and on the Volition programme, who participated in the National Cathedrals Conference in September – your support was invaluable!

Poetry at the Cathedral

Andrew Rudd, Poet in Residence

Manchester Cathedral Poetry Prize
Monday 15 October 2018, 2.30pm

Tickets £5 (includes refreshments & a pamphlet collection of the prize winning poems). Book online or ring 0843 208 0500.

Join us for this celebration of poetry in the beautiful, angel-haunted space of Manchester Cathedral. Is a poem always a prayer? Could writing a poem be a pilgrimage? It doesn’t matter whether you believe in God or not, just listen to the way words splinter and crack as they seek to express the inexpressible.

The nineteenth prize-giving event includes readings from this year’s winners, competition judge Malika Booker (award-winning poet, storyteller, theatre maker and vibrant performer), Andrew Rudd (Cathedral Poet in Residence) and Charlie Annis (previous winner), as well as music and conversation.

Writing the Cathedral - poetry writing in the Cathedral, Saturday 13 October and 24 November, 10am to 1pm.

 You are warmly invited to these Autumn workshops. They will stand alone, but hopefully be the beginning of a regular group.  Come and write your own poetry in the inspiring environment of Manchester Cathedral. Andrew Rudd and Charley Annis will offer relaxed and encouraging writing activities and opportunities to develop your poems. The 13th October session will have some focus on Wilfred Owen, as the centenary of the Armistice approaches. 

No previous experience is required. There is no charge for these sessions. Please invite your friends and contacts.

Manchester Cathedral joins in with
Asia Triennial Manchester 2018

David Holgate, Canon for Theology and Mission

Between Friday 5 and Sunday 21 October, the Asia Triennial Manchester 2018 (ATM18 for short) will be exhibiting works of art and live performances by artists across the city. 

Information about exhibits and venues is available at the ATM 2018 website. As the name suggests, this exhibition takes place every three years and was last held in 2014, when the Cathedral exhibited artworks on the theme of Harmonious Society by the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art.

The theme of this year’s exhibition is: Identity, led by the probing question: ‘Who do you think you are?’

Manchester Cathedral is delighted to be hosting two exhibitions and three artistic performances. Admission is free.

World Mental Health Day Service

Revd Alec Mitchell, Service Coordinator

‘Never give up on someone with a mental illness. When “I” is replaced by “we”, illness becomes wellness.’ (Shannon L.  Alder)

Wise words indeed, and increasingly relevant in contemporary society, as statistics show that “the UK is in the midst of a mental health awakening.” (The Telegraph, 10.10.17) According to the NHS, one in four people is affected by a mental illness; anti-depressant prescriptions have doubled in a decade; and suicidal thoughts plague one in five of us – with the 16-24 age group being more likely than any other age group to report such thoughts.

It is not without reason, therefore, that this year’s World Mental Health Day (officially Monday 15 October) is focusing particularly on the stresses of being a young person in this fast-changing world. Our third annual service at the Cathedral, on Saturday 20 October at 2pm, will take up this theme, and we will hear a letter written by a suicide, his parents’ reflections, and a contribution from a representative of  ‘Papyrus’, a Warrington-based charity offering support and counselling for families and individuals with diverse experiences of suicide. The service will be largely contemplative, with musical interludes, and an opportunity to pray, reflect and share. Refreshments will be available.

Please support this important event, either by your presence or in your prayers. Thank you.

Community Page

Marcia Wall, Canon Precentor

Cathedral BBQ
On Sunday 12 August we had our Cathedral BBQ, now an annual tradition. The weather was not very good but that did not stop the fun. It was great to see so many members of our congregation, old and new, as well as visitors, enjoy a lovely meal together and get to know each other better. Thank you to Ian and his team for organising it and working so hard on the day to make it the success that it was. Our next social event is a shared Harvest Lunch on Sunday 30 September after the 10:30am service. Visitors are welcome.

Cathedral Friends Afternoon Tea
Pauline Dimond, Hon. Secretary, Cathedral Friends

The Cathedral Friends hosted their 4th Annual Afternoon Tea on Saturday, 18th August.  Members, local visitors and tourists enjoyed delicious home-made scones, cakes, tea and coffee with an optional glass of Prosecco!

During the afternoon we were entertained to beautiful music from Geoffrey Woollatt and amusing poetry readings from Evelyn Haywood.  Everyone appreciated those who gave their time to ensure this was a most successful occasion with a healthy profit going into our funds.

What's On

There are always lots of exciting events taking place at Manchester Cathedral. From our regular daily services sung by the Cathedral Choirs to Vintage Fairs, there is something for everyone.

Visit our ‘What's On’ page.

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.