Newsletter Autumn 2024
- The Friends of Lincoln Cathedral
- Mar 3
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 26
Editorial
As reported in the last newsletter, the whole Cathedral community has been so pleased to welcome back Simon Jones as our 85th Dean of Lincoln. His service of installation was a joyous and celebratory occasion and our association looks forward to a positive and progressive relationship with both him and the cathedral management. Simon has moved to Lincoln with his partner, Canon Darren McFarland, who is serving as interim priest at St Mary and St Nicholas Church, Spalding. We have sadly said farewell to Carol Jones, who has worked so hard as our Treasurer, and also to husband Terry. We express our gratitude to them both, particularly as they leave our accounting system, Gift Aid claims and membership database in a much- improved state.
The work of the Friends is never finished, and we are always striving to improve and adapt, in order to support the Cathedral and become even more attractive to you, our Members. As well as opening the office on Wednesday mornings, the small team of officers (all volunteers) spends many hours each week organising and promoting our cause, and we are also grateful to our Events Subcommittee for successfully re-establishing afternoon talks and excursions after the break dictated by the pandemic. During this last year or so we have:
o Redesigned the Friends’ website
o Redesigned our display board in the Cathedral
o Redesigned our promotional literature
o Revived Corporate Membership
o Introduced email updates to our Members (have we got your email address?)
o Increased ‘Carols by Candlelight’ to two evenings (at the Music Department’s suggestion!)
o Started a review of our Constitution
These, and other initiatives, help to keep our association relevant today, as well as upholding the founding principles that have guided it since 1936. Thank you for your continuing support!
The Friends Special Award
In recognition of his painstaking work in adapting a medieval stall for the Missioner’s use in St Hugh’s Choir, the Friends presented a special award to Cathedral Works Department joiner Gary Jackson-Croft. Appropriately the Missioner, Canon Rowena King, made the presentation, which took place on 20th September 2024 and was attended by Gary’s colleagues and other cathedral staff. The role of Missioner resonates with the work of our association, so we have been delighted to have funded her cope, beautifully made by the Cathedral’s highly talented Needlework Guild, as well as paying for the cost of adapting the stall.
Friends in Friendship-restoration of our annual outing
On a bright May morning a coach load of Friends of Lincoln Cathedral set off from the cathedral for a day at the Welbeck Estate near Worksop. Pam Bentley was the organiser and it was the first Friends’ outing since the Covid years. Pam was eager to get these ‘days out' started again – and it was quite a triumph of friends reunited and old friendships re-ignited. I certainly saw and chatted to people I had rather lost touch with over the Covid years and it was good to see them again. The coach set us down in the courtyard and then we were free to visit the museum, the Harley Gallery, the splendid garden centre, well stocked shop and enticing Farm Shop and there was a vast estate to explore if time and energy permitted. Plus, there were two cafes, both serving excellent food and, of course, the sun shone ‘on the righteous’. A lovely day – thank you, Pam. Please keep organising! Margaret Campion
Carols by Candlelight
At the time of writing tickets for our annual prestige event are selling well and we are looking forward to welcoming members and their friends on either of the evenings. If you are still thinking of booking we would encourage you to come and hear the Cathedral Choir singing Christmas
favourites, and, of course, joining in with some traditional car ols.. The atmosphere in the candlelit Nave is magical and all proceeds go towards maintaining our cathedral's renowned choir and organ. As usual, the choir will be conducted by Director of Music Aric Prentice, with cathedral Organist Jeffrey Makinson and Friends' Organ Scholar Tom Bailey playing the renowned Father Willis organ. Tickets are priced at £15 and £10. There are two performances. Online readers of this newsletter can follow the links for booking, or tickets can be bought through the Friends’ website. Accessible seats are available and companions may apply for tickets free of charge – please contact 01522 561632 if you require a companion ticket. All tickets are non-refundable and non-returnable. Why not enjoy a Pre-Concert Christmas Dinner in the Cathedral Café? To book your table ring the café on 01522561654 or email kieran@meadowbrownrestaurents.com
Afternoon Talks
No talks have been arranged during this autumn, but as part of our desire for closer collaboration with the Cathedral, the Friends supported the annual St Hugh’s Day talk which took place on Monday 18 November. Sir Jonathan Phillips, former Political Director and Permanent Secretary in the Northern Ireland Office delivered the lecture, the theme of which was: ‘What the Good Friday agreement overlooked: the surprising longevity of the Northern Ireland Peace Process’. Our events subcommittee has arranged two Afternoon Talks for spring 2025. On Wednesday 12th February, the Canon Missioner, Revd. Canon Rowena King, will be speaking both about her role and her experiences so far during her time with us. On Wednesday 26th March, Liz Husemeyer's subject will be Queen Eleanor of Castile, first wife of King Edward 1st. Both events will be taking place in the Dunlop-Butler room in the Old Deanery Visitors' Centre, beginning at 2.45pm, preceded by refreshments.
I am indebted to our Canon Missioner, Revd. Rowena King, for allowing us to reprint the article that she wrote for the Cathedral Community Association. As highlighted above, she will be giving an afternoon talk to the Friends on Wednesday, 12th February, so this welcome appetiser will I am sure encourage many of our local members to attend.
“So, what does a Canon Missioner actually do?”
This is a question I have been asked a lot in my first six months here in role, quite understandably, as the role is a new one in the life of this Cathedral. I too ask myself that question on a regular basis as I seek to discern the specific needs and opportunities of the Cathedral communities and our city and wider community life! There are, however, four broad areas which guide my reflections, and are the key priorities for the role: Pastoral Care, Discipleship and Nurture, Education, and Outreach.
The Missioner oversees the pastoral care of the Cathedral communities, ably supported by the Rev’d Ann Mazur who coordinates our rota of duty chaplains. This means that each day during visiting hours there is a chaplain on the floor of the Cathedral available for anyone, (staff, volunteer, congregation or visitor) to speak with. They are available to listen, to pray, or to simply be a welcoming face. As well as the midday Eucharist, they lead a number of shorter invitations to pause and pray at 12 noon and 3pm.
Alongside the daily ministry of the duty chaplains, the Cathedral Pastoral Care Committee works to support longer term pastoral care and the prayer requests of our communities. This team takes the lead on home visits and pastoral counselling requests, as well as intercessory prayer for our prayer lists, and praying for all those visitors who have left requests on our prayer boards. This happens daily at each member’s home and each Wednesday at the Cathedral (2:00-2:30 in the Longland Chapel) - anyone is welcome to join this Wednesday prayer time. People with pastoral care needs or prayer requests can contact me on rowena.king@lincolncathedral.com or catch up with me at one of
The Cathedral prayer boards and the invitations to pray are also a part of my role, and you may have noticed the rearrangement of the Morning Chapel to make it more welcoming and accessible for prayer.
The Missioner also oversees the provision of discipleship and nurture in the Cathedral. Current provi- sions include: our monthly Tea at 4 group – a Lectio Divina (sacred reading) of the Sunday’s readings; a monthly book group led by John Davies (both of which are open to new people to try out); our Sunday School, ably led by our wonderful team of volunteers, and our Lenten Confirmation preparation classes for choristers and anyone else exploring Confirmation, alongside various one-off events. I am currently exploring what else might be appreciated in this area, so if you have any ideas or requests, do come and chat. The Missioner manages the Cathedral Education Centre and its staff and volunteers, who do amazing work in welcoming school groups to the Cathedral for visits. We are also looking at how we welcome families to the Cathedral, particularly during holiday times, and how we might extend that offering, so if being part of our holiday welcome team is something you’d enjoy, do let me know. The Cathedral also has active links with Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School (I sit as both a Foundation member and Governor) and De Aston School, Market Rasen. Part of the Cathedral’s vision, and the Missioner’s role, is to be a part of our local community and city; to look outwards in forming partnerships and connections with local civic, charity, business, education and faith groups, and to be a visible, welcoming presence to all who live in Lincoln, extending God’s love and welcome to all. I have recently enjoyed being invited to open Lincoln Pride, where I received a very warm welcome; and to experience my first Steampunk festival, where I enjoyed many and varied conversations! I have also been involved with the City Council and a number of other organisations in re-launching the City’s environmental action plan and social engagement – so a real diversity of connections already! The one factor linking all the different aspects of my role is that of relationship, which is, of course, also at the heart of our faith: to seek the image of Christ in all those whom we meet and to be the love of Christ to others as best we can each day. I feel an immense sense of privilege at being given this opportunity in so many different ways through the role of Missioner.
Forthcoming events and dates:
Tuesday 10th December and Wednesday 11th December at 7.00 pm in the Nave: Carols by Candlelight
Sunday 26th January at 3,45 pm: Music Celebration Evensong, with presentation of Friends’ Medallions
Afternoon Talks in the Old Deanery Visitors’ Centre at 2.45 (refreshments from 2.00 pm)
Wednesday 12th February 2025—Rowena King
Wednesday 26th March 2025—Liz HusemeyerSaturday
24th June 2023 at 2.00 pm. Annual General Meeting in the Old Deanery Visitors’ Centre
We wish all our members a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year
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