COMMUNITY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT
This has been a very busy year for the Cathedral and the Diocese.
In September we said farewell to David Stanton and in October a large
group from the Cathedral travelled to London to share in David’s
installation as a Canon of Westminster Abbey. At a special service in
October we also said ‘good-bye’ to Bishop David, prior to his installation
as Bishop of Manchester the following month. The new Bishop of
Dudley, Graham Usher, was installed at Evensong on 4th May in the
Cathedral. Rev. Nicky Groake is the new Archdeacon of Dudley.
Within the Cathedral Dr. David Bryer of Malvern, a former Oxfam
director and past pupil of the King’s School, has been made a lay canon.
In the City, Canon Greville Cross has taken up post as Chaplain to St
Oswald’s Almshouses. Internally, Rebecca Fielder has joined the
operations team, Anita Snell, Nathaniel Hutchings and Adam Price have
increased the verger strength; and Nick Whitehouse is now a part-time
electrician. This year the National Living Wage Standard has been
introduced.
The Music department is currently very busy rehearsing for the
forthcoming Three Choirs Festival. Fortunately, the fault in the quire
organ, caused by an overheating blower motor, was quickly identified and
a new motor fitted. This will be a sharp learning for the new Precentor,
Canon Michael Brierley, who joined us in March. Michael is settling in
well and is bringing new ideas to the Music department. Following a
successful recruitment campaign the Voluntary Choir has welcomed
several new members. James Luxton, the sub-assistant organist, who
trains the ‘Vollers’ will be leaving us in September to take up a post as
Assistant Organist at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.
Last year, constitutional changes to the Friends of Worcester Cathedral
were proposed and discussed. In January these were ratified and a new
committee elected. A total of £83,000 was raised by TRIO, a valuable
addition to Cathedral funds. The target for 2014/15 is £87,000. Each
year the Cathedral donates 10% of its collections and stewardship income
to charity and this year we were able to allocate £9,500 to various
charities suggested by members of the congregation. The Dean’s poetry
reading raised over £12,000.
The Cloister Café is thriving with new attractive glass doors in wooden
frames and overflow into the Cloister is frequent. Susanne Byrne is the
new Café Manager. A specially designed Welcome Desk and display area
by the North door is proving its worth and the model of the Cathedral on
its new table draws the eye. The first stage of the Interpretation Project,
produced in conjunction with York University, has now been installed.
The interactive screens in the Nave and Crypt are proving very popular,
as is the returned Pilgrim.
Throughout the year much thought has been given as to how we relate to
others outside the Cathedral. Canon Alvyn Pettersen updated the
committee on our working partnership with the University and the mutual
benefits arising from sharing ideas and experiences. We now have links
with the Fine Arts course and the PGCE course. The University Vice
Chancellor is now a member of The Cathedral Council and the University
Chaplain, Fiona Heyworth, has been made a minor canon. Further afield
our exchange visits with Madgeburg continue and the mutual friendship
and deepening understanding of the likenesses and differences under
which we work are enriching both Cathedrals.
The Maggs Centre has been established at St Alban’s for many years and
the Cathedral has provided periodic financial support through special
collections. However, it was felt that we should be providing more
practical and ongoing support and to this end a small committee of
volunteers has been set up. Already table top sales, concerts, collection of
food, clothing, bedding, toiletries, etc. has been undertaken. The
continuing large Maggs deficit continues to be of grave concern for the
future of the Centre.
Looking ahead, the Song School (previously the Choir School) will be
completely re-furbished and new heating installed over the summer
holidays. Sue Adeney, the Children’s Officer, spoke to the committee
about how her work had developed over the past 15 years and how the
innovative plans for the Undercroft will prove a safe and technically
advanced space in which increasing opportunities can be provided for
children. Our Architect, Chris Romain, has been central to this exciting
project which will provide a lasting testimonial to his long and productive
time with us. We wish Chris every happiness in his retirement.
The Harvest lunch will be held in College on Sunday 5th October, and
details will be announced nearer the date.
In 2015 there will be celebrations for the octocentenery of Magna Carta,
when a performance of Shakespeare’s ‘King John’ will take place plus a
conference on the Monarch’s life. It is hoped that the University of
Norwich will be involved.
The great sadness of the year has been the death of Denise Inge following
an illness borne with great fortitude. The funeral was a sincere and
uplifting expression of support and sympathy for Bishop John and his two
young daughters in which we were privileged to take part. Our thoughts
and prayers remain with the Bishop as he continues with his work in the
Diocese.
Louise Hamilton-Glover
July 2014