Wells Cathedral Email Newsletter
December 2014
This is a printed copy of the email newsletter from Wells Cathedral. If you would like to
receive this by email please send your details to marketing@wellscathedral.uk.net or follow
the link on our website.
Below is a snapshot of what's coming up this month at the Cathedral. Remember - news and
events are also always available via our website at www.wellscathedral.org.uk and our
Facebook page.
December and Christmas at Wells
The Christmas period is an understandably busy one here at Wells. Details of our
Christmas services are available on our website or take a look at some of our event
highlights throughout December below:
Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society Concert – Handel
Messiah
Saturday 6th December, 7pm- 9.30pm
Book early for Handel’s greatest Oratorio in the annual
performance from the Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society
(www.wcos.org.uk ).
Lesley-Jane Rogers (soprano), Louise Mott (mezzo soprano), David Butt Philip (tenor),
Andrew Kidd (bass), Music for Awhile Orchestra (on period instruments) and Matthew
Owens (conductor).
Tickets: £10.00 – £25.00; available from Wells Cathedral Shop Box Office (01749
672773) and at the door.
Mid Somerset Series Carol Service
Thursday 11th December, 7pm-9pm
Carols and readings with children’s choirs from local schools. Free. Entry by ticket only
by collection from the Mid-Somerset News & Media offices and the Wells Cathedral
shop.
Opus Anglicanum Concert – Mediaeval Carols
Monday, 15th December, 19.30 – 21.00
A candlelit concert of English 15th century carols together with liturgical chant for
Christmas in the context of a narration from mediaeval writings. Music by Machaut,
Dunstable, Obrecht, Cornysh and from the Eton Choir Book. Tickets: £20.00 (including a
post-concert drink); available from Wells Cathedral Shop Box Office (01749 672773) and
at the door.
Eucharist with Healing
Saturday 20th December, 12 noon – 12.50pm
Take time for reflection and healing at the monthly Eucharist with Healing. There are
opportunities to pray for healing and to come forward for the laying on of hands. The
service takes place in the Lady Chapel at the East End of the Cathedral.
Candlelit Concert with Wells Cathedral Choir
Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st December, 7pm-8.30pm
The annual, and very popular, Candlelight Christmas
Concerts will take place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st
December. On both nights the Cathedral will be stunningly
lit by thousands of candles whilst the choir performs
beautiful festive pieces. A truly magical occasion. Due to
great demand for our fantastic Candlelight concerts this
year we now only have transept tickets available. Please
call the Wells Cathedral Box Office for ticket enquiries on 01749 672773.
Cathedral Carol Service
Tuesday, 23rd December, 6pm-7.30pm
The Cathedral's Carol Service, previously named by Classic fm magazine as the 'Top
choice' in the South West, will take place at 6pm on Tuesday 23rd December. There will
be plenty of congregational carols, as well as beautiful singing from the Cathedral's
Great Choir, and festive readings. There is no entry charge and tickets are not issued,
but it is suggested people may wish to arrive early as it is very popular. The doors open
at 5pm.
Crib Services
Wednesday 24th December, 2pm and 3.15pm
A very warm welcome to the Cathedral's crib service, especially to children who are
invited to dress as a shepherd, or an angel or a King! We’ll have some dressing up
clothes for children who will also be invited to take part in making our own real nativity
scene in the cathedral. The service will last approximate 30 minutes.
For more details of events and services over the Christmas period visit our website.
Christmas Holiday Family Workshops
Looking for something creative for your
children over the Christmas holidays? The Cathedral's
holiday workshops are always popular so do join us on:
Saturday 20th December, 11am – 1pm
We'll be making Table Arrangements in the Cathedral
Undercroft.
Wednesday 31st December, 11am – 1pm
We'll be having a go at making our own calendars for 2015,
again in the Cathedral Undercroft.
Both activities are FREE but donations are welcomed. No booking required – just turn
up and be prepared to be busy!
10% Discount Wednesdays in the Cathedral shop
A great opportunity to stock up on your Christmas gifts!
Our annual 10% Discount Days take place in the Cathedral shop
every Wednesday throughout December, starting on Wednesday
the 3rd through to Wednesday the 24th December.
The unveiling of our Jesse Window
The Jesse Window at Wells Cathedral is
one of the most splendid examples of
14th century stained glass in Europe
narrowly escaping destruction during the
English Civil War.
After a long period of conservation the
scaffolding has been removed from our
fabulous window and it's attracted a lot
of interest from the national press. More
information about this unique window is
available on our website, including a link to the recent article written by The Guardian.
Wells Cathedral Choir in the news
Wells Cathedral Choir is delighted to feature both on the
cover of, and inside, December’s issue of BBC Music
magazine.
The feature asks ‘What does the future hold for choirs up
and down the land?’ and features interviews with members
of our choir, choristers and Matthew Owens (Organist &
Master of the Choristers) as well as stunning photography!
Additionally, our choristers were featured on Lucy Tegg’s
Sunday morning radio programme this week which is broadcast across BBC Radio
Bristol and BBC Radio Somerset.
For a link to the recording which features festive music from our choristers as well as an
interview with Matthew Owens, please visit our website.
Volunteers required!
Can you spare two and a half hours on a Sunday
morning every 6-8 weeks? Or perhaps on alternate
Friday mornings from 9am until approximately
11.30am?
There are many opportunities to volunteer at Wells
Cathedral and it is a great way to meet people, feel
involved with the community and work in one of the
most beautiful and special places in the country. However we are specifically now
looking for help to fill our coffee and flower arranging rotas. If you are interested, or know
someone who may be, more details are available on our website.
Did you know .....
The Cathedral has to print just over 6,000 orders of service for the month of December
alone!
A new addition to the Cathedral team!
We are delighted to confirm that our Fundraiser, Kelly Hall,
safely delivered a baby boy on Sunday 2nd November!
Henry Arthur Freddie was born weighing 6.4lbs and we send
our congratulations to Kelly and the new addition to her family!
Choristers at the Reindeer Parade!
On Sunday 7th December our boy choristers
will sing in Wells Market Square as part of
the Wells Reindeer Parade, organised by the
Rotary Club and in aid of the Somerset Air
Ambulance. Please come along and support
the event if you can.
We expect them to sing from about 1.45pm
and they will be wearing festive reindeer
antlers with their cassocks, as will Mr Owens - our Organist and Master of the
Choristers!
Service information and music list
Our Service Information and Music List for the month of December is available to view
on our website.
Spot the Louis competition
The Cathedral shop's 'Spot the Louis' competition is up
and running!
Louis is our adopted Cathedral cat who came to live
with us approximately 7 years ago. One of his favourite
places is his basket in the shop although he's also
been found asleep in our shop window! See how many
Louis cat pictures you can find in the shop window and
a prize will be awarded to the first three correct entries drawn on 31st December. Pick
up your entry form from the shop.
News from our Music Department
For a round-up of news from our Music Department please visit our website.
Cathedral Library book of the month - December
Our book of the month for December is 'Acts and
Monuments' (3 volumes, 1684) by John Foxe.
John Foxe (1517-1587) first published the Book of Martyrs,
as it is popularly known, in 1563. It is an English Protestant
account of the persecutions of Protestants by Roman
Catholics from medieval times to the reign of Queen Mary
and the Marian Persecutions.
In our thoughts : Amnesty Victim of Injustice
Amnesty Victim of Injustice for December – United Arab Emirates
Mohammed al-Roken is a human rights lawyer and long-time Amnesty member, who
studied at Warwick University. He is serving a ten year prison sentence in the UAE,
following his conviction on the 2nd July 2013, in a mass trial of government critics and
reform activists. He had previously been harassed for several years because of his
human rights work. In a crackdown on human rights defenders this trial, known as ‘UAE
94’, was an attempt to silence calls for reforms. Mohammed al-Roken was among 69 out
of 93 defendants convicted of attempting to overthrow the government. The trial was
politically motivated and grossly unfair and the defendants were denied the right to
appeal against the courts verdict.
Calendar of Events December 2014
Mon
1
Tues
2
Weds
3
Thurs
4
Fri
5
Sat
6
Sun
Mon
Tues
7
8
9
Weds
10
Thurs
11
Fri
12
Sat
13
Sun
Mon
14
15
Tus
16
Weds
17
Thurs
Fri
Sat
18
19
20
5.15 pm
6.15 pm
12.25 pm
7.00 pm
9.30 am
7.00 pm
11.30 am
7.00 pm
11.45 am
3.00 pm
5.15 pm
5.15 pm
7.00 pm
6.30 pm
7.00 pm
12.25 pm
7.00 pm
9.30 am
11.00 am
2.30 pm
7.00 pm
11.00 am
7.00 pm
10.15 am
2.00 pm
5.15 pm
5.15 pm
7.00 pm
5.15 pm
7.30 pm
12.25 pm
5.15 pm
7.30 pm
9.30 am
5.15 pm
5.15 pm
5.15 pm
11.00 am
12 noon
5.15 pm
7.00 pm
Sun
21
Mon
Tues
22
23
Weds
24
7.00 pm
5.15 pm
12.25 pm
6.00 pm
9.30 am
2.00 pm
St Andrew’s Day (transferred from 30 Nov)
Solemn Eucharist
Taste & See in the Chapter Room
Holy Communion
Primary Schools Christmas Concert
Holy Communion
Primary Schools Christmas Concert
Mothers’ Union Prayers
Primary Schools Christmas Concert
Millfield School Carol Service
Millfield Prep School Carol Service
Evening Prayer said
Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir to sing Evensong
Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society Concert – Handel Messiah
Wells Cathedral School Advent Carol Service
Somerset County Schools Celebration
Holy Communion
Wells Cathedral Junior School Christmas Celebration
Holy Communion
Age UK Somerset Carol Service
Women’s Institute Carol Service
Wells Cathedral Junior School Christmas Celebration
Hazlegrove School Carol Service
Mid Somerset Series Carol Service
Wells Cathedral School End of Term Service
Fosse Way School Carol Service
The Choir of St John’s Parish Church, Glastonbury to sing Evensong
Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir to sing Evensong
Somerset Life, Sing for Somerset Carol Service
Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir to sing services
Evening Prayer said
Opus Anglicanum Concert – Mediaeval Carols
Holy Communion
Evening Prayer said
Crispin School Carol Service
Holy Communion
Evening Prayer said
Evening Prayer said
Evening Prayer said
Children’s Christmas Holiday Workshop – Making Table
Arrangements – in the Undercroft
Eucharist with Healing
Evening Prayer said
Candlelight Concert
Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir to sing services
Candlelight Concert
Evening Prayer said
Holy Communion
Cathedral Carol Service
Christmas Eve
Holy Communion
Crib Service
Thurs
25
Fri
26
Sat
27
Sun
Mon
Tues
28
29
30
Weds
31
3.15 pm Crib Service
5.15 pm Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir to sing Evensong
11.30 pm Midnight Eucharist
Christmas Day
8.00 am Holy Communion
9.45 am Sung Eucharist
11.30 am Sung Matins
1.00 pm Cathedral Closed
3.00 pm Evening Prayer said (Vicars’ Close Chapel)
Cathedral closed all day
9.00 am Matins said (Vicars’ Close Chapel)
9.30 am Holy Communion St Stephen (Vicars’ Close Chapel)
3.00 pm Evening Prayer said (Vicars’ Close Chapel)
9.30 am Morning Prayer (Lady Chapel)
9.30 am Holy Communion (Lady Chapel)
5.15 pm Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir to sing Evensong
Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir to sing services
5.15 pm Evening Prayer said
12.25 pm Holy Communion
5.15 pm Evening Prayer said
9.30 am Holy Communion
11.00 am Children’s Christmas Holiday Workshop – Making Calendars for
2015 – in the Undercroft
5.15 pm Evening Prayer said