Wells Cathedral Email Newsletter
August 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.
Welcome to the August issue of the Wells Cathedral newsletter
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 and our Facebook page. We hope to see you in the
Cathedral soon!
Concert: Karl Jenkins 'The Armed Man' plus other popular classics
In a fundraising concert for Wells Cathedral on Saturday 27th September, Wells Cathedral Choir,
Jonathan Vaughn (organ), and Matthew Owens (conductor) present an evening of popular choral
classics including The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins. The work is one of Welsh composer Jenkins'
most popular pieces and was first performed at the Royal Albert Hall, London in 2000.
Wells Cathedral Choir has recently been hailed by Gramophone Magazine as ‘probably the finest
English cathedral choir at the moment’ in ‘world-class form’. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a
unique evening of classics performed by our world-class choir.
Book tickets:
The Wells Cathedral performance takes place from 7pm on Saturday 27th September and tickets
are available now from
• Wells Cathedral Shop Box Office by calling 01749 672773
• Via our online booking system accessible from our website
• And at the door.
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What's on in August
Organ Recitals
The final recital of the 2014 Summer Organ Festival will be given by Assistant Organist Jonathan
Vaughn on Wednesday 6 August. Pieces will include Guilmant's Sonata no 1 in D minor, Ireland's
Villanella, and Reubke's Sonata on the 94th Psalm. Tickets are available from the Wells Cathedral
Box Office (01749 672773) and at the door, at a cost of £10. This includes a glass of wine after the
performance, with the opportunity to meet with the organist. Doors open at 7pm with the concert
beginning at 7.30pm.
Matthew Redman (Director of Music, All Hallows School and Organist, Wells Cathedral Voluntary
Choir) will give a free lunchtime organ recital on Thursday 14 August from 1.05pm-1.40pm. There
will be a retiring collection in aid of Wells Cathedral Music.
August Window Walks
This month we are playing detectives looking for word clues in the 'Mosaic' windows in a search for
what other medieval designs there may have been in the Cathedral. Our free window walks prove
very popular with our visitors. Bring your binoculars and join us every Wednesday and Saturday at
the Information Desk from 11.15 am!
Healing Service
This month’s Eucharist with Healing takes place on Saturday 16th August at 12 noon. Join us in this
reflective service which offers an opportunity to pray for healing and to come forward for the laying
on of hands.
Save the date! Forthcoming Talks and Lectures
Wells Cathedral Autumn Lectures 2014 : 'The Ageing Agenda'. September 9th, 16th
and 30th.
We are delighted to be able to confirm the theme for the Wells Cathedral 2014 Autumn Lecture
series and extend an invitation to everyone to attend what promises to be a stimulating and
thought-provoking series of events.
Running on the 9th, 16th and 30th September our speakers will include Professor Steven Rose,
Emeritus Professor, Department of Life Health and Chemical Sciences, The Open University; David
Winter, author of 'At the End of the Day' and Dr Harriet Mowat who has run a research, training
and development business and who writes, teaches, trains and researches in matters to do
particularly with the spiritual care of older people.
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Details of the programme follow shortly but lectures will start at 7.30pm in Wells Cathedral,
usually followed by a questions and discussion session. Admission is free, retiring donations are
welcome.
Discussion Group : 'Newspaper Theology'. From Sunday 7th September for six weeks.
How do the stories we see on television relate to the theology we hear in sermons? How can we
think more deeply about the issues that underlie human flourishing and human misery?
From Sunday 7th September for six weeks the Dean of Wells will be leading a discussion looking at
these questions. These will be held in the Cathedral's Education Room at 11.15am each Sunday.
You are welcome to bring your coffee after the Eucharist and spend an hour thinking about one of
the stories in the news that week. No booking required.
Remembering Wells Cathedral in your Will
We are committed to ensuring that Wells Cathedral remains open and accessible to all. The
Cathedral and its ministry is sustained and supported by generous gifts from worshippers, visitors
and those who value everything about life at Wells Cathedral.
A gift in your Will can help to safeguard the Cathedral and make a valued contribution to its future.
We are pleased to launch a new leaflet about legacies and there are hard copies available on the
table in the North Transept of the Cathedral and from our Office Reception.
Later in August we will also be launching a new Will Making Guide which can be downloaded (once
launched) from our website or requested from Kelly Hall – fundraiser@wellscathedral.uk.net or
01749 674483. If you have not yet made a Will it is easy to do so and we recommend that you seek
support from a Solicitor or professional Willwriter. On 8th October we will be hosting a free event
about Will Making which may be of interest to you. If you have already named Wells Cathedral as a
beneficiary in your Will and wish to tell us you can do this using the new leaflet.
In October we will also be hosting a special event for those who have chosen to remember the
Cathedral. More details about these events will follow in the September Newsletter but if you
would like to discuss either with us now please contact Kelly Hall using the contact details above.
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Weird and Wonderful Wells Festival, Sunday 17th August
Wells Cathedral is delighted to be part of the forthcoming Weird and Wonderful Wells free family
event which is to be held here in Wells on Sunday 17th August between 11.30am and 5pm.
Children are being encouraged to dress up as their favourite character in history for a day of fun
and tales of old! Wells City Band will herald the opening followed by our Town Crier who will
proclaim the day and an Historical Costume Parade will take place from the Museum to the Town
Hall.
The stocks will open for business for any errant behaviour then the afternoon’s events will follow
including a new and free Cathedral Strange Stories self-guided trail which will be available from the
Cathedral during the day. All welcome to this wonderful event for all the family!
Summer Activities for the Family
A reminder that our popular family holiday activities return for the summer starting with Mason's
Marks on Wednesday 20th August . Find out about marks made by the stonemasons who cut the
blocks which make up the Cathedral walls, piers, arches and windows. We'll have children’s soap
carving in the Undercroft as well as an exciting treasure hunt, plus adult discovery tours will be held
within the Cathedral (at 11.00am, 1.40pm and 12.20pm)! £2 per person, from 11.00am – 1.00pm.
On Wednesday 27th August, we’ll be using the Chained Library for inspiration. One of only four in
the UK, the library is a hidden gem located above our East Cloisters. Activities will include making a
mini chained book as well as adult discovery tours of the Cathedral’s chained library which will take
place at 11.00am; 11.40am and 12.20pm. £2 per person, from 11.00am – 1.00pm.
Cathedral Library book of the month – August
Our book of the month for August is Curationum Medicinalium Centuriae by Amatus Lusitanus.
Joao Rodriguez Castello Branco (1511-1568), better known as Amatus Lusitanus, was a Portuguese
physician. who published several medical works. The Curationum is a compilation of his case notes
and the treatments administered. The book belongs to the Bath Abbey library and was given by Sir
Edward Greaves, who was Physician in Ordinary to Charles II.
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News from our Music Department
Goodbye to those leaving us this year, welcome to all the new people joining our choir, Be A
Chorister for a Day and more! To find out more about these stories please visit the Latest News
page in the Music section of our website.
Service information and music list
Our Service Information and Music List for the month of August is available to view on our website.
All are welcome to join us at any of our daily services.
Leavers Days 2014
During June, the Cathedral was alive with the busyness of Leavers’ Days – a yearly event for
children coming to the end of their time at Church Primary schools in the Diocese. A total of 2,250
Year 6 children with 323 accompanying adults from 97 different schools across the Diocese were
welcomed over the six days of activities.
Pupils went on a guided tour of the Cathedral and activities which included playing detective to
hunt for Latin tomb inscriptions, or taking the role of a cathedral guide. Each day began and ended
with an act of worship.
For those who attended, the ‘Spirit of Wells’ days gave an understanding that they are part of the
wider community of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. They left with an appreciation of their heritage
and an assurance that they are welcome to return and discover more.
The Cathedral offers a huge range of Outreach and Learning opportunities throughout the year;
more information is available on our website.
In our thoughts : Amnesty Victim of Injustice
Ali Arrass was forcibly returned to Morocco from Spain where he had been caring for his aging
father. This was despite warnings from the UN Human Rights Committee and Amnesty
International that this would put him at risk. For the first twelve days he was held incommunicado
in a secret detention centre, where he was tortured. On 19 November Ali Arrass was convicted of
illegal use of weapons and participation in a group intending to commit acts of terrorism. He was
convicted solely on the basis of a ‘confession’ extracted under torture. Juan Mendez, the UN
Special Rapporteur on torture, and an independent forensic doctor, visited Ali in detention and
confirmed his torture claims. The Moroccan authorities have repeatedly failed to investigate Ali’s
claims of torture and ill-treatment.
Other ways to keep in touch with Wells Cathedral:
Our website – www.wellscathedral.org.uk
Facebook - www.facebook.com/WellsCathedral
Twitter – www.twitter.com/WellsCathedral1
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Calendar of Events August 2014
Harry/Weeks Art Exhibition in the South Cloister until 10th
5.15 pm August
The Choir of St Marks, Berkeley, California to sing Evensong
12 noon Wedding Service in the Quire
5.15 pm The Choir of St Marks, Berkeley, California to sing Evensong
The Choir of St Marks, Berkeley, California to sing all services
1.05 pm Informal Lunchtime Organ Recital: Mark Brafield
5.15 pm Vocalis, Frankfurt to sing Evensong
6.15 pm Taste & See in the Chapter Room
10.00 pm World War 1 Cathedral Service
12.25 pm Holy Communion
5.15 pm RSCM Cathedral Course to sing Evensong
The Transfiguration of Our Lord
9.30 am Holy Communion
5.15 pm Solemn Eucharist - RSCM Cathedral Course to sing service
7.30 pm Summer Organ Festival: Jonathan Vaughn (Wells Cathedral)
5.15 pm RSCM Cathedral Course to sing Evensong
5.15 pm Evening Prayer said
11.00 am Mid Somerset CND Peace Exhibition on the Cathedral Green
5.15 pm RSCM Cathedral Course to sing Evensong
RSCM Cathedral Course to sing all services
SODA Art Exhibition in the South Cloister until 24th August
5.15 pm 2014
The Choir of St Mark’s Church, Philadelphia to sing Evensong
12.25 pm Holy Communion
5.15 pm The Choir of St Mark’s Church, Philadelphia to sing Evensong
9.30 am Holy Communion
5.15 pm The Choir of St Mark’s Church, Philadelphia to sing Evensong
1.05 pm Lunchtime Organ Recital: Matthew Redman (All Hallows
School and Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir)
5.15 pm Evening Prayer said
5.15 pm The Choir of St Mark’s Church, Philadelphia to sing Evensong
12 noon Eucharist with Healing
5.15 pm The Choir of St Mark’s Church, Philadelphia to sing Evensong
The Choir of St Mark’s Church, Philadelphia to sing all services
11.30 am Weird and Wonderful Wells (formerly Wells Festival of
History)
5.15 pm The Choir of St Peter’s Church, Streatham to sing Evensong
12.25 pm Holy Communion
5.15 pm The Choir of St Peter’s Church, Streatham to sing Evensong
9.30 am Holy Communion
11.00 am Family Holiday Activity – Mason’s Marks – in the Undercroft
5.15 pm The Choir of St Peter’s Church, Streatham to sing Evensong
11.30 am Mothers’ Union Prayers
5.15 pm St Mary’s Ecumenical Choir, Shropshire to sing Evensong
1.00 pm Wedding Service in the Quire
5.15 pm The Choir of St Peter’s Church, Streatham to sing Evensong
5.15 pm The Choir of St Peter’s Church, Streatham to sing Evensong
The Choir of St Peter’s Church, Streatham to sing all services
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5.15 pm
12.25 pm
5.15 pm
9.30am
11.00 am
1.05 pm
5.15 pm
5.15 pm
11.00 am
5.15 pm
5.15 pm
12.30 pm
Summer Bank Holiday
The Choir of Wallingford Parish Church to sing Evensong
Holy Communion
The Choir of Wallingford Parish Church to sing Evensong
Holy Communion
Family Holiday Activity in the Education Room – Craft Activity
inspired by the Cathedral’s Chain Library
Lunchtime Concert: The Choir of Wallingford Parish Church
The Choir of Wallingford Parish Church to sing Evensong
Evening Prayer said
Wedding Service in the Quire
The Choir of Wallingford Parish Church to sing Evensong
The Choir of Wallingford Parish Church to sing Evensong
The Choir of Wallingford Parish Church to sing all services
Baptism Service
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