Wells Cathedral Email Newsletter
February
2016
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.
What's On Highlights for February
Thursday 11 February, 1.05pm-1.45pm
FREE LUNCHTIME ORGAN RECITAL
One of our Junior Organ Scholars, Blandine Jacquet, will give a
lunchtime organ recital on Thursday 11 February from 1.05pm1.40pm. Entry is free, with a retiring collection in aid of Wells
Cathedral Music.
Saturday 13 February, 12:00 - 12:50pm
EUCHARIST WITH HEALING
The Eucharist with Healing is a reflective service which offers an opportunity to pray for healing
and to come forward for the laying on of hands.
Sunday 28 February, 3pm
DIOCESAN EVENSONG VISIT
If you live, or know anyone, in the Butleigh area (which is a short distance from Glastonbury), our
Vicars Choral and Girl Choristers will sing Evensong in the Parish Church of St Leonard in
Butleigh at 3pm on Sunday 28 February. For visitors to the Cathedral, our Boy Choristers will sing
Evensong in the Cathedral that afternoon (3pm).
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New lay members welcomed to Wells Cathedral’s Chapter
In December 2015 the Bishop of Bath and Wells, after
consultation with the Chapter of Wells Cathedral,
announced the appointment of three new lay members of
the Chapter.
During a celebratory Evensong in January, Dr Alan Kerbey,
Dr Alison Perham and Tim Wilson were installed as new
Prebendaries of Wells Cathedral.
The Chapter is the principal governing body of Wells Cathedral, providing strategic leadership and direction.
Chaired by the Dean, the Chapter consists of five members of the clergy and four lay members. The three
new lay members of Chapter are all volunteers and hold office for three-year terms, which are renewable.
Dr Alan Kerbey has significant fundraising experience, particularly having worked as Director of Development
for Monkton Combe School and following a prestigious academic career.
Dr Alison Perham brings not just her substantial strategic skills from her career in healthcare but also her
experience in other cathedrals.
Tim Wilson has a substantial background in managing historic buildings, gardens and estates in a range of
organisations including the National Trust and the Houses of Parliament.
The Chancellor and Acting Dean of Wells, Canon Andrew Featherstone said “Our thanks to Adrian and
Barbara and Gill, outgoing lay members of Chapter, for their important and valuable contributions to the life
of the Cathedral over the last six years and more. We are delighted to welcome Alan and Alison and Tim as
our new lay members of Chapter and look forward to working with them.”
We're making changes ...
You may know that English Cathedrals receive no subsidies or
regular financial help from the Government and have to be
entirely self-sufficient.
Here at Wells we need £4,500 every day to help with the
ongoing sustainability of this historic building, our worship, music
and all our work here.
Donations from visitors play a significant part in how we generate income to meet that challenge however,
while we suggest an entry donation of £6 per adult in reality, in recent years, the Cathedral received an
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average donation amount of only about £1.80 per visitor. This had an obvious and important impact on our
finances so we've had to make some changes to better communicate to our visitors why we rely so much on
donations.
A new donations desk is being installed in the entry area to the Cathedral. A new admissions system will
automate the donation and the gift aid process. New signage is also being installed including new VDU screens
which will communicate service and event information plus visit highlights. There will be a new entrance to
allow access for café and shop customers who don’t want to go past the donation desk. Lastly, a new 'Annual
Pass' will be launched in 2016 aimed at visitors who would like to make a donation while enjoying fast track
access to the Cathedral for 12 months. More details on this new initiative will be available shortly.
Importantly, everyone will be welcome to visit the Cathedral and to worship here irrespective of their ability
to leave a donation but we hope our visitors will understand why we need their help with the ongoing
maintenance of this historic building.
Second Cathedral shop to open in March
The Cathedral will be opening a second shop in Wells
Market Place on Tuesday 1st March.
Kathy Nichols, Head of Retail and Visitor Services for
Wells Cathedral, explains: “We're looking forward to
presenting an accessible and welcoming face of the
Cathedral as well as helping to support our local
businesses. We will be stocking products that will
promote the City of Wells and our wider local
community.”
The shop will also aim to provide an additional box office facility for Cathedral events as well as informationprovision for our city visitors.
All profits generated from this enterprise are used to help maintain the ministry and fabric of Wells Cathedral.
We look forward to welcoming visitors to our second shop from 1st March.
February half term ‘Have A Go’ holiday activity workshop – Calligraphy
Our next ‘Have a Go’ event for adults and families will take place
on Wednesday 17th February 1.00 – 3.00pm in the Cathedral’s
Education Room.
The workshop theme is Calligraphy, all materials are provided and
some experienced practitioners will be on hand to offer advice.
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Learn about medieval writing techniques, see examples of Cathedral manuscripts and illuminated lettering,
then have a go at creating your own manuscript, even using a quill! Advance booking is not required. £2 per
person.
Details of all our holiday workshops are posted on our website.
Aled Jones to perform at Wells Cathedral
Welsh singer Aled Jones MBE is set to wow audiences across
the UK in 2016 as he embarks on a 22-date Cathedral tour.
The household name will visit cathedrals in England, Scotland
and his home country of Wales on a series of dates throughout
May and June and Wells Cathedral is delighted to feature as a
venue on Thursday 19th May 2016.
Speaking about the tour Aled said: "I'm never more at home
than when performing in one of the UK's unrivalled cathedrals. I have been fortunate to sing in so many of
these beautiful buildings over the years through my work on Songs of Praise but the idea of embarking on my
biggest cathedral tour ever next year fills me with so much excitement and joy. I promise to give my best
performances yet!"
We have no doubt this will prove to be a popular event so secure your tickets as soon as you can! Details are
on our website.
Service Information and Music List
Our Service Information and Music List for the month of February is available to view on our website..
Stations of the Cross
'O my people, what have I done to you, how have I offended you? Answer me!'
For many centuries the ‘Way of the Cross’ has been a tradition of following
every step of Christ’s journey, from his condemnation by Pontius Pilate to the
time when his lifeless body is laid in the tomb.
In Jerusalem, many pilgrims follow the Via Dolorosa which is associated, by
tradition, with Christ’s final journey to Golgotha.
At the Cathedral, the Stations of the Crossmake a Jerusalem for us where we
are, and on Fridays during Lent at 12 noon, we too can follow the Way of the
Cross. We are led from station to station by one of the Cathedral clergy. At each station there is a time of
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meditation and an act of devotion.
We invite you to join us. A guide is also available to download via our website should you wish to follow the
Stations of the Cross independently.
Wells Cathedral on TV!
Three homes in Vicars' Close are to be featured in BBC2's
forthcoming series of 'The Great Interior Design
Challenge' with the series starting on Monday 1st February
at 7.00pm.
Vicars' Close adjoins Wells Cathedral and was designed as
lodgings for the men of the choir. Completed by 1363, despite
later modernisations, it is the only completely medieval street
left in England.
Presented by Tom Dyckhoff (Architecture Historian), Sophie
Robinson (Interior Stylist) and Daniel Hopwood (Interior
Designer) in each episode amateur designers are challenged to
transform three similar rooms in three similar neighbouring
properties following a brief from the owners. The unique
properties of Vicars' Close, and their tenants, will feature in the semi-final which we understand will be shown
on March 1st.
We were also delighted to welcome the team from 'Holiday of My Lifetime' to the Cathedral last year.
Thoughout the series Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman takes celebrities back to the sites of their
childhood holidays. The Cathedral provided the back-drop for one well-known celebrity and her holiday
memories and we've been informed that this will be broadcast on Wednesday 10 February on BBC1 at
3.45pm.
Lent 'Quiet Day'
The 'Lent Quiet Day' for Wells Cathedral will be held at Abbey House, Glastonbury on Thursday 17 March
2016 (10.00am-4.00pm). The Rev'd Sue Rose (Director of Ordinands for Bath and Wells) will lead the day.
The cost, which includes lunch, will be £25. Cheques should be made payable to 'Abbey House' plus £2 on the
day for other expenses. If you are in the Cathedral a notice to sign up for the day will be put on the table in
the North Transcept between January 31 - February 28. Please sign and hand payments to Alison Wilcox by
that date. Further information from Alison Wilcox on 01749 673689.
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News from our Music Department
For a round-up of news from our Music Department please visit our website.
Wells Cathedral Lent Course 2016
Wednesday 17 February for five weeks 7.30pm-9.00pm
LENT COURSE 2016 ‘READING THE PSALMS THROUGH LENT’
Wells Cathedral Education Room
Education is key in our mission and thus the ‘Theology in Wells’ programme
employs a wide range of educational methods to attract different people at
different levels. This spectrum includes our longstanding and popular series of
lectures by outstanding speakers each spring and autumn.
Our programme for 2016 is entitled 'Reading the Psalms Through Lent'. You are welcome to attend all
sessions in the programme or individual sessions. All are welcome, admission free with a retiring collection.
Our study sessions will run from 7.30-9.00pm in the Cathedral’s Education Room.
Leader sought for Wells Junior Choir
Wells Cathedral is seeking a leader for our Wells Junior Choir.
The choir is a group of children aged 7-11, and meets for an hour once a week on Tuesday afternoons. The
choir is primarily about having fun through music, although some of its membership may be working towards
auditioning to be choristers in the Cathedral Choir. The choir performs at least three times a year in Wells
Cathedral, Wells Cathedral School and occasionally further afield.
If you are interested, please send an e-mail to musicoffice@wellscathedral.uk.net.
Cathedral Library book of the month for February
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Our Cathedral library book of the month for February is 'Journals of all the
Parliaments during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth' by Sir Simonds
D’Ewes (1682).
Sir Simonds D’Ewes (1602-1650) trained to be a barrister. He became friends
with Sir Robert Cotton whose library of manuscripts was greatly used by the
early antiquarians and he also used records in the Tower of London.
In our thoughts : Amnesty Victim of Injustice
Amnesty Victim of Injustice for February - Burma
Phyoe Phyoe Aung, a young activist, is secretary-general of the All Burma Federation Student Union, one of
the largest student unions in Burma (Myanmar). She has been in prison since 10 March 2015 after being
violently arrested during a protest against the newly adopted National Education Law. Phyoe Phyoe Aung, and
more than 100 peaceful student protesters have been charged with a range of criminal offences. Many face
sentences of more than 9 years’ imprisonment. Despite what appears to be a systematic clampdown on the
student movement, there is reason to believe that the authorities can be pressured into releasing Phyoe
Phyoe Aung and other students.
Many Amnesty supporters have written to the President of Myanmar in support of Phyoe Phyoe Aung and all
students.
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