Worcester Cathedral News Autumn 2014

NEWS WORCESTER CATHEDRAL
Meet
our new
Architect
Page 8
Autumn 2014
The
Battle of
Worcester
Page 12
Inside this issue
Kenneth
Tickell
Remembered
Page 6
Plus, full events calendar and details of regular Cathedral services

Autumn 2014
Contents
3-5 Community News
6 Music
7 Cathedral Information
8-9 Q&A
10-11 Events Guide
12 History & Learning
13 Events
14 Bellringers News
15 Three Choirs Report
16 Fundraising
17 Cathedral in the
Community
18 At the Water Gate
19 Information Form
20 Gift Form
Editorial Team
Nick Drew, Peter Atkinson,
Susan Macleod and Jan Davies
Photography
Christopher Guy except
where credited
Cover
Derek Walker, ‘Autumn Halo’
entered in the Cathedral
photographic competition
Worcester Cathedral News
The Chapter Office,
8 College Yard,
Worcester WR1 2LA
Telephone:
01905 732900
Email:
info@worcestercathedral.org.uk
Website:
www.worcestercathedral.co.uk
Twitter:
@WorcCathedral
Facebook:
search ‘Worcester Cathedral’
2 Worcester Cathedral News
“
“
From the Dean
The end of summer points forward to the autumn, and the life
of the Cathedral moves on as well, with some greetings and
some farewells, and a busy autumn programme succeeding an
equally busy summer. The Three Choirs Festival was a splendid
week, and a tribute both to the artistic director, Peter Nardone,
and to the outgoing Chairman of the Worcester Festival
Committee, Sir Michael Perry. Our August programme, Discover
Something Different, has attracted many visitors to the Cathedral.
Woven through both the Three Choirs Festival and the August
programme have been many events helping to mark the
centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.
New faces to the Cathedral community include Matthew
Armstrong, the new Head of King’s, in succession to Tim Keyes,
and Camilla Finlay, Surveyor of the Fabric, in succession to
Chris Romain. Canon Ann Capell reaches the end of her term
in September as a lay member of the Chapter. Ann has made
an immense contribution to the work of the Chapter, and has
taken a particular interest in the work of our Education team.
The Bishop will announce her successor shortly. A sad and
untimely loss is Kenneth Tickell, builder of the 2008 Quire
Organ, who died on 24th July.
And a face both old and new is that of the next Archdeacon of
Worcester. Canon Robert Jones was born and bred in the
Diocese of Worcester, and has been an honorary canon of the
Cathedral since 2003. His current stall happens to be next to
that of the Archdeacon of Worcester, now vacant since the
consecration of Archdeacon Roger Morris as Bishop of
Colchester. But on Sunday 16 November, Canon Jones will move
one stall to the west to become the new Archdeacon. Robert is a
‘man greatly beloved’ (as was said of the prophet Daniel) and
we wish him well in his new ministry.
Peter Atkinson,
Dean of Worcester
The Three Choirs
Festival was a
splendid week...

Community News
New Archdeacon of Worcester Appointed
September Debut Sermon
from the Bishop of Dudley
The Cathedral offers a belated yet nonetheless warm
welcome to the Rt Revd Graham Usher, installed as Bishop
of Dudley in March 2014, who will preach his first sermon
in the Cathedral on Sunday 14th September.
Graham Usher was born in 1970 and spent his early life
growing up in Ghana. He was educated at Pocklington
School in Yorkshire and then studied for a BSc Ecological
Science (Ecology) at Edinburgh University followed by
gaining a degree in Theology at Corpus Christi College,
Cambridge whilst training for ordination at Westcott
House, Cambridge.
After his ordination in
1996, Graham served his
curacy at St Mary’s
Nunthorpe in the Diocese
Worcester Cathedral News 3
of York, a large commuter suburb of Middlesbrough and
then moved to be Vicar of Holy Trinity in North Ormesby,
Middlesbrough.
In 2004, Graham moved to become Rector and Lecturer of
Hexham. Hexham Abbey is part of the Greater Churches’
Network and, whilst very much a parish church, has many
of the features of a cathedral. During his ten years their
the congregation grew significantly, links with the town
and county increased, and the Abbey was reunited with its
historic monastic buildings which were taken from it at
the Reformation.
Bishop Graham Usher
at consecration
As the Dean mentioned in his
introduction to this issue of the
Newsletter, Canon Robert Jones,
who will be known to many in
our congregation as the current
Director of Development at the
Diocese of Worcester, has been
named as the new Archdeacon
of Worcester, succeeding the
Ven. Roger Morris.
Robert has been a priest in
the Diocese of Worcester ever
since his ordination in 1980 –
indeed, he was confirmed in
the Diocese even before that!
His installation will take place
on Sunday 16th November at
4pm Evensong. We offer him
our warm congratulations and
wish him well in his new role.

A warm & buzzing
atmosphere awaits you in
the heart of the Cathedral
Open Monday to Saturday 9.30am to
4.30pm and Sunday, 10.30am to 4pm
Community News
Cathedral Staff
A new Library Assistant has
joined the Chapter staff. Tom
Hopkins studied Classics for
his MA at the University of
Birmingham. He has been
volunteering at Guildford
Museum, with the London
Borough of Sutton, as a collections care assistant
at the National Army Museum and a registrar
at the National Maritime Museum, but, as Tom
himself says, ‘all the while I’ve been working
for Morrisons to support myself - it wasn’t a job
which allowed me to indulge in my love of
history, Latin and old books! I’m therefore really
excited to be starting as a trainee in the
Cathedral library, and am looking forward to
getting to know Worcester.’
Alice Ward joined the Works
Department on 23rd June. Alice
is our latest bursary student to
join our team of masons. Her
bursary will run for twelve
months. Alice is sponsored
through the National Trust
with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund,
and over the next 12 months Alice will work
towards gaining her work-based NVQ 3
Qualification - Heritage skills in Stonemasonry.
We will soon be saying farewell
to Cathedral stonemason Luke
Tovey. Luke joined the Works
Department in August 2012
on a 12 month bursary, to
complete his NVQ 3 in
masonry skills – he did so with
flying colours. The Dean and Chapter kindly
agreed to extend Luke’s time at the Cathedral,
which enabled him to further his development.
Luke has been entered for the English Heritage
Angel Award for “best craftsmanship by a
trainee or apprentice employed on a heritage
rescue”. The results will be announced later
this year. We wish him well in all his future
endeavours.
During the
summer
season, two
new staff
bolstered
our regular
catering
team in
Cloister Café. Thank you to Liam and Tanika
for their hard work.
Cathedral Volunteers
Jean Davidson, a dedicated
supporter of the Cathedral and
a schools’ guide, was awarded
an MBE as part of the Queen’s
Birthday Honours list this
year. Jean was awarded her
MBE for her services to the
Worcester community. On
receiving the news Jean said
‘I didn’t have an inkling this could happen. It’s very
kind of whoever put me forward and I have to thank
her Majesty as well of course.’
And finally – the Cathedral offers its
congratulations to Service Team member
Dave Skipp and his wife Katie on the birth
of their son, Archie, in June.

6th
Anniversary
Gala Organ
Recital
Saturday 4 October,
6.45pm
Welcoming the New
King’s Headmaster
From the beginning of September,
Matthew Armstrong took up the
position of Headmaster of The King’s
School, Worcester, succeeding Mr Tim
Keyes who retired in August after
sixteen years of distinguished service.
Mr Armstrong was prior to his
appointment an Assistant Headmaster
at Charterhouse.
Mr Armstrong was educated at Hutton Grammar School, where
his father was Headmaster. He went on to study at New College,
Oxford, where he gained an MA in Medieval and Modern
Languages and a PGCE, and at Birkbeck College, London, where
he gained an MA in Renaissance Studies and a BA in English
Literature.
Mr Armstrong has been at Charterhouse for ten years. Before
that he taught at Winchester College for five years and worked
as a Business Analyst for McKinsey & Co. He is married to Kate
and lists mountaineering, skiing, running and chess amongst
his interests.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Armstrong said ‘I am
delighted to be appointed as the next Headmaster of King’s.
The warmth of the school, its close connection with Worcester
Cathedral, its academic distinction and its focus on all-round education
combine to make it a very special place. I am fortunate to be taking over
from Tim Keyes, who has led King’s with such distinction over the last
sixteen years, and I look forward to building on his good work’.
Ronald ‘Sam’ Sowden
Sam, who died in June aged 92, was chairman of the friends
of Worcester Cathedral from 1993 to 1998. He had a
distinguished career in the field of youth work, rising to
be head of the Youth Services department in the former
Hereford and Worcester Council. Sam was involved in the
early stages of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and
the Prince’s Trust. He was also County Commissioner for
the Scouting movement.
Community News
In Memoriam...
We are delighted that this
year’s gala organ recital to
mark the anniversary of the
inauguration of the Tickell
Quire Organ will be given
by the internationally-renowned
organist
Olivier Latry.
Monsieur Latry has been
Titular Organist at Notre
Dame de Paris since 1985,
and is one of the world’s
finest concert organists and
improvisers, so this recital
will be a treat not to be
missed.
Tickets are priced at
£14 and are available
online from
www.ticketsource.co.uk/
date/103028

FMuunsdic raising Page
Kenneth Tickell Music Appointments
Remembered
The music department is pleased to announce
the following appointments starting in
September:
Justin Miller will be joining
as Sub-Assistant Organist.
Justin was most recently Organ
Scholar at Winchester Cathedral
and joins us having previously
served as acting Assistant
Director of Music at Ripon
Cathedral and Organ Scholar at Blackburn
and St Alban’s Cathedrals.
William Parkinson will join the
Music Dept as Organ Scholar for
2014/15. William is currently a
sixth-form pupil at Bromsgrove
School and will spend his gap
year with us, he currently holds
the position of Director of Music
and Organist at St Mary’s Church, Beoley.
James Beddoe has been
appointed Tenor Choral Scholar
for 2014/15. Formerly a chorister
at Southwell Minster, James has
just completed a music degree at
the University of York. James is
also a member of Genesis Sixteen, an elite
young singers’ ensemble run by The Sixteen.
Piers Kennedy will be our
Bass Choral Scholar for next
year. Piers was most recently
a Choral Scholar at Wells
Cathedral. Prior to this he was
a chorister at Llandaff Cathedral
and then a Choral Scholar at
St Peter’s College, Oxford, while studying
for a history degree.
We also say a fond farewell to James Luxton,
who leaves us to take up the role of Assistant
Director of Music at the Metropolitan Cathedral
of Christ the King, Liverpool. We thank him for
his hard work and dedication and wish him
good luck for the future.
British organ builder Kenneth Tickell, who built
the splendid organ in the Quire of Worcester
Cathedral, died suddenly on 24 July, following
a pulmonary embolism.
Having trained in organ building with Grant,
Degens and Bradbeer, Tickell established his first
workshop in Northampton in 1982. From that time,
he built up a business of nine full-time staff
members to match an impressive portfolio of
mainly new instruments. Along with the fine
four-manual instrument he built for us here in
Worcester, which at the time was their largest
commission his organs can be heard in
Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral, as
well as in the cathedrals of Canterbury, Lincoln,
Bristol, Truro, St Davids and Hereford.
The Quire organ here in Worcester, purchased as
part of the Music and Light Appeal, blends
centuries-old pipe making and wood-working
skills with state-of-the-art computer control
systems. It was dedicated and blessed by the
Bishop of Worcester in October 2008, and described
by then-Director of Music Adrian Lucas as having
‘triumphantly reinvented English Cathedral organ
design for the 21st Century’.
Tickell was himself an accomplished organist and
graduating in Music from Hull University (where
he was organ scholar) in 1978. For many years he
was Director of Music at St Mary’s, Northampton.
A memorial Evensong for Kenneth will be held
in the Cathedral on Saturday 4th October, the
anniversary of the organ’s dedication.
Additional reporting courtesy of Choir and Organ Magazine

Cathedral Information
Weekly Services
Sunday Services
7.30am Matins
8.00am Holy Communion
10.30am The Cathedral
Eucharist
4.00pm Evensong or
Evening Prayer
There is normally a Service
at 6.30pm on Sundays in
School Term.
Monday to Saturday
Services
7.30am Matins
5.30pm Evensong or
Evening Prayer
Additional Weekday
Services
Monday
1.05pm Prayers for Healing
(not Bank Holidays)
Wednesday
1.05pm Holy Communion
Friday
(BCP)
Cathedral Information
Cathedral opening times
7.30am – 6pm daily, Entry free. Charges apply for the areas below.
Group Guided Tours
Email: visits@worcestercathedral.org.uk
Young people and school group visits
Email: schools@worcestercathedral.org.uk
Turn up for a Tour
Until the end of November, Monday – Saturday, 11am & 2.30pm
December to end of February: Saturdays only, 11am & 2.30pm
Tower open (weather permitting)
Until the end of October on Saturdays, Bank Holidays and
school holidays. Please telephone to check the Tower is open
before making a special visit.
Cathedral Library
Open by appointment only
Email: davidmorrison@worcestercathedral.org.uk
Meeting rooms and to book events
Email: visits@worcestercathedral.org.uk
Cathedral Shop
Monday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Sunday, 12noon – 4pm
Also often open for concerts at 6.30pm and during the interval.
Cloister Café
Monday to Saturday 9.30am – 4.30pm
Sunday 10.30am – 4pm
The Chapter Office
Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 5pm
Telephone: 01905 732900
Email: info@worcestercathedral.org.uk
Website: www.worcestercathedral.co.uk
The Cathedral’s detailed monthly
service scheme for the current
month will give you more information
about the individual services.
Visit: www.worcestercathedral.co.uk/
Monthly_Service_Scheme.php

Q&A
Building on Firm
Foundations
Meet our New Surveyor of the Fabric Camilla Finlay
At the start of the summer, we bade
a fond farewell to Chris Romain (left),
who has been the Cathedral Architect
since 1996, as he commenced a
well-earned retirement. Chris’ tenure
as Architect took in the lion’s share of
the major Restoration and Development programme
which has left the Cathedral in excellent condition,
along with a number of major projects, including the
re-flooring of the Chapter House, the new toilet
block off the east run of the Cloisters, the Guesten
redevelopment and other major restoration projects.
Whilst Chris will be missed by the Cathedral
community, we needed to move forward quickly to
find a replacement (and, indeed, ecclesiastical law
requires us to have the services of a Surveyor of
the Fabric). So we were very pleased to secure
the services of Camilla Finlay, a Director of the
Banbury-based firm Acanthus Clews, who also
acts as architect to Exeter Cathedral. She has
extensive experience of church conservation
and architecture, including designing the new
building for the Anglican Benedictine Congregation
of Mucknell Abbey, which won the Ecclesiastical
Architects and Surveyors Association President’s
Award in 2011.
We caught up with her to discuss the pleasures
and challenges of being a Cathedral Architect.

Q&A
I’m here to support the team in serving the fabric
and facilitating a way forward for the future...
What drew you to specialise in
historical conservation and
architecture?
It is in my genes! As a child I was
brought up around church
buildings, and every holiday I
remember we would have to go and
see four parish churches before
going to the beach. So my parents
passed down their love of historic
buildings to me. I do the same to
my children now! It also made me
passionate about access to historic
buildings – you learn about them
by going in and experiencing them.
Having places like that as part of
your life is the way you fall in love
with them.
What has been the most
satisfying piece of architectural
or conservation work of your
career to date, and why?
I suppose the most important
was the work I did with the
Benedictine monks and nuns of the
former Burford Priory to help them
on their journey to create a new
home at Mucknell Abbey. Their
journey here to be part of the
Worcester Diocese from Burford is
an amazing one. We looked on it as
a positive opportunity but it was
clearly an enormous change, and I
feel privileged to have accompanied
them on that journey and to create
architecture to support their new
life as a community. The Oratory
building we created in the
courtyard is a very special place
which I feel very proud to have
helped to create, and it feels very
special to be able to go there to
pray. Brother Stuart is a Canon of
the Cathedral, so it has been lovely
to re-engage with that community
as I find my feet here in Worcester.
What are you most looking
forward to about working in
Worcester?
The thing I’m really excited about
is getting to know the community
and to get a deeper knowledge of
this enormous and challenging
building. It’s a never-ending
building, or at least it seems that
way as I continue the process of
getting round all the roof voids
and other nooks and crannies
which visitors don’t often get to
see! It’s wonderful to be part of a
team dedicated to protecting this
glorious building and being part
of its life and work. I feel as if I am
completing my own little circle of
life in a way, after having been at
school in Worcestershire.
I’m also very conscious that the
building has been incredibly well
cared-for by my predecessor –
sometimes as an architect you take
over a building in poor condition
and you need to deal with all sorts
of problems, as basic as keeping the
water out! But because the place is
in such a good state, we’re in a
really exciting place talking about
development for the future.
What do you think is going to be
the most challenging element of
your work at Worcester?
I’m here to support the team in
serving the fabric and facilitating
a way forward for the future,
so a big part of it is going be
continuing to develop the
community vision. The
challenging part is the level of
knowledge you need to grow and
gather in order to do this job well
– it’s a very immersive process,
but one which you need to
undertake in order to fully
understand the fabric and share
in the vision for the future.
One thing I’ve been overwhelmed
by is the breadth of activities that
go on in the Cathedral, and the
exceptional quality of those
activities. The constant challenge
of a major public and historic
building is to make sure the fabric
is well-maintained and thriving,
and that it allows the activities
that take place in the building
to keep going.
Do you have a favourite
building (other than Worcester
Cathedral, of course)?
I’ve been pondering that!
I studied architecture at the
Glasgow School of Art, which
recently suffered a catastrophic
fire. To see how vulnerable this or
any historic building is, brings to
my mind how passionate I am
about that building and how
much there is a role for architects
in conservation. The School of
Art is not only an exceptional
20th century building, but a
building built, in every detail,
for purpose, like a church. It’s a
building designed to allow
people to paint, so there are
exceptionally-scaled north-facing
windows – every detail has been
thought through so beautifully.
It’s been very much in my
thoughts ever since the fire.
“
“

Events at Worcester Cathedral
September
Saturday 6 September
Peal for Civil War Anniversary
9 - 14 September
‘Worlds Eye’,
Installation of Flags
College Green
9 - 21 September
‘Aspects of
Worcester Cathedral’
Photographic competition
exhibition
Dean’s Chapel
Friday 12 September
Worcester College of
Technology Award Ceremonies
Saturday 13 September,
10am - 4pm
Heritage Open Day
Wednesday 17 September,
2.30pm
Mothers’ Union Diocesan
Festival Service
Friday 19 September, 3pm
Memorial Service for
Professor Nicholas Brooks
Friday 26 September,
1.10pm - 1.50pm
Mousehole Male Voice Choir
Free Lunchtime Recital
Retiring collection
Saturday 27 September,
10am – 1pm
Big Bible Study
For more information email:
bbs@worcestercathedral.org.uk
Saturday 27 September, 2pm
Friends of Worcester
Cathedral AGM
Lady Chapel
Saturday 27 September, 7pm
Worcester Cathedral Choir
Pre Tour Concert
Tickets on the door for more
information 01905 732900
Sunday 28 September, 2pm
Service of Thanksgiving for the
Worcestershire Acute Trust
October
Friday 3 October,
1.10pm - 1.50pm
Nankersey Male Voice Choir
Retiring collection
Saturday 4 October,
10am - 3.30pm
Diocesan Festival of Healing
For more information tel
01386 861791 or email:
petereandsue@gmail.com
Saturday 4 October,
4.30pm
Memorial Evensong
for Kenneth Tickell
Saturday 4 October,
6.45pm
Anniversary Gala Organ
Recital by Olivier Latry,
Notre Dame, Paris
Tickets £14 available from
www.ticketsource.co.uk/
date/103028 or on the door
before the recital
Sunday 5 October, 6.30pm
County Harvest Service
7 – 19 October
‘Life’s Journey’
Exhibition by Birmingham
Watercolour Society
Dean’s Chapel
Saturday 11 October,
7.30pm
Concert by
Treorchy Male Voice Choir
Supporting Acorns
Childrens’ Hospice
Tickets £15, £20, £25 from
Worcester Live Box Office
01905 611427
Saturday 18 October,
7.30pm
Forty Years of Worcester
Music Making
Concert by Elgar Chorale
For more information
www.elgarchorale.com
Sunday 19 October,
4pm
Judiciary Service
Wednesday 22 – Saturday 25
October, 7.30pm
Thursday 23 & Friday 24
October, 1.30pm Matinees
William Shakespeare’s:
‘Julius Caesar’ by
The Worcester Repertory
Company
Tickets £17.50 evenings, £12.50
matinees from Worcester Live
Box Office 01905 611427
Events Guide

Events Guide
Regular Events
Monday - Saturday,
11.00am & 2.30pm
Turn up for a Tour
£4 per person
Monday - Saturday,
11am - last entry 4.30pm
Tower Open
£4 per adult, £2 per child,
£8 per family
Monday – Saturday,
10am - 4pm,
Sunday 12noon - 4pm
Safari Back Pack
Self-guided tours around
the Cathedral for children
£5 + £5 deposit
(with some items to keep)
Scan this code on your smartphone
or tablet to access the latest events
diary on the Worcester Cathedral
website
November
Saturday 1 November,
1.10pm - 1.50pm
Ladybrook Singers, Stockport
Retiring collection
Saturday 1 November, 5.30pm
Sung Eucharist for All Saints’ Day
The Oriana Singers
Monday 3 November, 7.30pm
Sung Requiem for All Souls’ Day
Chamber Choir
Thursday 6 November, 6pm
The Worcester Lecture
The Nave
Friday 7 November,
7.30pm
Monteverdi: ‘Vespers’
Concert by The Sixteen
Tickets £15 & £20
from Box Office 01904 658338
Thursday 6th November,
6pm
Worcester Lecture
General the Lord Dannatt,
Chief of the General Staff
Sunday 9 November, 10am
Service for Remembrance Day
11am Act of Remembrance at
the War Memorial
Friday 14 November,
3pm & 7pm
Lights of Love Service
7.30pm
Jonathan Dove:
‘There was a Child’,
Faure: ‘Requiem’
Concert by Worcester Festival
Choral Society
Tickets £7 - £25 from
Worcester Live Box Office
01905 611427 or on the door
before the concert
Sunday 16 November, 4pm
Installation of the Archdeacon
of Worcester
Sunday 16 November, 6.30pm
Service marking Prison Week
18 – 21 November
University of Worcester
Award Ceremonies
5.30pm
RSCM Festival Evensong
Friday 28 – Sunday 30
November, 10am - 4pm
Friday & Saturday,
12.30pm - 3.30pm Sunday
Christmas Fayre in the Cloisters
7.30pm
Christmas Concert
by the Chamber Choir
Sunday 30 November,
6.30pm
Advent Procession
and Carol Service
Disclaimer Care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the diary at the time of publishing, however, changes may be made
at a later date. Please check with the Chapter Office for the latest details or visit our website at www.worcestercathedral.co.uk

History & Learning
Worcester Cathedral,
World War I and Conflict Today
In July 2014 new material was added to the Cathedral’s
interpretation touchscreens and mobile app, exploring Worcester
Cathedral’s links with the First World War, its close relationship
through the centuries with Worcestershire regiments, the role of
chaplains then and now, and the continuing need to support and
care for serving soldiers and their families.
A new touchscreen programme brings to life the impact of the
First World War in Worcester and compares the contribution of
famous Worcester-linked chaplains, such as ‘Woodbine Willie’ and
E.V. Tanner, with the role of chaplains in Afghanistan and elsewhere
in the present. A ‘Remembering’ mobile app trail allows visitors and
the local community to reflect on the cost and challenges of conflict,
past and present. A new banner will enhance the re-ordered St
George’s Memorial Chapel, where visitors can place poppy petals
on the altar in memory of those who have died or been wounded
in conflict.
This material has been produced with the full support and help
of the Ministry of Defence, The Mercian Regiment Museum
(Worcestershire), and the Worcestershire Yeomanry Museum Trust.
The Battle of Worcester
Commemoration
On 3rd September we
remember The Battle of
Worcester that took place here
in 1651. Worcester was held
by the Royalists and Charles
II watched the progress of the
battle from the top of the
Cathedral tower. After heavy
fighting within the city and
the wider surrounding area,
part of Oliver Cromwell’s
Parliamentary army gained
control of Fort Royal and
turned the cannon there on
the city. As a result, Charles
was forced to flee from
Worcester and went into exile.
One of the Royalist
commanders, the Duke of
Hamilton, was wounded in
the battle and died in The
Commandery a few days later.
He is buried in the Cathedral’s
High Altar sanctuary.
Lord Selkirk, a descendant
of the Duke and his nephew
Alexander, the current Duke
of Hamilton, are visiting the
Cathedral on 7th September
to lay a wreath on their
ancestor’s grave and the
Duke of Hamilton will
climb the tower.
For more information about the Battle of Worcester visit
www.worcestercathedral.co.uk/The_Civil_War.php
Family Learning
is Fun
Brass rubbing
The Education department
now have a planned series
of activities during short
and longer holiday periods
which include those which
can be engaged in as a
family group without
staffing, and those which
require some direction from
Sue and Sara.
We are extending our
portfolio of trails to now
include a Safari trail, and
Fruit and Flower Trail, as
well as the simple family
trail which is still popular.
The Safari trail is offered
with a back pack in which is
important equipment such
as binoculars, a hat to make,
emergency rations, and the
gift of a pencil and postcard.
This summer during
Discover Something Different,
Brass Rubbing has been
enjoyed by participants of all
ages. Although there are few
brasses in the cathedral and
they cannot be ‘rubbed’ we
have purchased some resin
moulds and have a vast
collection of donated
‘rubbings’ to display from
all over the country.

Events
This year’s Worcester Lecture,
an annual lecture which is
co-hosted by the University of
Worcester and the Cathedral and
which explores moral questions
in public life, will be held in the
nave of the Cathedral at 6pm on
Thursday 6th November 2014.
General the Lord Dannatt, Chief
of the General Staff 2006-2008,
will be this year’s lecturer, and
his subject will be that of ethical
issues in modern warfare, the
centennial anniversary of the
outbreak of the First World War.
This October the Worcester Repertory Company
return to Worcester Cathedral and present William
Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar directed by Chris Jaeger.
Performances are Wednesday 22 to Saturday 25
October at 7.30pm and Thursday & Friday matinees
at 1.30pm. Tickets are £17.50 (matinee £12.50).
Contact the Worcester Live box office on 01905 611427.
Janice Waldron
During the 17 years that I have
been selling at the Christmas
Fayre, I have seen it grow in size
and variety. Providing a welcome
haven from the hectic bustle of
the High Street, customers can
sample the delights of the
Cathedral - including organ
recitals and choir - in addition
to the mince pies, mulled wine
and tempting selection of gifts
on offer in the Cloisters.
It is without doubt my favourite
craft fair; a chance to meet old
friends and customers and a
wonderful start to the Christmas
Season!
Choristers to perform
with The Sixteen
On Friday 7 November our
Cathedral choristers will have
the fantastic opportunity to
join world-class choir The
Sixteen for a performance of
one of the cornerstones of
the choral repertoire –
Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610.
Our choristers will sing the
treble line in the Sonata
which closes the work.
Conductor Harry Christophers
said: ‘the Vespers is one of the
most significant collections of
sacred music ever written. We will
follow Monteverdi’s dictum
recitar cantando - speak through
singing - to maximum effect.’
Tickets are available now from
the Worcester Live box office
on 01905 611427.
Worcester
Lecture
Christmas Fayre
28-30 November
Beware the Ides of March!
Following the success of Macbeth
and The Merchant of Venice in
previous years we look forward
to welcoming Chris and his team
back. With the inclusion of a
raised stage, microphones and an
absorbent sound cloth (behind
the audience) the early acoustic
problems in the Lady chapel were
rectified and we can expect a
dramatic and entertaining
performance with a bit of fun
thrown in!
Photo: MolinaVisuals

Bellringers News
The Sounds of a Successful Event
On Saturday 5 July the Cathedral’s Guild of
Bellringers organised the fourth Ringing World
National Youth Contest. Our own Cathedral band
was one of the 16 teams from all over the UK who
came to Worcester to compete for the Whitechapel
Trophy. Over 500 people visited the city and rang at
the city’s churches. Many stayed for the weekend.
The feedback for the event has been wonderful,
especially via Facebook. This message was
received from David Salter, an Ipswich ringer
whose sons competed in the Suffolk band.
‘I have searched the George Pipe book of ringing
superlatives to find a word to describe Saturday
in Worcester but to no avail. Let’s just say that Mark and
the cathedral ringers scored a spine tingling eleven out
of ten for organising a wonderful day out. Virtually all
the young ringers got a chance to ring on the magnificent
cathedral bells and all will have gone home with wonderful
memories that should last a lifetime.’
The competition took place at Old St Martin in the
Cornmarket and during the day ringing took place
at All Saints, St Swithun, Barbourne, St John
Bedwardine and our Teaching Centre. Many
groups have asked to come back again. Handbell
workshops took place in the St John Chapel.
Over 300 people rang at the Cathedral in the three
hours up to Choral Evensong. For many, including
ringers aged under 11 this was a great experience.
The Cathedral’s bells have an awesome reputation
and are very difficult to ring. However, everyone
did ring, and did so to a high standard. 200 people
stayed on for a hog roast and barbeque on College
Green and a spontaneous football match between
choristers and bellringers took place to end the day.
The support we received from the Cathedral staff
and volunteers made a significant contribution to
the day. Lots of people said how friendly and
accessible we are as a church community.
The contest was won by a team from Bedfordshire.
Our own fledgling band came 15th. We will do
better next year when the competition is held in
Oxford on Saturday 11th July 2015.
Anniversary of
the Great War
On 4 August 2014 the Cathedral’s
bells were rung half-muffled as a
mark of respect to commemorate the
100th anniversary of the Great
Britain entering the Great War.
The bells were recast in 1928
under the instigation of Dean
Moore Ede and were first rung
on Armistice Day that year.
In memory of the Worcestershire men who gave their lives in the Great War

Three Choirs Report
New in the Cathedral Shop
As our thoughts turn to the
outbreak of the Great War we
are reminded of the great poetry
of that period. The Cathedral
shop stocks a Naxos double CD
of some of the finest poems read
by eminent actors interspersed
with evocative music, £11.50.
We also have a brand new CD
from the Proteus Ensemble
directed by Stephen Shellard
(the Cathedral Choir’s senior
Lay Clerk). It is a moving
sequence of music and readings
for remembrance, £13.99.
Another new publication is a
mini guide to the Cathedral’s
musical heritage, giving an
overview covering the Worcester
Antiphoner, Thomas Tomkins,
Elgar, the Three Choirs Festival
and much more, £2.99.
For a full range of gift ideas why not
visit the Cathedral shop online at:
www.worcestercathedral.co.uk/
Shop_online.php
There’s nothing quite like fine
weather for creating a festival
atmosphere, and with the
Cathedral and College Green
bathed in sunshine at the end
of July this year’s Three
Choirs Festival certainly got
off to a good start. Strong
advance sales for the musical
programme were boosted by
unprecedented activity during
the week at the onsite Ticket
Office in the King’s School,
making this one of the most
successful festivals of recent
years. The tented Festival
Village on the green brought
together the café tirelessly run
by the Friends of the Festival,
the beer tent run by The Pickled
Plum of Pershore and a bar
run by Malpas Stallard, and
the craft pavilion and Festival
Shop; informal performances
in the mini marquee added to
the convivial atmosphere.
The premiere of A Foreign
Field by Torsten Rasch
attracted significant attention
from the national music press
and we were joined for the
performance by a group of
singers from Chemnitz in
Germany, underlining the
work’s message of
reconciliation.
As ever, the festival
celebrated the rich choral
tradition of our three cities,
with the Festival Chorus,
the boys, girls and men of
the cathedral choirs, their
directors and organists at
its heart.
Sunshine and Song
Clare Stevens
Photo: Derek Foxton
Torsten Rasch receives a raptuous applause

Fundraising
Celebrating
Our Benefactors
The Pilgrim’s boots Benefactors get a first look at the Worcester Pilgrim
For further information on
the Guild events programme,
and how you can join, please
contact Nick Drew, Director of
Fundraising and Development:
email: nickdrew@
worcestercathedral.org.uk
or telephone 01905 732912
Worcester Cathedral established
its Guild of Benefactors in 2012
as a way of recognising and
rewarding supporters who
agree to a regular annual gift.
In Spring and Summer this
year, we launched our
inaugural events programme,
and there are still a number
of events to come this year,
including a special tour of the
Cathedral library focussing on
benefactors of the past, and a
Stonemasons’ Yard Experience
day, where Guild members can
see and join in with the work of
the Masons. We also give Guild
members the opportunity to
take a “first look” at significant
Cathedral projects – earlier this
year, for example, Benefactors
were able to see the official
unveiling of the Worcester
Pilgrim artefacts after they
returned from conservation
work. The Benefactors’
receptions before the Advent
Carol Services and the Guild
Summer Party are also
becoming regular fixtures
in the Cathedral calendar.
Membership of the Guild is
priced at £250 annually for
individuals and £400 for
couples or joint membership.
All income from the Guild
goes towards the urgent
needs of the Cathedral –
the maintenance of the fabric,
supporting the Cathedral’s
music, and developing our
educational outreach work.
In particular, all income from
the Guild this year will be
put towards the vital work
to restore Edgar Tower
(see last issue for details).

Cathedral in the Community
Cathedral
and Colleges
Perhaps less well known than the cathedral’s
excellent work with school-aged children is its
work with both Heart of Worcestershire
College (formerly Worcester College of
Technology) and the University of Worcester,
both of whom have their awards and
graduation ceremonies in the Cathedral in
September and November respectively. Our
connections, however, are much more than
these ceremonies.
Students of photography and of art at Heart
of Worcestershire College, recently graded
‘good’ in an OFSTED inspection, often come
to the cathedral to sketch and photograph,
and regularly leave inspired, and eager to
make a return visit. Canon Alvyn Pettersen
has, for a number of years, been a Governor
there, and the chair of the College’s Standards
and Achievements Committee.
The University has also been a close friend of
the Cathedral, ever since the celebrations
when it first achieved full University status
University of Worcester (below) and
Heart of Worcestershire College (bottom)
© Julian Simmonds / Telegraph Media Group Limited 2013
Sir Richard Dannatt
were held in the Cathedral in 2005. Two very
important developments in the Cathedral
– University partnership have occurred.
One is the annual Worcester Lecture, where
moral issues in the public sphere are
addressed. Previous speakers and subjects
have included Dame Anne Owers on the place
of prisons in society, Keir Starmer QC, on the
press and privacy, and Baroness Kennedy of
the Shaws QC on human rights. This year’s
speaker will be General, the Lord Dannatt,
formerly the Chief of the General Staff.
There has also been significant collaborative
working between our two institutions, with
our stonemasons, Education Department, and
the Cathedral library working together with
departments at the University.
‘Partnership’ clearly is the word which
captures the Cathedral’s relationship with
Heart of Worcestershire College and the
University of Worcester.

“At the Water Gate”
Chapter & Verse
Revd Canon Dr Alvyn Pettersen
Churches and cathedrals often suffer from
infrequent regulars and religious addicts.
The one are hardly ever present, the others
hardly ever absent.
The former perhaps should reflect on this
saying of the 4th century monk, Anthony,
Just as fish die if they stay too long out of
water, so monks who loiter outside their
cells or pass their time with worldly men
lose the intensity of inner peace.
And the latter perhaps should reflect on
another of Anthony’s saying,
A hunter in the desert saw Anthony enjoying
himself with the brethren and he was
shocked. Wanting to show the hunter that
it was necessary sometimes to meet the
Help Us Give a Warm Welcome
brethren’s’ other needs, Anthony said to
him, Put an arrow in your bow and shoot it.
This he did. Anthony then said, shoot
another. This he also did. Anthony then said,
and shoot yet another. The hunter cried out,
but if I bend my bow so much, I will break it.
Anthony then said, it is the same with God’s
work. If we stretch the brethren beyond
measure, they too soon will break.
Those of us meanwhile who see ourselves
as neither perhaps should reflect on both
sayings, and attend to establishing a yet
better balance between faith, leisure and
work, between Sunday, and Saturday, and
Monday to Friday, that we may increasingly
know an accommodating God’s
strengthening.
We are blessed with over
300 volunteers helping us
at Worcester Cathedral,
taking part in a wide variety
of activities. We have great
feedback from visitors
about one of the key
voluntary roles, our
Welcomers.
As the title suggests having
responsibility for giving a
warm and friendly welcome
to all those coming into the
Cathedral, remaining calm
under the pressure of a high
volume of summer visitors
and retaining a bright and
encourage the purchase
of a photo permit, take a
guided tour or climb the
tower for the fine views.
If you know anyone who
would enjoy being part of
our community we are
looking for some more help
to welcome visitors on our
busiest day, a Saturday.
Please contact Susan
MacLeod, the Operational
manager at the Chapter
office or email her on
susanmacleod@
worcestercathedral.org.uk
interested countenance in the quieter
midwinter months.
Our Welcomers also need to have a
touch of the salesperson about them,
enjoy talking to strangers, especially
about our shop and café, be willing to

Worcester Cathedral News Autumn 2014

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (10)

Similar to Worcester Cathedral News Autumn 2014

Similar to Worcester Cathedral News Autumn 2014 (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Worcester Cathedral News Autumn 2014