The refectory in the former seminary at Upholland used to have life size paintings of the former Rectors of the College and of the Archbishops of Liverpool, and other important clerical figures. The image of these rather stern, brooding characters looking down on us as students, whilst eating, is still stored somewhere in my subconscious. They certainly didn’t make the food more appetising. One of the past Rectors was alleged to still haunt the building which used to have me looking over my shoulder when walking alone down dark corridors. What came as a real shock and horror to me was that when we came to start the Crypt works, and therefore needed to empty out the store rooms, that the Cathedral had inherited all these paintings when the College closed. The problem that I’ve faced over the last few months as the work is coming to completion in the Crypt is what to do with them. The Cathedral already had smaller copied images of the various Archbishops of Liverpool which fit neatly onto a couple of large display boards. Do I exact my revenge and seal the large paintings away for another generation or do we cover every available bit of wall space in the Pontifical Hall with these worried and serious looking portraits? Albeit that some are of fine artistic quality. Consulting those in authority has not revealed any strong support in their favour. Therefore I’ve decided to store the paintings away and not subject those who visit the Pontifical Hall to an onslaught of depression. Let’s hope they don’t come back to haunt me. If Archbishop Patrick ever has his portrait painted we must encourage him to break with past tradition and be painted with a smile!
This Sunday I have been invited to preach at the 10.30am Service in the Anglican Cathedral for the feast of Candlemas. It is a measure of the friendship and close co-operation between our two Cathedrals that this is possible. A noticeable difference between our two congregations is that they expect their sermons to be about twice as long as ours. I just hope that their expectations aren’t too high. Also this Sunday afternoon there is an open event in the Cathedral for boys and their parents who are considering applying to join the Choir this September.
Monday is the Feast of the Presentation in the Temple. As we recall this Gospel story we honour Our Lord as the ‘Light of all Peoples’. The Feast of St Blaise follows this on the Tuesday – traditionally the day for the blessing of throats – to rid us of ailments rather than improve our singing!
Next Sunday afternoon the Archbishop will preside at Evening Prayer which will focus on Prayer for ‘Marriage and family Life’. The 8th February is also the Anniversary of the death of Archbishop Worlock and the service will finish with a few prayers at his tomb in St Joseph’s Chapel.
I’m sure many of you get a shock whenever a utility bill arrives through the post with the increases in costs that we seem to face year on year. One bill that has multiplied many times over for the Cathedral has been the water surface drainage cost. In the past we used to be invoiced on the rateable value of the property, which for charities was pretty negligible. Now the system has changed and we are charged on the surface area of the property which for Cathedrals, large churches or community halls with grounds is colossal. This could run into tens of thousands of pounds a year for us. There have been many protests raised about this, but so far to no avail. Let’s hope and pray that there is a change of policy for charitable institutions otherwise this Dean may lose the last bit of hair he has left.
The refectory in the former seminary at Upholland used to have life size paintings of the former Rectors of the College and of the Archbishops of Liverpool, and other important clerical figures. The image of these rather stern, brooding characters looking down on us as students, whilst eating, is still stored somewhere in my subconscious. They certainly didn’t make the food more appetising. One of the past Rectors was alleged to still haunt the building which used to have me looking over my shoulder when walking alone down dark corridors. What came as a real shock and horror to me was that when we came to start the Crypt works, and therefore needed to empty out the store rooms, that the Cathedral had inherited all these paintings when the College closed. The problem that I’ve faced over the last few months as the work is coming to completion in the Crypt is what to do with them. The Cathedral already had smaller copied images of the various Archbishops of Liverpool which fit neatly onto a couple of large display boards. Do I exact my revenge and seal the large paintings away for another generation or do we cover every available bit of wall space in the Pontifical Hall with these worried and serious looking portraits? Albeit that some are of fine artistic quality. Consulting those in authority has not revealed any strong support in their favour. Therefore I’ve decided to store the paintings away and not subject those who visit the Pontifical Hall to an onslaught of depression. Let’s hope they don’t come back to haunt me. If Archbishop Patrick ever has his portrait painted we must encourage him to break with past tradition and be painted with a smile! 
This Sunday I have been invited to preach at the 10.30am Service in the Anglican Cathedral for the feast of Candlemas. It is a measure of the friendship and close co-operation between our two Cathedrals that this is possible. A noticeable difference between our two congregations is that they expect their sermons to be about twice as long as ours. I just hope that their expectations aren’t too high. Also this Sunday afternoon there is an open event in the Cathedral for boys and their parents who are considering applying to join the Choir this September.
I’m sure many of you get a shock whenever a utility bill arrives through the post with the increases in costs that we seem to face year on year. One bill that has multiplied many times over for the Cathedral has been the water surface drainage cost. In the past we used to be invoiced on the rateable value of the property, which for charities was pretty negligible. Now the system has changed and we are charged on the surface area of the property which for Cathedrals, large churches or community halls with grounds is colossal. This could run into tens of thousands of pounds a year for us. There have been many protests raised about this, but so far to no avail. Let’s hope and pray that there is a change of policy for charitable institutions otherwise this Dean may lose the last bit of hair he has left.