Last Tuesday, as part of the year of reading, groups of primary school children gathered in the Cathedral to hear Frank Cottrell Boyce read an extract from one of his books and answer the childrens questions. To my surprise ‘Robbie the Bobbie’ wasn’t a book but a real policeman, tall and burly and I was asked to introduce him to the children – as it turned out they all knew him rather than me. The afternoon brought home the importance of our children developing a love of word, story and reading. Not least they will never have a love of reading and listening to the Word of God if they have not gained an interest in reading themselves. I believe one or two people complained after midday mass about the selling and signing of childrens books in the foyer at this event. We shouldn’t forget that the Cathedral Bookshop used to be within the actual Cathedral up until a few years ago.
You may have thought that the Conference season was over for another year following the Conservative Conference but not so - I will be attending the Catholic Cathedrals Deans Conference at Brentwood Cathedral this week. Unlike the other conferences there is no leaders speech or press and a lot of prayer and visits to Cathedrals but still the same wining and dining, the occasional good idea and lots of in-house church gossip and information. It would probably be a better model for the political parties to follow. Sadly this means missing the talk by Professor Belchem from the History Department of Liverpool University entitled ‘ Irish, Scouse and Catholic’. If asked to describe our ethnic identity many of us would do so using these three words plus one or two more. When I lived near Netherfield Road as a child we used to be asked whether you were a Catholic or a Protestant - I learned to start running as fast as I could as I shouted the answer. So I would probably add ‘and a fast runner’ also to the title. I’m sure it will be an interesting account of our roots and identity - the fruit of many years research, lecturing and writing by professor Belchem. This has been arranged by the Cathedral Friends and I am very grateful that they are arranging a number of events such as this.
The Corbusier exhibition opened its doors in the Crypt to great acclaim last week. The final rush to have everything ready in time was like a scene from one of the television makeover programmes. One of the perks of hosting such an important architectural exhibition here is that I have been invited to the Stirling Prize (annual national architectural awards) which is being held in Liverpool next Saturday. It will be compered by Kevin McLoud. I was a big fan of ‘Grand Designs’ on Channel 4 in its early days and I would have loved to have had a building design on the series - the ‘Crypt Link Project’ would have made an interesting programme as it has not been without its challenges and surprises and funny moments. Limited daily access to the Pontifical Hall via the new link will be available from the Cathedral beginning some time this week. The vinyl etching on the glass and the plaques on the new steps will be completed in the near future.
This Sunday afternoon at 3pm Bishop Tom Williams will be Main Celebrant at the Annual Mass with People with Disabilities. This is arranged and co-ordinated by Nugent Care and this year there will be a screen and palantypist for this mass in a designated area of the Cathedral. Next Sunday at the 11am Solemn Mass we are joined by students and parents of St Edwards College for the celebration of the feast of St Edward the Confessor. The Cathedral will be full for this mass so you may want to arrive a little earlier if you are attending this mass next week.
Last Tuesday, as part of the year of reading, groups of primary school children gathered in the Cathedral to hear Frank Cottrell Boyce read an extract from one of his books and answer the childrens questions. To my surprise ‘Robbie the Bobbie’ wasn’t a book but a real policeman, tall and burly and I was asked to introduce him to the children – as it turned out they all knew him rather than me. The afternoon brought home the importance of our children developing a love of word, story and reading. Not least they will never have a love of reading and listening to the Word of God if they have not gained an interest in reading themselves. I believe one or two people complained after midday mass about the selling and signing of childrens books in the foyer at this event. We shouldn’t forget that the Cathedral Bookshop used to be within the actual Cathedral up until a few years ago.
The Corbusier exhibition opened its doors in the Crypt to great acclaim last week. The final rush to have everything ready in time was like a scene from one of the television makeover programmes. One of the perks of hosting such an important architectural exhibition here is that I have been invited to the Stirling Prize (annual national architectural awards) which is being held in Liverpool next Saturday. It will be compered by Kevin McLoud. I was a big fan of ‘Grand Designs’ on Channel 4 in its early days and I would have loved to have had a building design on the series - the ‘Crypt Link Project’ would have made an interesting programme as it has not been without its challenges and surprises and funny moments. Limited daily access to the Pontifical Hall via the new link will be available from the Cathedral beginning some time this week. The vinyl etching on the glass and the plaques on the new steps will be completed in the near future.