Weekly Record
6 December 2009  Things
start to get a little bit frantic at this time of the year for us all
and this applies in equal doses to Cathedral life as it does to
families. At present we have people contributing items for the Women’s
Refuge, the Car Boot Sale and the Samaritans. Whilst everyone else in
Cathedral House seems to be able to take this in their stride I can’t
remember which has been given for what purpose within a couple of hours
of answering the door.
The Maintenance team have a mad scramble
to put up trees and get everything in place for the next few weeks when
there is at least one Christmas event or concert or special service
each day. The largest chunk of work is planning for the many and varied
events in the diary. What is seen publicly is that one of the clergy
welcomes or presides or thanks and gives a blessing at these but it is
the staff who have spent considerable time dealing with organisers and
co-ordinated everything on behalf of the Cathedral. Mind you we
wouldn’t want it any other way- even though busy, it is a very
fulfilling and enjoyable time of the year. There are only a few
days left before the Nativity Advent Plays are performed for the
Schools Services this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. Following the
first full rehearsal panic has finally set in for our
Producer/Director. The combination of adults and children and our home
made special effects meant our first attempts weren’t quite up to
Hollywood standards but it was obvious that there was loads of raw
potential waiting to be teased out. The big question is how long will
this teasing process take! One exceptional talent came to the fore –
That of our Music Director, Timothy Noon, who has recorded his voice
for the announcements for the Nazareth Census. If ever he was looking
for a change of career he should seriously consider British Rail as a
train arrivals and departure announcer. This is definitely one not to
miss this week (2.15 pm each day) Our Nativity may not have been
mentioned in reviews of whats on, but our choir have been named as one
of the top twenty Cathedral Choirs to hear this Christmas. In the
midst of all these extra events this week Cathedral and parish life
carries on. The Chapter of Canons meet on Tuesday. Many of our Year 3
children at St Nicholas Primary make their first confession also later
that afternoon. On Thursday evening ‘Action for Children’ have their
carol concert, ‘Support after Murder or Manslaughter’ have their annual
service on Friday at 7.30pm and our own concert society have their
Christmas concert and carols involving cantata and girls choirs and
orchestra on Saturday at 7.30pm. Last week English Heritage gave
a press conference regarding the ‘Fabric Condition of Cathedrals in
England and Wales’. The report was the result of a survey of work
carried out in the last 10 years and of further necessary work that
will be needed in the next 5, 10 years. The findings were that the
overall condition of Cathedrals has much improved since 1991 and
approximately £250 million has been spent on repairs and improvements
during this period. Our own Cathedral received over £2million grant
about 10 years ago from E H for repairs to the Cathedral roof for which
we are extremely grateful. The report estimates that £100 million needs
to be spent in the next ten years but that most Cathedrals are now in
good condition. Therefore the special grant fund for Cathedrals has
been wound up and only six Cathedrals will have access to special funds
(Canterbury, York etc). My own cynical reading of the situation is that
the Government had intended to cut the available grant moneys and that
this survey had been devised with this in mind. A layer of external
support has been stripped away and yet the burden of maintaining large,
listed buildings increases as the years go by. Canon Anthony O’Brien
Dean of the Cathedral
|
