Weekly Record

11th March 2007

The ‘100 Heads’ Exhibition seems to be attracting more people to the Cathedral at the moment and yet maintaining the atmosphere of peace and reflection. Definitely one of our most successful exhibitions. Tuesday was particularly busy with a lot of Spanish visitors who were in Liverpool to support Barcelona. It was reported to me that a number of Barcelona fans had asked a guide if there was somewhere to light a few candles and that they were told that they could light as many candles as they wanted but it wouldn’t do them any good! I was asked what I thought about this and all I could think of saying was that it would probably have been better to have told them that after they had lit their candles and prayed.

The Archbishop will celebrate Solemn Mass this Sunday, 3rd of Lent. St Edward’s College will be holding their Founders Day Ceremony at the Cathedral starting at 2.00pm. There will be no Choral Evening Prayer as a result. No doubt there will be a full house for the speeches and prize giving. The only book prize I can remember receiving other than religious ones was Jack Londons ‘Call of the Wild’- the teachers were probably hoping I would read it and head off to Alaska and never be seen again.

At Choral Evening Prayer on Thursday the Choir will be singing a new choral piece of music composed by Stephen Hough. It is a new setting of ‘Ave Maria’ and will be sung at the end of prayer. Stephen Hough the composer, who originates from Heswall, will join us for prayer that evening. Acclaimed as the leading British pianist of his generation, he will be performing a number of piano concerts at the Philharmonic and conducting as well.

Next Sunday we will be hosting a joint Evening Prayer with the clergy, choirs and congregation from both Cathedrals. As we are playing at home, the service will be led by us, and Canon Miles Davies from our sister Cathedral will preach. I have invited our Chapter of Canons to join us if they are free and, so far, at least Bishop Tom and Bishop Vincent will be joining us hence it should be quite an illustrious gathering. If you don’t normally come along to Evening Prayer why not join us for this special occasion.

The Cathedral’s 40th Anniversary is creeping up on us very quickly. We are hoping to have a number of celebratory events around the actual date 13th May and the feastday of Pentecost. On a 40th birthday normally the senior members of a family tell stories about the person when they were younger and much to the persons embarrassment even unveil some early photographs of them. It would be nice if we could hear of a few peoples’ memories and share some photographs of the opening of the Cathedral and some of the other major events that have taken place here over the years that make up the Cathedrals’ story. Some could be displayed others used in our Songs of Praise service on Saturday 12th May. So come on get writing-we need your help!

For those of you who contribute regularly to the Cathedral could I remind you of the possibility of ‘gift aid’. If you work or are retired and pay tax, without giving any more, by gift aiding we can claim tax back on your donations each year. I always think of it as a supermarket offer getting 5 for the price of 4. Our new envelopes come out in April –the new tax year. If you would like a set of envelopes and are prepared to gift aid your donations please give your name and contact details to Phil Dobbins via Cathedral House or to one of the priests.

Canon Anthony O'Brien
Cathdral Dean