Weekly Record

17 January 2010

One of the reports into the persistent cold weather that we are experiencing at present suggested that people were sheltering in churches to keep warm. I don’t think that would be advisable in either of our two Cathedrals at present – we would be carrying people out in a frozen state after more than an hour. Our boilers here are meant to be modern and state of the art– so much so that they prefer to sleep in on very cold mornings and switch off with the slightest change in conditions. The old caretaker in my first parish used to sing to the boiler to keep it working, as they had grown old together, but no amount of persuasion seems to work on modern computerised technology. The problems always seem to be the fault of the gas supply or everything other than the boilers themselves and even if it is them they are too complicated to tinker with.

However our Car Park and Crypt remain at a constant warm temperature whatever the weather outside. Some of our local wildlife have discovered this and we have a number of small birds that wander in for the day to keep warm. They get their morning bit of toast from either the security or cleaning staff and then settle back near a warm pipe and watch the action. Perhaps we are not the most intelligent species after all.

This Sunday is ‘Peace Sunday’ which gives us an opportunity to reflect on the Holy Father’s World Peace Day Message ‘If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation’. The 2010 message encourages us to see how protecting the earth and making sure its gifts reach everyone, as God intends, is essential to reducing conflict between people. Peace Sunday is an opportunity to pray and act to create a more just and peaceful world.

This coming week is kept by all denominations as a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. We work closely with our Anglican sisters and brothers from Liverpool Cathedral throughout the year but this is a time for us to pray for one another, for our shared witness to Christ and for greater unity between us. We end the Week of Prayer with a Joint Choral Service of Evening Prayer – this year it is at Liverpool Cathedral at 3pm on 24th January. The preacher is Rev Jamie Callaway from the Anglican parish on Wall St – which is the richest Anglican Parish in the world according to Dean Justin!

Next Thursday we are holding an invitation evening reception in the Crypt for the movers and shakers of the events world on Merseyside. This is to try and showcase the facilities within the Crypt which can be hired out for key exhibitions and high profile events and functions. It is important that we attract the right events to increase the use and revenue from the Crypt to justify all the investment that has been spent on improving the facilities. Let’s hope it goes well.

Canon Anthony O’Brien
Dean of the Cathedral