One of the Canons of the Chapter died this week – Canon Joseph D’Arcy. He had served for many years as Director of Schools and then as parish priest of Christ the King, Childwall, and St Theresa’s, Upholland, before he retired from parish ministry a couple of years ago. He was a very gentle, warm and knowledgeable person and a strong advocate of the Cathedral. May he rest in peace.
Last week there was a long article in ‘The Tablet’ magazine reviewing the Corbusier exhibition in the Crypt which went on to criticise the recent works on the Cathedral ranging from the repairs of the buttresses and roof right up to the present work. The opinion of the writer was that this had all rendered Gibberd’s design of the Cathedral ‘Lifeless’. You could say that it was a bitter pill to swallow! We have had our critics in the past but I felt that it was a very derogatory way to describe the present look and feel of our Cathedral. It certainly made me spring into life! I felt the critic was either one of those ‘wrap the building up in cotton wool and don’t touch it brigade’ or one who just liked the sound of his own opinions, or even a bit of both. What is never acknowledged by these people is the hard work that is carried out by so many people to balance conservation with the need for repair and renewal and adapting a building to meet changing regulations and needs. There have been so many people ranging from the level of the Cathedral, the Diocese, architects and planning committees, English Heritage and our grant partners who have scrutinised the developments that have taken place here and have worked in partnership to achieve what we have today. Rather than having to defend the current state of our building I think we should be justly proud of what has been achieved to repair and develop our Cathedral. Hopefully, when it has all been completed we will also be equally proud of the work to the Crypt which will both enhance the beauty of its architecture and enable it to be used to its full potential.
The recent feature of the green laser beam between the two Cathedrals has provoked considerable comment from people. When asked what it is for and what it means I am not really sure what to say. I believe it is referred to on Hope Street as ‘God’s Washing Line’. Someone suggested that if we put a wire along it someone could do a sponsored tightrope walk along it – as I was passing the Philharmonic Pub at the time – I just nodded in agreement. Anyway from next week it will carry the sound of voices which will be heard in the Anglican Cathedral and for a short period on certain days in the Chapel of the Oils as a form of meditation with the facility for adding a prayer or message to this.
Next Saturday there will be an exhibition of Italian Culture in the Gibberd Room along with a short concert of music performed by an Italian Choir at lunchtime in the Cathedral. A flavour of Italian style and chic to add to the events of 2008.
Next Sunday we celebrate the Feast of All Saints with All Souls being commemorated on Monday 3rd. Sadly this will mean that poor St Martin De Porres will miss out on his Feast day this year. But we will still have the LAMP Pastoral Letter to be read at Masses next weekend.
From Monday the Blessed Sacrament Chapel will be out of use for about 10 days due to re-decoration. Masses will be celebrated in the Lady Chapel during this time.
Last week there was a long article in ‘The Tablet’ magazine reviewing the Corbusier exhibition in the Crypt which went on to criticise the recent works on the Cathedral ranging from the repairs of the buttresses and roof right up to the present work. The opinion of the writer was that this had all rendered Gibberd’s design of the Cathedral ‘Lifeless’. You could say that it was a bitter pill to swallow! We have had our critics in the past but I felt that it was a very derogatory way to describe the present look and feel of our Cathedral. It certainly made me spring into life! I felt the critic was either one of those ‘wrap the building up in cotton wool and don’t touch it brigade’ or one who just liked the sound of his own opinions, or even a bit of both. What is never acknowledged by these people is the hard work that is carried out by so many people to balance conservation with the need for repair and renewal and adapting a building to meet changing regulations and needs. There have been so many people ranging from the level of the Cathedral, the Diocese, architects and planning committees, English Heritage and our grant partners who have scrutinised the developments that have taken place here and have worked in partnership to achieve what we have today. Rather than having to defend the current state of our building I think we should be justly proud of what has been achieved to repair and develop our Cathedral. Hopefully, when it has all been completed we will also be equally proud of the work to the Crypt which will both enhance the beauty of its architecture and enable it to be used to its full potential. 
The recent feature of the green laser beam between the two Cathedrals has provoked considerable comment from people. When asked what it is for and what it means I am not really sure what to say. I believe it is referred to on Hope Street as ‘God’s Washing Line’. Someone suggested that if we put a wire along it someone could do a sponsored tightrope walk along it – as I was passing the Philharmonic Pub at the time – I just nodded in agreement. Anyway from next week it will carry the sound of voices which will be heard in the Anglican Cathedral and for a short period on certain days in the Chapel of the Oils as a form of meditation with the facility for adding a prayer or message to this.