New readers (and old ones); if you are wondering why I miss the place check out this new panoramic tour here on the cathedral website which dan has excellently done. I think is captures well how special Rochester cathedral is.
This is a great virtual tour of the cathedral and I think Dan has captured everything excellently.
I was interested to read this blog which I was pointed to by Scott and it makes interesting reading. It sums up for me a lot of what the cathedral does which is unseen which, I believe, is a good mark of Christianity – we do things not to be seen doing them, or for glory, but because we feel drawn or led to do them.
I enjoyed reading this, but i think the writer misses one thing. He’s correct to say that this done at an excellent standard for very few people. I wonder if he misses that, actually, the good standard and the ‘excellence even in minuscule detail’ is because this is about worship. It does not matter who is or is not there, because God is and this is for God.
Thanks Scott – it was good to read, and causes me to miss the place just a little bit more!
The Dickens weekend went really well and was an exciting event to be with.
The cut out nativity scene painted by our fantastic Head verger, Colin, and used amazingly by Den and Sharron (thanks guys – amazing as ever!) seemed to be a real hit with loads of people, although over the 2 days I did have 2 complaints suggesting it was insulting to the Holy Family – I guess it was always going to upset somebody. I think, however, on the whole people appreciated the chance to be in the picture and we are able to suggest to the dissenters that it illustrated quite well how God could have chosen any ordinary to be the mum and step father of Jesus and so, instantly, become extraordinary! (if you had your picture taken and have lost the card you will be able to find them here when they are uploaded)
I think over the weekend we had thousands of people pass through the cathedral. many had questions, many more lit candles (over 2000 on the first day!) and took time to pause, pray or think. I know many of the team has some quite deep conversations,
My observations over this Dickens leave me with many questions, and I guess as well with some confusions. Questions / confusions / observations like:
How is it that people not connected with the cathedral have such strong views about when they think we are doing something wrong? Do they feel some ownership?
What do people think they are doing when they light candles?
Why do people queue outside the cathedral waiting for a service to finish?
What causes young people to be moved to tears as they listen to the choir rehearsing?
I made a joke over the weekend along the lines of the cathedral having times when it breathes people in by their thousands. It’s like a vacuum is created and the people flood in to fill it. It was strange; there were low times but then there were times when people just came, and came, and kept coming! It was as if the cathedral itself was taking a big breathe and people were being breathed in!
Well … maybe not the cathedral breathing in …. but the spirit that resides here!
This morning I was on the rota to lead matins t 8.00am and the Eucharist which follows at 8.30. Today, being All Souls day, meant the Eucharist included a ‘commemoration of the faithful departed’. For the last week or so the cathedral has had a book of remembrance available for people to write the names of loved ones that have died. Today was an opportunity for people to remember them as I read out each of the names after the Eucharist.
This type of service was a first for me (a year and a bit into cathedral/a bit more traditional life and I thought I would have stopped saying that!), and something that I thought would be another privilege to be involved in. I was particularly struck by the first reading which was from the Wisdom of Solomon in the Apocrypha.
But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster,
and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.
Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
and will run like sparks through the stubble.
They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them forever.
Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect.
I found the words particularly helpful as I remembered those I know that have died and love the language of ‘running like sparks through the stubble’. I am not sure I entirely understand this; what does ‘the time of their visitation’ mean? To me, this does not speak of death, but speaks of energy, creativity and is quite evocative in its vibrant imagery. This has challenged me today in my theology of how I view the ‘saints departed’ and widens my understanding of ‘joining with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven’ which we say quite often in Anglican Eucharistic prayers.
Today I popped in to the launch of the Cathedral’s interpretation project.
Henry VIII was kind enough to fly back through history and cut the ribbon and formally open the project which has been steered amazingly by Annie.
Whether you have been to the cathedral or not visiting now is a magnificent experience enhanced with great visuals from projectors (seen below) and audio guides (where your guide for your visit to the cathedral is Jools Holland).
I’ve uploaded the other photos on my facebook page.
Why not pay a visit to the cathedral soon
The Shiny Headed Prophet 