Inhouse SPRING 2020
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Issue 48 Spring edition 2020 InHousethe Journal of the Lincoln Cathedral Community Association John Patrick Beyond Reason Page 11 Page 6 800 years of sainthood Judi Jones Eight hundred years ago, on 27 April, Burgundian family, Hugh first entered a the cathedral has a series of events this Pope Honorius III replied to an impor- house of Austin Canons and then a more year to celebrate this significant anniver- tant letter sent to him by the two arch- austere order, eventually becoming the sary. I spoke to Mark Steadman, the Acting bishops and all the bishops of England prior of the Grande Chartreuse. At the be- Dean, to find out more, and he explained which petitioned him for the canon- hest of King Henry II, he moved to With- that the aim was to celebrate different isation of the late Bishop of Lincoln, am, Somerset, to help establish the priory aspects of Hugh’s life and ministry. For Hugh, who had died in 1200. there before being promoted to Lincoln example, David Carpenter will speak at Matters proceeded quickly and in 1186. As bishop he ‘proved a pastor the Magna Carta lecture on both St Hugh smoothly. There seems to have been a worthy of the name, choosing with care and Thomas a Beckett. A concert is being widespread desire for the canonisation, those whom he appointed to office and planned to be given by one of the coun- and this was helped by written evidence delivering his church from servitude to try’s leading Early Music Ensembles and detailing the cures accomplished at the civil power’. The commissioners re- there will be pilgrimage events around Hugh’s shrine. Underpinning this was the port that all the clergy who knew him St Hugh. The Flower Festival’s theme will existence of at least two Lives of Hugh, said they had never known anyone be ‘Vision’ with St Hugh’s shrine being a those by Gerald of Wales and Adam of whom they would prefer to resemble major focus. Mark says, ‘It is a real joy to Eynsham. The pope set up a commission in outlook and actions. Interestingly the be able to celebrate this significant an- ‘to enquire carefully into the life of this commissioners do not dwell on the great niversary in what will be an exciting year holy man and his miracles before and building innovations that he pioneered for the cathedral. Hugh’s legacy is seen after death’. The commission outcome in our cathedral or his role in national both in the fabric of the building and, im- offers fascinating insights into Hugh’s life and international politics; instead they portantly, in the way our community life and was sufficient to persuade the pope mention his care for lepers, his burial of is ordered. It is particularly appropriate to recognise Hugh as a saint and institute the dead, the miracles that he performed that, alongside all the events, we will be a suitable feast day, November 17th. in his lifetime and then the twenty nine opening the new Visitor Centre, the most Why had this process happened so miracles which took place at his tomb. significant addition to the fabric in centu- swiftly? The evidence of the commis- This was enough evidence to quickly ries, which also provides an opportunity sion explains matters clearly, starting convince the pope! to reimagine the way in which we relate with some biography. Born into a noble We are rightly proud of ‘our saint’ and to the community.’ 2 Placement adventures Rachel Revely The earliest reference to garments made by looping yarn with a hook is found in ‘The Memoirs of a Highland Lady’ by Elizabeth Grant. This might not sound like the obvious way into a discussion about a parish placement; however, it was during this time that I was given the gift of being able to crochet. This did not come natu- rally to someone who is not terribly dex- terous, but was one of the many gifts I received from my placement in the par- ish of All Saints Bracebridge. I was taught to crochet during my time with the knit and natter group who meet weekly on a Tuesday morning and who discussed everything from faith to shoes! On my first Tuesday, everyone I met was welcoming and very keen to offer me a cup of tea and a biscuit; I felt slight- ly out of place, not being overly gifted nor used to practising a “wool-based” hobby. But through sharing their hospi- tality and in their laughter I soon found my place amongst the group. The parish of All Saints Bracebridge consists of 2 churches, a traditional Anglican church and a more unusual local ecumenical project which is a combination of Unit- ed Reform, Methodist and Anglican. The knit and natter group meet in All Saints. Later on that afternoon, I was taken to the other part of this parish. In the afternoon, St Columba’s run a cake and coffee cafe which people can drop into as the day goes on. This pro- vides a presence of hospitality in the lo- cal community whilst also helping with this provided space for trying many new periences were all tremendous oppor- the loneliness epidemic that has swept things. For example on Christ the King, tunities and gifts of space that allowed across our ageing population. Andy, I wrote a dramatic monologue, from for experimentation and creativity. the parish priest, operates and believes the perspective of the thief dying on a I am grateful to both churches for in a ministry of presence in the local cross next to Christ. This style took its their welcome and hospitality, for their community; he walks alongside all the influence from the Rabbinic tradition of willingness to allow me to experiment in people for whose souls he has cure. This midrash to attempt to break open the preaching and for their generosity. I am is lived out in social groups and events text. On Christmas morning we played incredibly thankful for Andy and Chris- from meals to Advent films. pass the parcel with every layer of paper tine’s generosity, kindness and for put- During my placement I had the op- taking us deeper into the mystery of the ting up with me! (Oh, and also for letting portunity to preach several times and incarnation and closer to God. These ex- me play with their wonderful dogs!) 3 La Nativité du Seigneur Michael Newstead Pre Christmas sometimes feels too long for some of us, both time and eternity: the Incarnation, the Ascension, the Holy particularly when things in Lincoln and at the cathedral Trinity, the Saints in glory and the Holy Sacrament. Four of the kick off so early in December with the Christmas Market. movements depict the characters: the Virgin and Child, the Shep- This is followed by a range of carol services for a wide range of herds, the Angels and the Magi. Messiaen’s aim was to convey the organisations in the cathedral leading up to Christmas itself. It is joy at the presence of God in His Son and it provides a serious, sometimes difficult in all this, let alone the commercial aspects of thought-provoking contrast to the superficial commercialism of Christmas, to be focused on the Incarnation itself. For me there Christmas. are two elements during this period which help to keep a sense This complex and thoroughly theological work is challenging of purpose in all this activity (which I am very aware gives great and magnificent in its depiction of key elements in the story of pleasure to lot of people), the first being the proper liturgical the Incarnation. This year Jeffrey Makinson played the highly keeping of Advent with its sense of thoughtful quiet expectation complex work with great grace and thought - an inspiring perfor- and the other the annual organ recital of Messiaen’s great organ mance. For the first time this year, there was a short introduction piece La Nativité du Seigneur. in French and English on the theme of the next movement. My La Nativité du Seigneur, or The Birth of the Saviour, was written by personal thought was that this really worked to give context to Oliver Messiaen, a staunch Roman Catholic and gifted organist, at this complex work and highlighted the key themes of each ele- the age of twenty seven. It is a deeply devotional meditation on ment. I am sure this was a great help to many people who attend- the themes and characters of the Christmas story. Written in nine ed who have not had the opportunity to get familiar with these movements, it sets the events of the first Christmas in contexts of key themes. Transport of delight Carolyn Kendall It was very good to see again the Na- for Lea as she normally special- tivity scene which was displayed in ised in making cats!) The camel the sanctuary during the celebration was, and is, an absolutely essen- of Epiphany complete with the Holy tial form of transport in hot and Family, the animals, and the Magi. sandy desert areas, not only in The origin of the figures (which may biblical times but also in our times be Victorian) is not known. The set spent too. It is the animal equivalent of a some time in storage in the Sub Dean’s 4x4 all terrain vehicle with a 10 day cellar for fifteen years or so, then later endurance between watering was used during the early Christmas holes! The camel, although absent Markets, before the larger grey fibre from the Gospels, is a likely candi- glass models became available.