Friends of Salisbury Cathedral
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FOSC Newsletter Spring 2019 2_Layout 1 29/03/2019 10:37 Page 1 Salisbury Cathedral FRIENDS NEWS Friends EASTER 2019 On the third day… n January I took some of the Icurates from the diocese on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It brings the Bible to life like nothing else. We stayed in Bethlehem along Star Street, not far from Manger Square. In Jerusalem, we walked the Mount of Olives and along ancient streets up the Via Dolorosa to the Holy Sepulchre. We went to Bethany, the home of Jesus’s friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus and to the River Jordan. Then we drove north to Galilee. It is not far, about two hours, and stayed in Tiberias. It was the base to explore upper Galilee and the lake shore where Jesus called the disciples. The open into wine at a wedding, we followed landscape seemed timeless in a way a large group of Nigerians into the that even an ancient city is not. place where that first miracle is Jesus was here, or hereabouts. remembered. Their pastor was just You can’t go to the Holy Land coming to the end of extempore without the modern politics of the prayers which concluded with “And Middle East pressing hard. It is may God make our country a happy uncomfortable and it is holy. For the country once again”. three Abrahamic faiths Jerusalem is Now we are into impossible territory. a holy city. When the Psalmist prays I am writing in early March and you for the peace of Jerusalem we are are reading nearer Easter, after 29th praying for the world’s peace, and March. I have no idea whether we always were. will still be part of the EU or not, So far, so familiar, but in Cana of nor on what terms that relationship Galilee, where Jesus turned water will or will not have ended/is being FOSC Newsletter Spring 2019 2_Layout 1 29/03/2019 10:37 Page 2 2 FRIENDSNEWS continued temporarily/will be put to damaged and a community violated another vote. But I do know that my by reckless behaviour that endangers prayer for our country is that we innocent people. This cathedral in become happy once again. this city wants to build community locally in such a way as to make it During Lent the cathedral held a easier to live together in this fragile series of conversations, bringing earth, our common home. diverse people together to see what they made of big and potentially The wedding at Cana is the first divisive issues. Cathedrals are miracle in John’s Gospel. “On the hospitable places in which we find third day there was a wedding at ourselves in relationship with God Cana in Galilee…”. It is an on the and one another, with a sense of third day story, an Easter story, a God’s kingdom being near at hand. A resurrection story. This is about the cathedral is a good place to convene transformation of what we have now such conversations. BBC Radio into something that tastes like the Wiltshire thought they would be kingdom of God. worth listening to and broadcast Friends, I wish you a happy Easter. them. Salisbury post-novichok has something to say about how to live The Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, together when trust has been Bishop of Salisbury From the Chairman and ministry, in accordance with our constitution. elcome to our Easter newsletter Wand thank you for your All you have to do is to complete the continued support for the Friends of simple instruction to your bank to Salisbury Cathedral. enable the Friends to take your payment. We will, of course, send You will see from the article on page you written confirmation before any 4 and the enclosed mandate that you payment is taken. The Friends’ can now pay your annual Council members have led the way subscription to the Friends by direct and been the first to switch to direct debit. We would greatly appreciate debit. We encourage you to do the your co-operation in moving to this same. form of payment. As you know, we work hard to ensure that your As you read this newsletter, our subscription is dedicated to executive secretary Julia has had a maintaining, preserving and busy and successful first eight enhancing the fabric of the months in the role, having Cathedral, its music, life, worship succeeded Kate Beckett last August. FOSC Newsletter Spring 2019 2_Layout 1 29/03/2019 10:37 Page 3 FRIENDSNEWS 3 And in January, we welcomed Rosie Wilkinson as assistant secretary. She brings a great deal of experience to our Friends’ team and we hope she will be very happy with us. We are looking forward to our flagship annual event – our fourth Secret Gardens of the Close afternoon on Sunday 9th June. This will be three weeks later than in previous years - by popular demand - so the roses will be in bloom. We hope as many of you as possible with your friends and family members will come along and support us. Perhaps some of you might like to join our happy band of volunteer garden stewards? Please contact the Friends’ chairman Duncan Glass completes his Friends’ office if you can help. direct debit mandate. Last year’s event raised nearly major refurbishment this year and £11,000, enabling us to fund our will be the focus of a substantial very own Friends’ pinnacle on the grant from the Friends. north-east corner of the Cathedral, as part of the Sponsor a Stone You will find details of the scheme. We hope the pinnacle will Cathedral’s Easter services on the be in place soon. back page, as well as details of the Cathedral’s and the Friends’ events - This year’s Friends’ Day will be on We look forward to seeing you. Saturday 14th September when we Please bring a friend who would like extend a warm welcome to all who to become a member. Finally, I join can join us for an afternoon among our Friends’ Council and staff in Friends. We will be paying special wishing you all a very happy Easter. attention to the Cathedral's Father Willis organ, which is undergoing Duncan Glass, Chairman FOSC Newsletter Spring 2019 2_Layout 1 29/03/2019 10:37 Page 4 4 FRIENDSNEWS We have lift off! The Friends benefit from this simpler and more efficient way of collecting ou will have seen from the subscriptions and it removes the Ychairman’s message that the need for members to remember to Friends have launched payment of send a cheque or cash each year. annual subscriptions by direct debit and we are urging all members to You will find a direct debit switch to this form of payment. mandate and prepaid envelope with this newsletter. Many members are generously paying more than the £20 for a Once you have completed and single membership or £30 for a joint returned it to the Friends’ Office, membership, and we are very please remember to cancel your grateful to them. We hope they will standing order mandate if you are continue to support the Friends at currently paying by this method. their existing level. If you wish to give more than the standard amount, please indicate Many members, however, are paying this on the direct debit instruction. below the minimum subscription rate. We hope that these members Finally, to keep our records up to will also complete a direct debit date, please let us have your email instruction (DDI), which will result in address by emailing their subscription being paid at the [email protected]. correct level. We thank you for your help with this It costs £5.50 to send our two exercise and look forward to hearing newsletters and annual report Spire from you soon. to members each year and postage rates regularly increase. We strive to ensure that your subscriptions go directly to fund Cathedral projects in accordance with our constitution, with the minimum deducted for printing and postage. Everyone is used to paying council tax, water rates and other bills by direct debit. Switching payment method simply involves completion of a DDI. We will send you an email confirmation before any payment by direct debit is taken and you can The Friends’ direct debit mandate, which is cancel your instruction at any time. quick and easy to complete. FOSC Newsletter Spring 2019 2_Layout 1 29/03/2019 10:37 Page 5 FRIENDSNEWS 5 Grants to the Cathedral We will keep you informed, as these n the financial year 2018/19 the projects become firm plans. IFriends have been able to make grants of £189,000 to Cathedral projects. The total comprises £6,000 for the Mogford model, £106,000 towards the restoration of the organ, £74,000 to the Little Paradise project and £3,000 to Cathedral flowers. Chapter members are currently working on a number of project The poster appealing for funds towards the ideas for the Friends to fund in the organ restoration, to which the Friends have 2019/20 financial year. donated £106,000. Secret Gardens of the Close Tea and homemade cakes will be t’s all change for this year’s Secret served in the garden of South Canonry IGardens of the Close event: Not – the home of the Bishop of Salisbury, only will it be taking place in June the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam and his instead of May, but there will be new wife, Helen. Proceeds from the teas gardens on show too.