newscathedral may 2018 Prayer Worship Music Arts Education Heritage Welcoming Seeing the Bee in a New Way Page 3 Commemorating 22 May 2017 Pages 8 & 9 Meditation for Peace Page 12 www.manchestercathedral.org Seeing the Bee in a New Way David Sharples, Archdeacon of Salford This month marks the first anniversary And of course we began to notice it of the Manchester Arena bomb. We everywhere we looked. The bee had Dean’s Corner must never diminish the pain and decorated our bollards, bins and street heartbreak of the relatives and friends furniture for decades and yet now we saw of those who lost loved ones, nor the it in a way we had not done before. ongoing impact on the lives of those who were badly injured. However, that This reminds me of a favourite passage: atrocity did highlight something about “Alexander was playing on the floor, the spirit of the people of Manchester. waiting to be picked up. The reliable I will never forget the feeling of mothers had come and gone, and he made Manchester City Council’s solidarity, resilience and defiance as a pathetic sight on the floor by himself in many thousands gathered in Albert the empty room. Wearing rubber soles, I Climate Change Board Square the day after the bomb to show walked quietly towards him and stopped the bonds of mutual respect, affection waiting for him to see me. He looked up, and love amongst those who were looked round; I was twenty-five feet away I recently had the privilege of being I was also asked to speak for five minutes born, or have chosen to make their in an otherwise empty room. He went invited to become a member of at Mayor Andy Burnham’s Climate home, in Manchester. back to his game. I stood there in front of Manchester City Council’s Climate Change Summit in late March. This too him for a minute. Again he looked round Change Board. I am the only person from was an opportunity to speak about our One surprising aspect of all this was the room, straight at me, straight past me the faith community around the table of underfloor heating system and bring the the rediscovery of the Manchester Bee and back to his toys. And that is what it this important body that is seeking to voice of the Church to the conference. It symbol. It was originally designed by might be like to be God…..to be so big as help develop policy, raise awareness and was good to see other members of the Warren Marshall, a former Urban Design to be invisible. To be right there, massively and Conservation Manager in Manchester, powerful, enormously present but entirely encourage the city to reduce its carbon wider Church and faith communities based on the image embedded in the unnoticed”. In the midst of heartbreak and footprint dramatically over the next few present. We have an important mosaic floor at Manchester Town Hall. sorrow we are called to make the love of years. I am pleased to have been invited contribution to make to the debate and The worker bee was an apt symbol of the this God visible. and hope to represent the voice of the especially to help change attitudes industrial heritage of Manchester but in faith communities and especially the towards not abusing God’s creation and the days and weeks after the arena attack church of God. helping to recycle and reduce our carbon it took on a new meaning. As a simple, footprint. In the spirit of Easter and non-religious, non-political image, it Christ’s gift of new life perhaps we can became an emblem of pride and defiance. allow our planet to breathe healthier and enable new life to emerge from the ashes of our abuse of Mother Earth. Then we can be joyful all the earth! God bless you! Rogers Govender Front Cover Image: Capture the Cathedral 2017: Reaching Out by Nathan Thomas Page 3 Cathedral News Cathedral Partners: Whit Walks Grape and Grain The Revd Canon Daniel Burton, Team Rector, Salford All Saints Team. Meeting Rooms at MCVC Under new management by the team Centre offer multi-purpose event space from Grape and Grain Catering Co., the perfect for training seminars, team building conference rooms at the Cathedral Visitor workshops and networking receptions. Centre have been brought to life and are now a hive of activity for many different Both conference rooms host a contemporary, events. Focusing mostly on Manchester’s light and airy feel, displaying stunning views corporate clients, the new and improved of the iconic Cathedral and its gardens, and brand, ‘Meeting Rooms at MCVC,’ are making it an ideal spot for event organisers. proactively working with organisations throughout the city to deliver successful For more information on booking the and memorable events for them. conference rooms; With an ideal location right in the heart of Call 0161 826 8018 the medieval quarter, the stylish and flexible Email [email protected] meeting rooms at the Cathedral Visitor Visit www.meetingroomsatmcvc.com The Annual Manchester and Salford We assemble behind the Cathedral at 9.30am Whit Walk takes place this year on Bank and the Procession of Witness leaves at 10am Holiday Monday 28 May 2018. This to walk along Deansgate in the direction 200-year-old tradition is a marvellous way of Albert Square. There is a joyful Act of Grape and Grain Catering Co. to witness to our Christian faith on the Worship in Albert Square at 10.45am led by streets of Manchester. The Walk is always the Dean of Manchester and then we return to Grape and Grain Catering Co. are proud supported by the presence of the Lord the Cathedral by the same route. to be preferred suppliers for Events at Mayor of Manchester and the Ceremonial Manchester Cathedral. Mayor of Salford; and one of our Bishops. To register your parish involvement, or We are delighted that this year the Roman to find out more, please contact me at Grape and Grain Catering Co. was created Catholic Bishop of Salford will also be [email protected]. with the aim of setting itself apart from all taking part, in the hope that this venerable other food and drink companies. Priding tradition will become truly ecumenical in themselves on their products, passion and the future. The number of parishes taking creativity, they offer clients bespoke options part is increasing each year as churches from; simple and stylish catering solutions, decide to join the Walk and enjoy the extravagant dining experiences, as carnival atmosphere. well as full venue management and marketing services. [email protected] www.grapeandgraincatering.com Page 5 Cathedral News Our Faith, Saint of the Month 7 8 May Our Planet, Our Actions JUNE 6.30pm - 9.00pm Alison Rowland, PA to the Dean Julian of Norwich TV and social media have shown us focus on practical action, suggesting ways (ca. 1342 – 1417) oceans littered with plastic, wildlife in which we can all make a difference in damage and weather extremes causing our communities with workshops, food, Spiritual Writer devastation worldwide. We are becoming entertainment, networking and plenty of increasingly and uncomfortably aware information available. of the effects of climate change on our Albert Radcliffe planet. But what can we do? The event is FREE to attend and will take place from 6.30pm-9.00pm in the Cathedral. On Thursday 7 June 2018, the Dean of Manchester will host ‘Our Faith, Our Planet, Tickets: Very little is known about the life of Julian of To Julian, perhaps more than to anyone Our Actions’, a climate change conference www.ourfaithourplanet18.eventbrite.co.uk Norwich, beyond that she was an anchoress, or else we owe the central truth of her theology, or www.manchestercathedral.org with a difference! This informal event will female hermit, confined to a cell, perhaps at St that divine love is akin to motherly love, and Julian's church in Norwich, which was then the that God’s providence allows evil to bring second largest city in England. Perhaps for this greater good. reason, despite her fame and influence, she is not to be found listed among the 'saints' of the Church. However, she is known and valued The long reach of Mother Julian's as a mystic and theologian through her influence can be found nearer our spiritual writings, the 'stuff' that goes into the making of saints. own time in T.S.Eliot's quotation from her in his Four Quartets: '... Julian's Revelations of Divine Love was one of the first books written in English by a All shall be well, and all shall be woman. It is a record of the visions and well, and all manner of things shall meditations she had when she was ill in be well.' In 1981, Sydney Carter 1373. In her lifetime, they seem to have had incorporated her spiritual theology little influence, but this began to change when the Revelations were printed, first in 1670, into his song, 'Julian of Norwich.' then again in 1843, 1864, and 1902. In 2013, the University of East Although Julian had a profound and realistic Anglia memorialised her name understanding of the seriousness and in the 'Julian Study Centre.' importance of sin, her revelations were of Her influence can be found too God’s love and omnibenevolence (unlimited kindness and goodness) as God also in the spread of contemplative suffered with creation. prayer groups called after her. Her Revelations of Divine Love is widely read and studied today.