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Dec 2015 - Jan 2016 Prayer / Worship / Music / Arts / Education / Heritage / Welcoming

Good host or Wassail, wassail, The Icon Paintings good guest? all over the town!

Page 3 Pages 7 & 8 Page 11 Dean’s Corner Good host or good guest? The Jesus By The Venerable Mark Ashcroft Movement By The Dean One of the joys of the Advent and The new Presiding Bishop preached with Christmas season is being in touch an enthusiasm and energy that I have with friends and family, sending and not seen in any preacher in a very long time. His message was a very simple one receiving cards and exchanging based on the experience of the followers presents and hospitality. of Jesus in the New Testament: we are I wonder if you prefer going somewhere the Jesus Movement, and through this else for Christmas and enjoying being movement God has transformed the looked after, or whether you prefer to world, and will continue to do so in our be in your own home, do things your day. The Holy Spirit working through way and enjoy looking after others? us in the wonderful love of God will At different stages of life, different turn the world upside-down. Or, in fact, approaches probably make more sense That theme of being a good guest runs will turn the world ‘right side up’. from a practical point of view, but I deeper than the many occasions on guess that most of us prefer to be in our which Jesus visited other people at home I truly pray that each one of us will see own homes! In other words. we prefer and chose not to be on his own territory. ourselves as part of the Jesus Movement! to be the host rather than the guest. The whole principle of what Christians And that God may transform the world call the Incarnation, God becoming a around us through God’s amazing love, On All Saint’s Day I had the One of the strange and remarkable human being, relates to the gift of being a bringing new life, forgiveness, new hope, immense privilege of attending things about the Gospels is that there guest. For God in Christ chose not to stay justice and peace and joy to the world! the installation service for Bishop are almost no stories about people in the glory of heaven but stooped down, coming to Jesus’ home. When Jesus was became one of us and lived amongst us Michael Curry as the 27th Presiding Merry Christmas and a peace-filled born, it was away from the family home as a human being in order to redeem us. Bishop of the Episcopalian and joyous New Year to you! (Anglican) Church of America. The in Bethlehem, because of the census. Later on in life, we don’t hear about him Every Christmas we are invited afresh In Christ, service was held in Washington throwing a big party at home and inviting to allow Jesus to be the special guest National Cathedral and what everyone round for a meal and a good in our lives and homes as we reflect an amazing service it was. chat about God. No, Jesus is always on on the scripture message that there the road, on the mountains, being invited was no room for him in the inn. But into other people’s houses and homes. perhaps, too, we can learn how to be both good hosts and good guests— Jesus spent his time in being a guest. guests who develop the art of enjoying Cathedral News Survey Not always a comfortable guest, but being on other people’s territory rather than our own. Happy guesting! Cathedral News has been one of the main forms of communication for a good guest, nonetheless. Think for many years. We are currently re-evaluating its of Jesus coming to the house of purpose. To do this we would like to have a better understanding of those Zacchaeus and insisting that he comes who read it. To help us with this, please could you complete our simple online to his home to spend time with him. survey at www.manchestercathedral.org/cathedral-news-survey

Page 2 Cathedral News Page 3 Cathedral News MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL PRESENTS

Manchester Cathedral will be one of the city centre drop-off points for the appeal and gifts can be dropped Cash off here during our usual opening hours. The last date for collection for Kids will be Wednesday 16 December. NIGHTS Mission Christmas will not change Mission Christmas 2015 the poverty statistics, but by supporting the Mission Christmas campaign you will be helping to Manchester has the fourth highest bring the magic of Christmas to levels of child poverty in the more children this Christmas Day. UK, with one in three children going to bed in the evening without a hot meal, or living in a house without central heating.

For this reason, we are really excited to be supporting Key 103’s Mission Christmas appeal to do something about this. We are asking all who can to buy an unwrapped gift for a child of any age up to eighteen years to donate to the Mission Christmas appeal. Cathedral Christmas Card The Cathedral Christmas card is now available to order via our new online shop www.manchestercathedralonlineshop.co.uk which can be accessed via a button on the homepage of NOW ON the Cathedral website or via St Denys’ Bookshop. SALE! THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL THE SNOWMAN / FROZEN FRIDAY 4 DECEMBER DOUBLE BILL The cards are £3.99 6.30PM / £10 ADULTS, £5 conc SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER 7.30PM / £14 ADULTS, £10 conc for a pack of 10. ELF (PG) FRIDAY 4 DECEMBER FAMILY TICKETS AVAILABLE - £28 To mark the launch of 8.30PM / £10 ADULTS, £5 conc PLACES ARE LIMITED - BOOK NOW the new shop, there manchestercathedralmovies.eventbrite.co.uk are a number of items Like us on Facebook - ManchesterCathedral on special offer. Follow us on Twitter - @ManCathedral www.manchestercathedral.org Page 4 Cathedral News The earliest known carol dates from Choristers will sing carols at the St 1410 – sadly, only a small fragment James’ Club, in King Street, for the still exists. Most carols from this time members’ annual Christmas lunch – Wassail, wassail, and the Elizabethan period are very always a very jolly affair! They will then be loosely based on the Christmas story taken to Proper Tea before going into the and were seen as entertaining rather final rehearsal for the service at 7.30pm, than religious songs, composed often which will contain wonderful music, both all over the town! for the home rather than for churches. old and new, appealing to all ages and Troubadours would also travel around tastes. The Choir will then have three the country often changing words for more major services to sing before a well- By Christopher Stokes different locations. One such piece was earned break: the Crib service at 12noon Organist & Master of the Choristers ‘I saw three ships come sailing in.’ on Christmas Eve: a touching Nativity service for children. Then Midnight Christmas carols in English first appear in Mass and the Christmas morning The first known Christmas hymns can Carols were first sung in Europe a 1426 work of John Awdlay, Shropshire Eucharist with capacity congregations. be traced to fourth century Rome. thousands of years ago: these chaplain, who lists twenty five "caroles Corde natus ex Parentis (Of the of Cristemas", probably sung by groups The Cathedral Voluntary Choir’s lead were pagan songs, sung at the Father's love begotten) by the Spanish of 'wassailers', who went from house to up to the Christmas season will begin Winter Solstice celebrations as poet Prudentius (d. 413) is regularly house. The songs we know specifically on Sunday 29 November with the people danced around stone sung nowadays in most churches. as carols were originally communal songs Advent Procession. This is always circles. The word carol actually sung during celebrations like harvest as a very special occasion: the service means a dance or song of praise, In the thirteenth century, in France, well as Christmas. It was only later that opens in darkness with the choir in the possibly derived from the French Germany, and particularly, Italy, under carols begun to be sung in church, and to distance, gradually and symbolically "carole" or the Latin "carula" the influence of Francis of Assisi a strong be specifically associated with Christmas. moving towards the East end of the tradition of popular Christmas songs meaning a circular dance. Cathedral. At this service, it will perform in the native language developed. When Cromwell came to power in 1647, a piece which will involve the choir Christmas was stopped but carols singing from the Quire stalls, and a were still sung in secret and therefore soprano underneath the West Tower, survived. Numerous carols developed which will have an enchanting effect. during the eighteenth century, but it was the Victorians who put the carol firmly After this there are two more Sunday on the musical map and composers evensongs of term left, featuring such as Arthur Sullivan and John Stainer music by Orlando Gibbons, Percy did much to popularise the genre. Whitlock, and Michael Wise.

For the Cathedral Choir, Christmas is a The Christmas term for the Voluntary very special time indeed with eagerness, Choir culminates with the Family Carols anticipation and excitement burgeoning concert on Saturday 19 December as soon as rehearsals begin for the at 7.30pm. There will be some ‘old great Festival of Nine Lessons and favourites’ for the audience to join in Carols, which takes place on Tuesday, with, including Once in royal David’s city 22 December. On that same day, the and Hark! the herald angels sing. The Choir will also sing a slightly ‘groovy’ version of Ding dong! Merrily on high.

Page 6 Cathedral News Page 7 Cathedral News used in worship to show the real Kamelia writes: presence of God and myrrh is a Campaign Corner The tradition of icon painting begins with Have an precious ointment used to anoint the legend of King Abgar of Edessa, who the bodies of those who had died. New Cathedral is said to have written to Jesus during an So put all that together and we have an illness asking for his help. Jesus was unable to go to him but sent a letter instead, and, Epiphany! Epiphany! Who is Jesus? He is Christ Artwork: according to later versions of the story, a the King, he is the Son of God, God’s piece of cloth bearing the imprint of his real presence in a human body and yet The Icon Paintings The Feast of Epiphany (6th likeness. This divine image holds a place in this Jesus, the King and Son of God, is icon tradition as the prototype, an image January) is the day when the destined to die on the cross for each one church remembers the Visit of ‘not made by human hands’. St Luke is of us. Three gifts, one huge Epiphany! On 29 November, a new set sometimes credited with painting the first the Magi, the Three Kings or of five icons were dedicated icons of Christ and Mary the blessed Virgin. Wise Men. What they did is what But there’s more. The Epiphany season during the Sung Eucharist. makes the feast special. The Bible continues until the Feast of Candlemass In the Orthodox Church, an icon is a tells us they offered three gifts, (the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in sacred image, a window into heaven. the Temple, on 2 February). Throughout Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. The icon is part of another reality. More this whole season our readings from the than art, an icon has an important The significance of their gifts is Bible show us each day who Jesus is and spiritual role. The iconographer has to very important to us, for it reveals call us afresh each year to never forget prepare for the task of ‘writing’ an icon who Jesus is. The word epiphany the precious gift of Jesus to the world. by disciplined fasting and prayer. During means a revelation, a showing. the process of creating an icon, the So, gold is a gift for a king, iconographer is a servant of God, through By Philip Barratt frankincense is a sort of Incense whose hands God creates the image. This beautiful installation has been realised by Kameliya Konstantinova and The primary purpose of the icon is to aid Yordan Yordanov, who are members of the worship. The image uses a technique Transfiguration Art Group, a community called ‘reverse perspective’, making art group established by iconographers background objects larger, as though from Bulgaria, Romania and England. the ‘vanishing points’ were somewhere in the space in front of the painting. This Manchester Cathedral commissioned significance of this style in icon painting is the artwork, depicting: to suggest that we are the image and that heaven is the reality. Thus, the icon looks • The Holy Trinity (according the design ‘back at us’ in this reverse perspective. of Rublev’s icon which depicts the three angels who visited Abraham at We hope that these new icons the Oak of Mamre as foreshadowing the will encourage visitors to spend Christian understanding of God as Trinity) a while looking at them, using them as an aid to prayer. • Jesus Christ Pantocrator (‘ruler of all’) • The Theotokos Hodegetria (an icon We are very grateful for all the generous depicting the Virgin Mary as ‘God donations to this project. Our special bearer’ and ‘Our Lady of the Way’) thanks goes to Pickled Walnut, Harvey Nichols, the Reverend Arthur W. Newall, • St George Sing Live Ltd and Florence Jones. • St Denis

Thus the five icons represent the Trinity, By Anthony O’Connor Jesus Christ and the three patron saints of Manchester Cathedral. Page 9 Cathedral News Chorister The Cathedral Team and Recruitment Volunteer Programme Officer We are pleased to announce that Charlie Join the Booth Corkin has been appointed as our new Chorister Recruitment Centre Sleep Out Officer. The purpose By Andrea Swales of this new post is ‘to establish a robust Every year, Manchester Cathedral if we had to do this every night?” we and effective marketing campaign that supports The Booth Centre in their all knew only too well that if we did, we reimagines the chorister brand image.’ annual Sleep Out where people are wouldn’t have had the luxury of being Charlie will be responsible for supporting invited to raise money for the centre able to get a hot drink whenever we the delivery of a new musical outreach by sleeping rough in the Cathedral wanted, and being able to go into the programme across the region by acting Grounds. Jo Hooper, Communications Cathedral if the weather got too bad…. as a musical animateur and by setting up & Marketing Officer for the Cathedral, Which is what most homeless people singing groups within schools. Charlie will is the leading figure in rallying the face night after night. It was around that also take responsibility for the establishment troops to support the cause and point that the reality of homelessness of a new children’s choir in the Cathedral this year, managed to entice me and hit and we realised that we should be for children aged 6 to 11 years. Helen Jones, to join them! Needless thankful for everything that we have. Christopher Stokes, Cathedral Organist to say, as Sleep Out novices, we were and Master of the Choristers says, ‘His somewhat dubious about the event The night went extremely well and role will be pivotal in rethinking the whole having never participated before, Manchester Cathedral raised a whopping subject of recruitment of choristers in but decided that we would join our total of £2776!! Even the rain held off 21st century Manchester and promoting colleagues and even managed to rope for everyone until 5 am when we were our wonderful, centuries-old tradition of in Emma Cooke, Operations Manager woken up to Helen’s screams as big choral music. I look forward to working with from City Co., Lucy Baldwin, Group splodges of rain hit us in the face! It was Charlie to develop these new strategies’. Financial Accountant from Daisy great to be involved in such a worthwhile experience to help raise money for Group and a team from the Volunteer About his appointment, Charlie writes, ‘I’m Programme partner employers, NCP! the Booth Centre and who knows… maybe we’ll do it again next year?! thrilled to be joining the music department at Manchester Cathedral to lead the Chorister On the day of the Sleep Out we were Recruitment Programme. The coming looking out of the window at the constant journey is going to be a challenging, but rain and exchanging glances at each rewarding one. I’m really looking forward other as we all thought the same thing; ‘Is to helping develop, strengthen and renew this rain ever going to stop?!’ Thankfully, the Choir and Music Department in line as the day went on it did and by the with the Cathedral Development Plan time the sleep out started the rain had through building strong relationships dried up and the wind had died down. with families, schools, teachers and As we bedded down for then night still pupils from all areas of the Diocese’. quite unsure what to expect all of us said the same thing “can you imagine Charlie takes up his new post in December.

Page 10 Cathedral News Page 11 Cathedral News

Tuesday 8 December Tuesday 22 December Devotional 7.00 pm The Christie Christmas Concert 12.30 pm Julian Prayer Group The Diary 4.30 pm Evening Prayer Wednesday 9 December 7.30 pm A Festival of Nine December 12.45 pm Turning of the Leaves Lessons and Carols 7.00 pm A Night of Hope— A Saint for the Month Greater Manchester Churches Wednesday 23 December December 17th Together Refugee Crisis Event 12.45 pm Turning of the Leaves Tuesday 1 December 4.30 pm Evening Prayer 12.30 pm Julian Prayer Group Thursday 10 December 6.15 pm Christmas Tree Lights switch on 7.00 pm Henshaws Carols Thursday 24 December 7.30 pm MedEquip4Kids Annual by Candlelight Concert 12.00 noon Blessing of the Crib and Christmas Sing-a-long Children’s Nativity

Friday 11 December 4.30 pm Evening Prayer Wednesday 2 December 7.00 pm Genesis Christmas Celebration 11.30 pm Midnight Mass 7.30 pm Action for Children O Sapienta Christmas Carol Concert Sunday 13 December Friday 25 December 3.00 pm St John Ambulance 10.30 am Christmas Day Eucharist.

Thursday 3 December Carol Service Incense will be used. 1.10 pm Chetham’s School of Music 12.00 noon Evening Prayer However, in the absence of a choir, Lunchtime Concert Monday 14 December This month’s commemoration is 7.30 pm Royal Manchester (No 1.10pm Holy Communion) how is the day best observed in an 7.30 pm The Children’s Society’s ‘Sing not a saint! O Sapienta is the first for Christmas’ Service for School choirs Children’s Hospital Christmas Saturday 26 December ordinary parish church? Perhaps Carols in the City concert. 11.00 am Morning Prayer & Holy

of the seven ancient antiphons Friday 4 December Communion by meditating on that important 6.30 pm Christmas Movie: Tuesday 15 December traditionally used in the western 11.30 am Greater Manchester Chamber 4.30 pm Evening Prayer but neglected word, Wisdom. The Muppet Christmas Carol of Commerce Carol Concert 8.30 pm Christmas Movie: Elf church during the last seven days Sunday 27 December 4.30 pm Evening Prayer In a world that’s changing as rapidly as Saturday 5 December Thursday 17 December of Advent. They were omitted 12.00 noon Joint Staff 10.30 am Christian Meditation session Monday 28—Thursday 31 December from the Book of Common Prayer ours wisdom was never more urgently Christmas Eucharist 7.30 pm Christmas Movies: 9.00 am Morning Prayer & Holy needed, not only by politicians but The Snowman and Frozen Communion (No 1.10pm Holy in 1549 but restored in 1661 Saturday 19 December Communion) by us all as we struggle with social, 12.00 noon Cathedral Christmas when they were transferred from Sunday 6 December 4.30 pm Evening Prayer intellectual and technological transitions 1.00 pm, 2.30 pm & 4.00 pm St Ann’s Sing along December 16th to the 17th. And Hospice Light up a Life services 7.30 pm Family Carols concert more radical than any the world from there we get O Sapienta’s has ever known before. Yet, when it listing in Common Worship. comes to wisdom, theologians and philosophers have surprisingly little The Latin, O Sapienta, means ‘Wisdom’ to say about the subject. Why is this, and is one of the titles of Jesus, the especially when a number of books Christ, or Messiah. In other words, Jesus in the Bible are classified as Wisdom is also known as the Wisdom of God. Literature: for example, Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes? And Jesus, as well It’s possible that a little hidden wordplay as being a prophet and a rabbi, was expands the meaning here, in that if also known to be a teacher of wisdom. the first letters of the seven titles are read backwards, they spell out an It’s time that the Church began thinking acrostic, Ero Cras, which can mean, again what we’ve lost by abandoning Tomorrow I will come, which is the interest in wisdom. For a start, it has meaning of Advent! These ancient ‘O’ impoverished our understanding of antiphons are taken up in the Advent Jesus. But also: what’s wise in regard Hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. to climate change for example, or the growing use of robots and artificial In the 1690s, the French composer, intelligence? O Sapienta is an important Marc-Antione Charpentier, wrote reminder of our need for wisdom as a setting for the antiphons, Ralph we face all such urgent questions. Vaughan Williams composed a Plainsong setting and, more recently, the Estonian composer, Arvo Pärt, set the words, in German translation, By Albert Radcliffe for an unaccompanied choir.

Page 12 Cathedral News Looking ahead January Contacts Friday 1 January Manchester Cathedral Cathedral Visitor & Chetham’s Library Chetham’s 7.30 pm Viennese Christmas by Candlelight Victoria Street Conference Centre Long Millgate School of Music Christmas M3 1SX Cateaton Street M3 1SB Long Millgate Sunday 3 January 10.30 am Epiphany Eucharist M3 1SQ M3 1SB 0161 833 2220 0161 817 4817 0161 834 7961 0161 834 9644 Tuesday 5 January Concerts Tickets 12.30 pm Julian Prayer Group

Wednesday 6 January 12.45 pm Turning of the Leaves Family Carols Concert tickets are Clergy Staff Cathedral Administrator Thursday 14 January £10 (adults) and £8 (concession). 12.00 noon Mothers’ Union The ticket price includes a glass of The Very Revd Rogers Govender [email protected] Thursday Prayer wine or soft drink and a mince pie. [email protected] Dean’s PA Wednesday 20 January 12.45 pm Turning of the Leaves Tickets can be purchased from Canon Precentor & Sub-Dean [email protected] The Revd Canon Philip Barratt Thursday 21 January http://family-carols.eventbrite.co.uk Cathedral Office Assistant [email protected] 1.10 pm Chetham’s School of Music [email protected] Lunchtime Concert A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Canon for Theology & Mission Office & Conferencing Assistant Saturday 23 January tickets are not required but you can The Revd Canon Dr David Holgate 11.00 am Coffee Concert [email protected] register your attendance at [email protected] Tuesday 26 January http://ninelessons.eventbrite.co.uk Finance Assistant 12.30 pm Julian Prayer Group [email protected] Sunday 31 January For all charity concerts, please see the The Venerable Mark Ashcroft 10.30 am Cathedral Kids’ Club Cathedral website for ticket information. [email protected] Logistics Officer [email protected] Cathedral Looking further ahead The Revd Jane Walker Senior Verger February [email protected] [email protected] Vergers Wednesday 3 February Chapter Lay Canons 12.45 pm Turning of the Leaves Barrie Cheshire, Philip Blinkhorn, [email protected] [email protected] Saturday 6 February Addy Lazz-Onyenobi & Jenny Curtis 10.30 am Christian Meditation session Organist & Master of the Choristers Follow us: Cathedral Chaplains Thursday 11 February [email protected] 12.00 noon Mothers’ Union Thursday /ManchesterCathedral @ManCathedral The Revd Canon Adrian Rhodes Prayer The Revd Peter Bellamy-Knights Sub Organist 1.10 pm Chetham’s School of Music [email protected] Lunchtime Concert Cathedral Reader Emeritus Raylia Chadwick Worship & Music Administrator Friday 12 February 7.00 pm Opening night of [email protected] [email protected] Quietus Exhibition Service Times - Midweek Services Education Officer (Pam Elliott ) Saturday 13 February 11.00 am Coffee Concert Morning Prayer 9.00am Mon-Fri Congregation [email protected] 2.15 pm Be A Chorister For A Day Holy Communion 1.10pm Mon-Fri Churchwardens & Stewards Cathedral Communications 4.30 pm Evening Prayer (No 5.30 pm Evensong 5.30pm Tues-Thurs* [email protected] Evensong) Evening Prayer 4.30pm Mon & Fri & Marketing Officer 5.00 pm Be A Chorister For A Day— Archives [email protected] Act of Worship Saturday Services [email protected] Director of Fundraising & Development Tuesday 16 February Morning Prayer & Holy Communion 9.00am Cathedral High Steward & Chair of anthony.o’[email protected] 12.30 pm Julian Prayer Group Evensong 5.30pm* Manchester Cathedral Development Trust 7.30 pm Chetham’s Sinfonia and Visitor Services Manager Ensembles concert Warren Smith JP Sunday Services [email protected] Wednesday 17 February [email protected] / 0161 834 0490 12.45 pm Turning of the Leaves Matins 8.45am Secretary to the Development Project Holy Communion (1662) 9.00am Flowers: Helen Bamping Friday 19 February Cathedral Friends: Pauline Dimond [email protected] 7.30 pm Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra Sung Eucharist 10.30am Evensong 5.30pm* Ringing Master: Malcolm Murphy Volunteer Programme Co-ordinators Tuesday 23 February Secretary to Bell-Ringers: Catherine Rhodes 7.00 pm Imagining God - theological [email protected] lecture by F. Gerald Downing Services will be said from 26 December to 2 January. [email protected] *Please note: Friday 26 February All said services are at 4.30 pm. Variations to the schedule for Chorister Recruitment Officer 7.00 pm Fun Lovin’ Criminals (Come Find special dates and services will be listed here whenever possible. [email protected] Yourself 20th Anniversary Tour)