No. 397 September 2012 St. ’S NEWS From the Cathedral and Parish Church of St. German, Peel Worship, teaching and service (Suggested Donation – 70p)

Feast of St German 15th July The new puppet of St German in procession from St ’s Isle to the Cathedral to celebrate the feast of St German. Diary of the Parish of the West Coast

September 2012 3rd Inauguration of The Parish of 1930 St John’s the West Coast (see opposite) 4th Concert by Musicale: Singing 1945 Cathedral enthusiasts 8th Island Spirituality Network 1000 - 1600 St John’s Mill Margaret Silf, Author and Retreat Leader - The other side of chaos Breaking through when life is breaking down 11th Concert by Metropolitan Silver 1945 Cathedral Band 13th Mothers’ Union Diamond Jubilee 1430 Afternoon Tea 14th Possible Nepalese night tbc St James Dalby 15th Soup Stop 1230 - 1400 St James Dalby 18th Concert by King Williams 1945 Cathedral College: youthful voices and instruments 22nd IOM Organists Association Recital 1500 Cathedral by Dr Peter Litman 23rd Evensong 1600 Bishopscourt 25th St German’s Cathedral Liturgy 1810 The Deanery Group Meeting 30th Service to celebrate 350th 1530 Cathedral Anniversary of the Prayer Book Society Regular Services at the Cathedral Sunday 0830 BCP Communion 1030 Eucharist 1530 Choral Evensong Wednesday 0930 BCP Eucharist Monday – Friday 0900 Morning Prayer Monday – Saturday 1730 Evening Prayer The Voice meet during term time at 10.30am on Sundays in the Corrin Hall

Editor: Chris Hutt [email protected] 840428 The editor is happy to publish articles from contributors but they do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor or the Church. Please submit articles for consideration by the 25th of each month. Historic moment as parish churches in the West combine The group of parish churches along the west coast of the Island has been realigned to form ‘The Parish of the West Coast’ Skeerey yn Clyst-marrey. On the evening of Monday 3rd September, at a service at St John’s Church led by Bishop Robert, the parishes of Patrick, German, St John’s and Michael, come together as one to mark the inauguration and to welcome the Very Revd Nigel Godfrey as first in charge of the new parish. All four historic parishes share a boundary with the sea – yes even St John’s! Within these parishes there are five churches: St James, Dalby; St Michael and All Angels, Kirk Michael; Holy Trinity, Patrick; St German’s Cathedral, Peel; and St John the Baptist, St John’s (often known as The Royal Chapel). Under the Western Pastoral Scheme all of these will jointly become parish churches. This is a new status for Dalby, which up until now has been a chapel-of-ease. Nigel Godfrey said ‘With Dalby now having a designated Local Minister in Cheryl Cousins, the church has reached the stage of maturity as a congregation that it can be aligned equally with these other churches.’ The Cathedral will continue to have Cathedral status. Nigel Godfrey, who is also Dean of the Cathedral, commented ‘We are determined as Christian communities living in different localities that each parish church will strengthen and develop its own style and gifts in co-operation with local ministers so each place can focus on its pastoral care and mission. We want more than one or two running around churches just taking services.’ The combined parishes have on the team Revd Margaret Burrow, a non-stipendiary Local Minister with particular responsibility for Patrick; Canon Malcolm Convery, part- time Priest with particular responsibility for Michael; Revd James McGowan, Curate of the Parish; and Lay Readers Nigel Dempsey-Moore, Steve Hamer, Robert Quayle and Iaen Skidmore. The new combined parish will have a single Parochial Church Council (PCC), replacing four separate ones. Each church community will have a team which oversees local need and reports regularly to the PCC. The reorganisation follows a consultation process instigated by the Manx Church Commissioners in compliance with the ’s Recommendations for Mission and Ministry that were agreed by the Diocesan Synod (the church’s Tynwald) in September 2009. This is the second combined parish to be formed, following the inauguration of the new parish of , , and Sulby earlier this year. In the words of the Bishop’s Recommendations “This (reorganisation) will result in smarter, lighter and more effective working and will reduce costs.” The Very Revd Nigel Godfrey, Dean of St German’s Cathedral If you are going and would like a lift or can offer lifts please let Val know. Worship at St German’s

From September 1st 2012, the pattern of Sunday worship at the Cathedral is changing. In the last edition of the Parish News Peter Litman described the new pattern. The objective is to give a monthly cycle of services where people can experience and engage with different ‘forms’ of Anglican liturgy, ranging from a formal choral setting led by a group of ‘professional singers’ (known as Schola), a ‘traditional parish eucharist’, through to a much more informal service with music led by the Cathedral music group where people can engage with the Word in a variety of ways. The Anglican tradition has always been one which seeks to find a balance between ‘word’ and ‘sacrament’, and so each of the main Sunday services will include Communion. The group Schola will include Graham ‘Tufty’ Nash, Christiane Litman, Juliet Tranter and John Wright, and will lead a more formal ‘Cathedral Eucharist’ on the first Sunday of each month. The Nave Choir comprising the ‘old’ choir and some new faces will lead the music on the second and fourth Sundays; these two weeks will be a sung ‘Parish Eucharist’. The third Sunday of each month will be the ‘Worship Together’ Service. This service will be much more informal – few, if any vestments are worn, music is led by the music group. Each month has a set ‘theme’, and is planned and co-ordinated by a team. If you would like to know more about the group, are interested in joining, or would like to see a service with a particular theme do get in touch.

Children and Families Worker The Cathedral has been participating in the SUMT ‘Gapper’ programme which placed a gap year student with local churches for 20 hours a week alongside, a programme of training and development in leadership skills and Christian discipleship. Over three years we have been privileged to have firstly Sam Rotchell, followed by Ruth Walker, and then last year Oskar Forbes. SUMT’s objective was always that the ‘Gap year’ programme would help some churches moved towards being ready to appoint full or part time youth workers of their own. At the AGM in April it was unanimously agreed that from September this year we would appoint a full time Children and Families Worker. The ‘staff team’ drew up a job description, advertised and appointed an interview panel comprising Jackie Allan, Bob Jeavons, Maddie Porter (Care for the Family), Gill Poole and me. We sent out over 20 application forms, received eight back, and interviewed two people. We were pleased to appoint Ruth Walker on a three-year contract as our first full time Children and Family worker. Ruth begins work in September and will be living in the ‘flat’ at the Deanery. Over the past three years our ‘Gappers’ have established the Voice and The Caterpillar Club among other things, and we hope that this work will continue. We decided to move on to working with children, young people and families, forming partnerships with other organisations on Island so we can engage with and support the wider community of Peel. Ruth, as Children and Families Worker will require investment from our community – in prayer and practical support as she settles into life in Peel – and financially as the Cathedral finds ways to honour its commitment to her. We are currently just over half way to our target to pay Ruth’s salary and expenses. We will ensure that she is paid in full. However, if we are short in ‘allocated’ funds we might have to divert money from elsewhere in the Cathedral budget to cover the shortfall. If you would like to know more about what Ruth will be doing, or you are able to commit yourself to supporting her work financially, or as a prayer partner do get in touch with Revd James McGowan. James McGowan Favourite Hymns Let all the world in every corner sing, My God and King! It is the custom to sing a hymn in the of our Tuesday concerts; not only does this provide welcome relief from sitting on hard pews, but it emphasises in a gentle way that St German's is God's house and whatever we do there is ultimately to His glory. We try to choose hymns that are well-known by most worshipping Christians, whatever their denomination. Recently we sang Let all the world in every corner sing. This lends itself to singing lustily, but is a little unusual, in that it has only two verses and seems quite modern although dating from the early 17C. It is another of the poems of George Herbert (1593-1632), a Cambridge academic, courtier, MP and writer of speeches for James I. He gave up all this to enter the priesthood, and in 1630 became Rector of Bemerton, a small parish near Salisbury. Within 3 years he died of consumption, but in the meantime wrote a wealth of fine poetry. After his death several of his poems were turned into popular hymns, the first of these being Let all the world, published in 1633 in a collection called 'The Temple', all of whose items were written to be sung antiphonally – that is to say, either by two choirs, or by a choir and congregation. In a 'New Book of Psalmody' (1760), Herbert's words were published with music for the first time, set in such a way that each of the verses was sung by a different soloist, with the chorus fully harmonised. Let all the world became well-known as a conventional hymn through its inclusion in 'Hymns Ancient & Modern Revised' (1889), and so it has appeared in many hymn-books since. What about the tune, which contributes as much as the words to the appeal of the hymn? Several great composers have written music for it, starting with W H Monk (1823-89), whose tune 'Herbert' for A&MR was the last he composed. In 20C both Martin Shaw and Eric Routley wrote tunes, but it is 'Luckington' by Dr Basil Harwood (1859-1949, organist successively of Ely Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford) that has endured and is the one we sing today. Strangely, Harwood's tune is very similar to the original one by Monk. The rhythm is identical, but the harmonies are more developed. It is designed to be sung antiphonally, as George Herbert intended. But what are we to make of the words? Is this hymn just a straightforward paean of praise, or is there more in it? Certainly it is the former, but towards the end of the second verse we sing above all the heart must bear the longest part. Perhaps this is why the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams included Let all the world as one of a group of Herbert's poems that he set for choir and organ as 'Five Mystical Songs' - often heard in choral concerts. If RVW (an agnostic) found a mystical meaning, then surely we (as believers) could find a positive spiritual message. Perhaps it is this: that whatever joyous praise we articulate in our services, to be truly valid it must arise from the ongoing work of God within the depths of our being. For our worship to be effective, acceptable to God and capable of being used by the Holy Spirit to lead others to Christ, it is not enough to make a joyous noise or to have the most beautiful music (though these are of value in themselves); it must be underpinned by an enduring depth of faith that comes from our personal relationship with Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.

Tuesday Concerts, September The 2012 season of weekly concerts continued through July and August. Particularly outstanding was a varied programme presented by the Manx Youth Orchestra, who overflowed from the dais and filled the Cathedral with a splendid sound. On another Tuesday the Cathedral music team had fun providing a mix of music including an organ duet and an improvised arrangement of 'In a Monastery Garden' that used two organs, piano, voices, bells and bird-calls. The St German’s Handbells entertained us alongside the Wren Ensemble in August.

These and other concerts have been quite well attended, but we could always do with a larger audience, so please do put the remaining concerts in your diary, as follows: 4th September: Musicalé 11th September: Castletown Metropolitan Silver Band 18th September: Students and Staff of King William's College Do come and be entertained. Entry is free (with a retiring collection) Concerts start at 7:45 pm followed by refreshments Don Roworth

MOTHERS’ UNION FUNDRAISERS FOR MALAWI

Members of the Mothers’ Union in the Island are at present fundraising for the MU Literacy and Financial Education Programme in three regions of Malawi, where we wish to increase the Government’s donation of £28,000 to £42,000 by next Easter. One of the aims of this programme is “to empower participants, in particular women, with literacy and numeracy skills” so that conditions in their homes, families and communities can be improved. This will build upon the work already started in Sudan, Burundi and Malawi in 2000. So far, over 98% of the intended beneficiaries now have basic level skills in reading, writing and numeracy. Over 97% had not previously received any formal primary education!

On Thursday, 13th September, Castletown and Peel Deanery have planned to have a Diamond Jubilee Afternoon Tea at the Abbey Church Hall in Ballasalla. This will begin at 2.30pm and we hope to make it “a red, white and blue success”, with all proceeds going towards the Malawi Project. There will be raffles, good company and excellent food! Tickets are still available at £5. Lifts will be available for this event.

On Friday, 5th October, our Cathedral Branch will host a Meal and Music Evening at 7.30pm in the Cathedral (see next page). There will be a 3- course meal and music will be provided by Con Brio String Quartet. During the evening a travel voucher for a car and 2 passengers will be auctioned (some dates are excluded). This has been donated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, to whom we are extremely grateful. All proceeds from this evening will be donated to the Malawi Fund and Barclays Bank will match the amount by up to £750 pounds and we also extend our thanks to them. Tickets cost £20 and are available from Mrs Helen Parry.

Everyone’s support for this worthwhile cause will be very much appreciated and thank you so much to those who have already purchased tickets and made donations. Eleanor Callister Secretary

MOTHERS’ UNION

Our new programme for 2012-13 is now ready and copies are available from our table in church – please feel free to take one. We will begin with Corporate Communion on Monday 24th September led by Margaret, who is one of our members. Our meetings will be on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7.30pm at our new venue in the Deanery and visitors are always welcome – you don’t have to be a member! We have invited six Speakers, as well as planning a variety of other activities and functions including a Christmas lunch on Wednesday 12th December and weekly Lent Lunches next year.

Our first Speaker will be Mr Liam O’Neill, founder of the Archibald Knox Society and a world expert on Knox’s work. He will give an illustrated talk entitled “Archibald Knox: In the Ministry of the Beautiful”. This will be on 8th October.

Liberty clock Archibald Knox designed by Knox

Our second Speaker will be Revd Paul Mothersdale, our new Mothers’ Union chaplain, who will talk about “Policeman to Priest” on 12th November. Future Speakers in the new year will be Mrs Caroline Salmon, Dr Peter Litman, a representative from Victim Support Agency and Mrs Mary Biggart. All details can be found in our programme or by contacting one of our members.

The Peel Branch of the Mothers’ Union began over a century ago in 1909 with the first meetings being held in St Peter’s Church, and we are very proud that it is still flourishing and that we are still taking an active part in supporting the charitable work which is being done both at home and overseas by the Mothers’ Union. Thank you.

Eleanor Callister Secretary Choristers Following the final Choral Evensong of the last term, on 22nd July, the Choristers and their parents had a BBQ and Prize giving at the Deanery. Two trophies were awarded, the Precentor's Award for highest attendance; and the Dean's Award for greatest achievement across the first term.

Finn O'Donoghue won the Dean’s Award

Dr Litman reported on a very successful first term with the Choristers, and highlighted some of the future activities in this coming term. My thanks to Helen Parry who supervised the food, to Choirman John Christian who donned his BBQ chef's hat with Rev James McGowan as Sous-Chef … who ensured everyone had plenty of burgers and bangers! The Cathedral Choristers still have vacancies for boys and girls aged 7 - 13 years old; we rehearse on Thursdays after school 4- 5pm and sing each Sunday Choral Evensong at 3.30pm. Interested children and parents should contact Dr Litman. Rehearsals will resume on Thursday 6th September. On July 29th we welcomed Parish Church Choir to sing Choral Evensong as the Choristers term had already ended. It was a great occasion and our first on-island visiting choir! The celebration also fell on St Maughold's Day itself, which only made it more special for the choir and congregation. In October, we look forward to welcoming Kirk Bradden Choir to the Cathedral to sing. PETER lITMAN From the Registers

BAPTISM AUGUST

5th Catherine Warillow 26th Jackson Kneen

MARRIAGE

JULY 7th Emma Lynne Jones and Ismael Avila Collazos 14th Kezia Roseanne Smith and Stephen Pownall

AUGUST 11th Emma Marie Cain and Ian Andrew Mason 17th Helen Cowin and John Neil Cowley 25th Jane Emma Ryder and Stephen John Clague

Congratulations to

John and Diane Hall who celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary on Sunday 19 August

IN MEMORIAM

AUGUST 3rd Dorothy Sayle

Please remember all these and their families in your prayers.

NOTICES

Flowers at the Cathedral There is a new list at the back of the Cathedral for those members of the congregation who wish to make a donation for flowers in a slightly different format. The flower arrangers currently work in blocks of two weeks. Any special date you wish to commemorate can be written on the list and will be passed on to the flower arranger on duty at that time.

A new list for next year will be displayed in January. Along with the list are some envelopes marked “Flower Donation” these can be signed and placed in the wall safe. I hope this will make it easier for those of you who donate money for flowers. Flower money can still be handed to Jill Christian or Val Garrett as before if you prefer. With the envelopes are some small cards which can be displayed with the flowers containing any message you may like to write on them. These can be put in the envelope with your donation. If you wish to purchase and arrange your own flowers I would be grateful if you would please indicate this on the list so that the flower arrangers can avoid duplication. Thank you to all who loyally donate money enabling us to celebrate our faith with flowers. Jill Christian

Celebration through Windows

Gill Poole has posted on YouTube a video “Celebration through Windows” which is a meditation with music, showing numerous different images of the Cathedral’s stained glass. http://youtu.be/YGqH9cF-emo

Cathedral Gardens Work continues on the Cathedral gardens and it is hoped that planting around the war memorial will commence soon. If anyone would like to make a donation towards the gardens (no matter how small) please see Val Garrett.

New recycling bins We have just taken delivery of 4 new recycling bins for the Cathedral which will be placed in the old kitchen area (for the time being to see how it goes). The bins will all have labels on which will be clearly marked and it would be appreciated if everyone could assist by putting only the item which is marked on the bin in it and nothing else . This will save time and effort when we come to empty the bins and take items to the recycling banks.

Children's and Families Worker Fundraising continues for this project - the Corrin Hall has been provisionally booked for Saturday 10 November to hold a Hollantide Coffee Morning ... however, this can only go head if there are sufficient helpers. Can you help in any way please? Maybe you would be willing to organise the raffle or set up and run a stall, or serve coffee. Please speak to Val Garrett.

Thank you from Phil Craine of Christian Aid Donations made during Christian Aid Week have now been counted and banked, and the total came to £40,500, comfortably exceeding the target of £31,475, and enabling over 5,000 villagers in Mali to receive safe drinking water through the digging of wells. The target figure was matched by Tynwald’s overseas aid committee, bringing the grand total to £71,975. Phil Craine, Christian Aid’s area officer for the IoM, said ‘This is a wonderful total and we’re grateful to all donors as well as supporters who tirelessly knocked on thousands of doors on the Island doors to collect the red envelopes. It will make a huge difference to the health and lives of thousands in one of the world’s poorest countries.’