Cathedral in Touch A Newsletter for our Community 11 July 2021 | 6th Sunday after Trinity LCR as Exodus The Executive and Chapter have been reflecting on how we can think about our forthcoming experience in Cathedral Revealed (LCR). There are a number of motifs in scripture which refer to change, movement and pilgrimage. The two main stories of disruption in the Hebrew Bible are Exodus (the story of the liberation of God’s people in slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land) and Exile (the forced removal of God’s people by Nebuchadnezzar from the Land and later their return as a remnant to find Jerusalem in ruins). Welcome Welcome Neither of them fit perfectly with what is to be our experience. However, there are more echoes in the story of Exodus with the hopes of entering into a new place of delight and freedom. This story is also embodied already in our building. The Guildhall was once used as a prison and so the beautiful gates depict bullrushes as a reminder of the place of captivity and slavery. Indeed, the cranberry glass corbels are made by the firing of gold inside glass to high temperatures, bringing a beautiful transformation. The glass doors by the Cathedral font continue the story showing a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night guiding the people in the wilderness. The doors show the waters of the River Jordan. As the doors are opened into the Cathedral (the main way in during the first phase of LCR), so the waters part and people come into God’s place; they become his children in baptism and enjoy similar freedoms to the people of old. Professor Walter Brueggeman describes the Exodus as ‘our indispensable story’ because it is so powerful and recurrent. Essentially, he argues it can be summed up in the dynamics between the lead protagonist who is Pharaoh and the antagonists who are the midwives Shiphrah and Puah. There are plenty of other characters including Moses and Aaron. Pharoah is an anxious man who worries if there will be enough and so he accumulates wealth and power using violence to quell any disruption including cutting off the supply of further insurgents by insisting on the killing of baby boys. Pharoah is nameless and stands for oppressive power of all kinds whether secular or religious. Meanwhile two poor Israelite midwives are named (Exodus 1.15–21). They defy Pharoah, disobey his commands, move beyond the fearful environment he has created. They act because in the words of Martin Luther King they realise ‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice’. They realise God is with them during the mess that is Egypt and in the promise of the future. They let the boys live, shrugging their shoulders saying ‘they just keep tumbling out’. If Leicester Cathedral Revealed is only seen as a building project then we will miss entirely the opportunity before us to reshape our spirituality and our life as a community. Pharaohs re-emerge in every generation and perhaps in an established church we are more prone to getting caught up in Pharoah’s ways. Stepping back from our Cathedral normality – can we learn to spot how and where Pharoah has been at work; and how we have turned away from God or imprisoned others by our attitudes and actions intentionally and unintentionally? Equally, from below, from the ground in every generation there are midwives of the future; full of the promise of life, acting courageously and working with what they have to transform the world. They imagine a world outside the reality of Pharoah and they create the space for new things to emerge and grow. Who might be in our midst ready for a moment such as this? Where might there be life ready to spring up amidst the disruption which needs to be noticed, cherished and grown. I didn’t get ordained to raise money and develop building projects. I was ordained because I knew of Pharaoh and I didn’t like his look. I knew too of a story of liberation and the way of Jesus which brought that liberation home to me. Disruption, dislocation and deep waters will be felt here for the next two years in LCR but there is promise too in this story. We are invited to share in fulfilling it. The Very Revd of Leicester

CANON-IN- RESIDENCE

4 News and Events ONE OF the clergy always holds this 7 Friends Summer Lunch phone. Do feel able to contact us if you 8 LCR Update need but please be aware we cannot 9 History Now receive texts. 11 Reflection 07399 523 330 13 Prayer Thoughts 15 Worship and Donations News from Leicester Cathedral

LEICESTER CATHEDRAL MUSIC LIST Music11 JULY for today's – 17 JULY services 2021 TodayCongregation is the may Cathedral attend Eucharist Choir's services last in choralperson. These services are also as live a- streamedfull group on our until Facebook page. Morning Prayer is live-streamed (Monday to Friday), but it is not possible to attend in person. September.Congregation may Do attend join Choralus, online Evensong or inin person. person! These services are not live-streamed at present. Evening Prayer is said in private and not live-streamed. SUNDAY 11 JULY TRINITY 6 1030 Cathedral Eucharist (Senior Girls and Songmen) Schubert in G 506, 421 Incantations McGlynn Preacher: Paul Rattigan Let all mortal flesh keep silence Bairstow Psalm 23 Schubert Fanfare Lemmens 1500 Choral Evensong (Boys, Junior Girls and Songmen) Brewer in D Responses Reading O thou the central orb Wood Psalm 66.1–8 Hopkins Finale from Symphonie No.4 Widor Hymn 766 MONDAY 12 JULY 0830 Morning Prayer Psalm 126 1730 Evening Prayer Psalm 127 TUESDAY 13 JULY 0830 Morning Prayer Psalm 132 1730 Evening Prayer Psalm 135 WEDNESDAY 14 JULY John Keble, Priest, Tractarian, Poet, 1866 0830 Morning Prayer Psalm 119.153–end 1300 Eucharist 1730 Evening Prayer Psalm 136 THURSDAY 15 JULY Swithun, of Winchester, c.862; Bonaventure, Friar, Bishop, Teacher of the Faith, 1274 0830 Morning Prayer Psalm 143 1730 Evening Prayer Psalm 138 FRIDAY 16 JULY Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury, 1099 0830 Morning Prayer Psalm 144 1300 Eucharist 1730 Evening Prayer Psalm 145 SATURDAY 17 JULY 1030 Morning Prayer Psalm 147 1530 Evening Prayer Psalm 148

The Very Revd David Monteith The Revd Canon Emma Davies Dr Christopher Ouvry-Johns DEAN CANON DIRECTOR OF MUSIC Summer Special Tours Prayer and Pilgrimage Saturday 17 July | 2.00pm This tour explores the history of pilgrimage, and focuses particularly on St Martin’s church as a place of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages, as well as aspects that draw the modern visitor. Carved in Stone Monday 26 July and 2 August | 2.00pm Advance bookings Exploring the stone of Leicester Cathedral, from the ancient required to Rebecca. to the present day. Taking in the visible remnants of its [email protected] Norman origins and paying homage to the Romans, it will focus Adults £3, children free primarily on the medieval and Victorian eras whilst also looking carefully at the tomb of Richard III. Tour duration 40 minutes Lunchtime Concerts Summer Season 2021

1.00pm | In person and Online Free admission, donations encouraged

12 July – In person and Online Kezia Robson | Soprano Colin Druce | Piano A selection of arias and art songs on the theme of storytelling, by composers including Handel, Debussy, Britten and Ambroise Thomas

Available online for one more day James Upton | Baritone Nigel Simeone | Piano A collection of Baroque, Classical, and Romantic baritone repertoire Summer Together Prayer Trail 12 July – 30 August 2021 Visit the Cathedral to take part in our interactive, five station prayer trail on the theme of Crossing the Causeway: ENTERING: We choose to make space to enter into prayer REMEMBERING: We choose to make space to remember the losses we have experienced WALKING: We choose to make space to notice the presence of God STACKING: We choose to make space to reimagine the future WAYMARKING: We choose to make space to remember the promises of God The trail includes an audio edition of the different meditations, so do bring along your phone and headphones if you would like to use this.

Outdoor Prayer Guide Six prayer actions for Summer Together. Get outdoors and P.R.A.Y. Pause in nature Read and reflect on a Scripture Ask God for help Yield to God’s way Download your prayer guide, which you can use at your own leisure, here. David and Joan Beeson invite you and your friends to a Summer Lunch

to be held at The Hollies Frolesworth, Lutterworth, , LE17 5EG on Saturday 7 August 2021 at 12.30pm for 1pm

Pimms /Fruit Juice & Canapés Chicken Waldorf, Ham or Vegetarian – “Special” Cheese Salad Egg Mayonnaise, Salads Dessert Wine/Fruit Juice Coffee/Tea and Mints Raffle

RSVP Tickets by Monday 2 August to: £25 Mrs Joan Beeson The Hollies Cheques made Frolesworth payable to “The Lutterworth Friends of Leicester LE17 5EG Cathedral” 01455 209291 LCR Update Celebrations and Risks

Cathedral Chapter have given the go ahead for work to begin on site. This is a cause for great celebration but it doesn’t come without risk and challenge. Chapter were able to make the decision following confirmation of an increased grant of £1.56m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and grants of £350k each from Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council. A number of individual supporters have also made generous donations. In making the decision, Chapter knew there was a possibility that we would not raise the remaining £264,110 for the £12.7m project. If that does indeed prove to be the case, we will need to draw on Cathedral reserves, making us vulnerable to future challenges. The alternative was to defer the start date but this presented a different set of risks. The price agreed with the contractor will only hold for a limited period, after which we will have to renegotiate the contract, almost certainly resulting in a rise in costs. So, in thanks for the confidence of Chapter and trusting in the support to come from all our stakeholders, the Dean blessed the site last week before departing on a well-earned holiday. If you feel you are able to help the Cathedral you can donate by clicking on this link here. Simon Bentley Project Director for Leicester Cathedral Revealed [email protected] Cathedral Volunteer and Historian History Now Irene explores the history of Leicester from Irene Turlington Cathedral that can still be seen today

William Watts: Priest and Physician The Early Years

The Revd William Watts founded the Leicester Infirmary in 1771 with 40 beds, with its 250th anniversary this year. Patients were forced to pay a deposit when they were admitted to the hospital, and the money was repaid if they went home. If they died in the infirmary, their deposit would be spent on burying them. When the Infirmary first opened, there was no running water, but it did have its own brewery which was used to treat the patients. It was safer to drink beer which had a low alcohol content, because water carried disease at that time. When the hospital opened there was a surgeon, matron, two nurses, a laundry maid, labourer, porter and a cook. Nurses had to live in the hospital and they had no children. Fully trained nurses were not employed in the hospital until the 1860s. Fundraising meetings were held at the Three Cranes Pub in Humberstone Gate. Revd Watts held fundraising events to raise £2,200 to build the then 40 bed hospital. As a voluntary hospital it relied on subscriptions from the city’s rich and the good to keep it going. Dr James Vaughan James Vaughan, M.D. (Edin.), L.R.C.P. was one of the earliest physicians at the Leicester Infirmary from when it opened in 1771. He was born in 1740 at Leominster and was the son of Henry Vaughan, a surgeon. Vaughan began to study medicine at Worcester under Dr John Wall. He went on to Edinburgh University, where he studied medicine. He was admitted an Extra-Licentiate of

Leicester Infirmary & Fever House from the north-east by John Hackett, 1825 the College of Physicians on 8 September 1762. Dr Vaughan then settled in Leicester, where he practised with great success for nearly forty years and was much respected in his profession. He married Hester in 1764, the second daughter of William Smalley, Esq., Alderman of Leicester and his well-connected wife Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Revd Sir Richard Halford, Bart., of Wistow in Leicestershire. Vaughan and his wife lived in a large house at the corner of New Street and Friar Lane, and then afterwards in High Street. They had six sons, including The Revd Edward Vaughan, vicar of St. Martin’s. Dr Vaughan was heavily involved in the planning of the founding of the Leicester Infirmary in 1771. He was one of the two physicians there, the other being Dr Thomas Arnold – a specialist in the treatment of the insane, whose private asylum was in Bond Street, now St. Peter’s Lane. A charity asylum was created and attached to the Leicester Infirmary, but due to lack of funds it stood empty for a number of years until it was eventually opened in 1794. Dr Vaughan resigned as physician at the Leicester Infirmary in 1784, although he maintained a connection with the Infirmary’s affairs, as a subscriber. He frequently attended meetings, and especially after November 1785, when he was involved in a serious dispute with the board. James Vaughan died aged 75 in Leicester on 19 August 1813. He was buried at Wistow, where his son Sir Henry Halford erected a memorial tablet commemorating his life. There is a portrait of Dr Vaughan in the great hall of the mansion at Wistow. He was author of Cases and Observations on the Hydrophobia, with an account of the Caesarian Section, &c.8vo. Leicester. 1778.

A painting of Dr James Vaughan taken from The Leicester Royal Infirmary 1771–1971 Reflection Sexual attraction and the death of a holy man

I wonder, which of you have seen either to engage their interest, so that they Oscar Wilde’s play Salomé or Richard ‘enfleshed’ it beyond the mere facts of the Strauss’ opera of the same name? I ask, Bible verses. because this week’s Gospel reading tells How do you see the characters here? Firstly, that story – and you could be forgiven for John the Baptist: Wilde cleverly but not wondering why, given that it is a tortured unreasonably portrays John as a religious tale of sexual obsession and brutality. Bear purist, having him quote Scripture to point with me, though! the finger at Herod’s wife who, it is said, I’d not really wanted to engage with divorced one brother to marry another. either the play or the opera, despite being From his dungeon John frightens the couple, a musician and a lover of the Strauss/ with talk of doom-laden abominations, but Hofmannsthal collaboration which created also preaches the emergence of Jesus as the other Strauss operas. I didn’t like the story! Messiah. He unequivocally rejects Salomé’s However, I was transfixed both by a advances, Herod’s stepdaughter. Welsh National Opera production, with Then there’s Salomé, dodging her a very powerful John the Baptist, and an stepfather’s sexual advances, but gradually RSC production taking us deep into the becoming obsessed with the unattainable ambiguities of sexual attraction. John, and with a strong and ruthlessly This is just one powerful Bible cameo manipulative mother. And Herod himself, where morality is questionable, violence weak, driven by his desires, fears and undoubtedly present and one wonders insecurities. All of this is, sadly, the stuff of what it says about the narrative of God and modern day life, every bit as much as then, God’s people. Let’s be honest: Scripture has 2000 years ago. But how does it speak to some very unpleasant stories – of incest, us of God? murder, rape – and we have to deal with You may say not at all. But I would say these, as with some equally distasteful that sometimes our most disturbing Biblical Mosaic laws and punishments. narratives – the ones we don’t want to hear We cannot ignore them. Nor can we say – expose questions or issues that we do they were far in the past and not part of the need to engage with. Christian narrative, because this happened One of the strands of this narrative is that of during Jesus’ lifetime and was sufficiently an uncompromising prophet speaking truth shocking for the Gospel writer to include it. into the politics of the day. It is interesting It fascinated Wilde and Strauss sufficiently that Wilde and Strauss both have a long Salome by Titian, c.1515 section where the Jews debate God’s Most of us don’t walk exalted corridors: outworking in their world, and also whether we’re more likely the ordinary people in Jesus was the Messiah, freaking Herod in the the background of this story. But every day process. Herod was weak, both in managing we have to respond to what we see and his relationships and desires, but also in the hear, and what is going on in our world. political sphere. And we see him dithering Rarely is that straightforward: even when here! injustice stares us in the face, it is not always Initially one might see this story easy to work out how to respond and we straightforwardly as a deep and cruel feel discomfort. We may criticise political injustice: a holy man put to death by a corrupt decisions, but could we do any better? system. That is to miss some subtleties which Sometimes the apparently best outcome is a Wilde and Strauss draw us into considering. balancing act, a troubling compromise even. That Salomé had probably been abused, And so we see the nuances of John’s and that Herod was a puppet and that John the Herod’s world – and ours. But perhaps then Baptist, however God-focused, might have we begin to appreciate even more clearly been a difficult character to get close to and Jesus’ divine wisdom, how he steered a might not have had the best tactics to get his path of total integrity through these muddy message across. waters, spoke into human power, exposed Today we also see the effects of people in its contradictions and weaknesses and high places clinging on to power through challenged his hearers to envision something corruption and violence, of questionable different. All of which he passed on favours being sought and granted, noticeably to those who followed him. And backhanders, executions and absence of which we do well to heed still today. morality and ethics. We here don’t chop off The Revd Canon Alison Adams heads any more; but it’s not many centuries Canon and Sub-Dean since, for example, our Tudor history, and the Reformation, when men of conscience were killed for sticking to their principles. But there are parallels in modern politics – people of dubious intent achieving success, while the more prophetic or principled struggle to be heard and are cast out. Today’s public life can be equally murky. Prayer Thoughts from our Pastoral Assistant

Hello everyone. for the memories”. I love getting I have had a lovely break and it them. Thank you. Diana Belton was great for me to be on holiday Some memories you will never grow Pastoral and have a reflection to read that tired of telling, like the one I share Assistant I had not written myself. Thank you with you today. It involves a journey Marian. and I can see my daughter smiling It would appear that we, as a nation, already. The story starts about 24 and as a Church family are at the years ago when my daughter was beginning of yet another journey. at school and the first thing she did A journey out of legal restrictions on getting home was put the music towards a new freedom. Our Church on, usually Bryan Adams. Actually, families also at the start of a new I really liked it but perhaps not adventure. As we travel together we every night! We used to joke about need to be there for each other, to going to see him in concert – I even listen, encourage, and support each offered to buy tickets but thought I other along the way. We will all was pretty safe: not much chance of have stories to share with each other him doing a UK tour. Please note that if we are brave enough to do so. Fast forward a lot of years, probably the reflections I twenty. Christmas Day. One very have shared with Different events will be taking excited not so young lady saying you today are place over the summer period to my own personal encourage us to journey together “I can’t wait for you to open your thoughts on and to give us different opportunities present.” It looked plain enough the message I to share our stories. but inside were two precious tickets believe God to see Bryan Adams in concert at wants to share What stories will you tell and what Nottingham Arena. One tearful with you. will you keep close to your heart? daughter, one tearful mum. “We are Over the coming weeks I will be going to make memories” she said. spending time in this place reflecting Ha, ha, little did we know… The Lord bless on memories and their place in our you and keep We planned to have a meal before you, keep you future. safe. the concert so allowed plenty of My daughter and family are great time to get there. We set off very The Lord make ones for making memories. And I excited, satnav on, into a very dark, His face to shine will often receive from her early in upon you, and all stormy, wet afternoon. I have talked you hold dear. the morning a photo from the ‘on about following satnavs before and The Lord give this day’ memory on her phone of this afternoon was no different. We you His peace, what we did together 2, 4, 5, even knew vaguely where we were going, today and in 8 years ago with a message “thanks the days ahead. so we started out deciding maybe Amen. this was an unfamiliar route to Nottingham how difficult it was to park the car. We were and in this weather familiarity was probably beginning to smile. best. Wrong! Trust and obey, there’s no Bryan Adams was amazing – no supporting other way. acts just Bryan Adams beginning to end. Once we hit the outskirts of Nottingham all What was great was that most of the people we kept being told was ‘recalculating’, ‘turn there were about my age. Lots of daughters round at the first opportunity’, which in three had treated their mums to a ticket as an lanes of one way traffic on a dark stormy excuse to go themselves. An experience I night was not easy. This was not going will never ever forget. well for a nice, relaxed dream-come-true Thank you Sarah. evening. On most journeys we have an idea where We found ourselves on a traffic-free quite we are heading, how we will get there, wide road heading in the right direction, and how we will recognise when we have and began to relax until we saw a tram arrived at our destination. What is not coming in the opposite direction and predictable is what you may encounter on realised we were driving on tram lines. the way. The above journey was a ride of a Are cars allowed in tram zones? It was too lifetime which makes me and Sarah laugh. dark to see any signs the tram driver may At least we never got fined for driving in a have been making. This was beginning to tramway. get a bit frightening. The satnav lady was obviously not familiar with Nottingham’s So as we approach summer and journey tram system! We considered parking the car together into an uncertain future, remember we knew not where and catching the tram the good times, the not-so-good times, but then agreed we may never find the car and the plain embarrassing times. Learn again. Trust and obey there’s no other way. from them, share them and little by little our tomorrows will become todays. We navigated an exit from the tram system, parked the car, took a rest with some deep Diana [email protected] breathing. We focused on where we hoped to be travelling to and how magical it was PRAYER FOCUS going to be, reset our travel guide and set off again. 10 minutes in and there was our Following the Prayer destination. We were in the middle lane of Diary: a one-way system travelling at 40 miles an We give thanks for the vocations and hour but at least we had had a glimpse of discipleship that Journey in Faith has where we were heading for. The one-way nurtured over the years. system we were on seemed very long – We pray for we went round it three or four times before deciding we just had to park up in a car • Those joining in the Journey of Faith park that we thought we had noticed and course this autumn. walk. No relaxed Italian supper before the • A deepening of discipleship across the concert, just a quick Subway roll and to the diocese. show. Everyone in the queue was talking • An openness to God’s call on our lives. about how hard it was to find the venue and Thank you. WORSHIP

Worship in the Cathedral Choral Evensong: Sunday 3.00pm Lunchtime Eucharist: 1.00pm on Wednesdays and Fridays Sunday Eucharist: 10.30am. Pre-booking is not essential for services but to guarantee a place at Sunday Eucharist please book via 07947 896464. Wearing a face covering is required.

Online Worship | Live-streamed on Facebook Morning Prayer: 8.30am Monday–Friday Lunchtime Eucharist: 1.00pm Wednesday and Friday Sunday Eucharist: 10.30am Sunday

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