News www.manchestercathedral.org April 2016 Prayer / Worship / Music / Arts / Education / Heritage / Welcoming Photo by Kerry Garner From Art to Easter Guns to Art Do You Hear the People Sing? Pages 2 & 3 Page 6 Pages 8 & 9 Dean’s Corner tirelessly to end gun crime in south Manchester. This was part of the ‘gun to goods’ campaign... whereby guns handed in are smelted into a work of art. This is a celebration of From Art the campaign focussed on Moss Side and surrounding areas which has made a huge difference building to Easter peace in our local community. It has been a joy to be involved in these events. Whilst all these activities are going on in our cathedral we are also offering to the Lord our three daily acts of worship, teaching and preaching the faith taught a by Jesus by preparing people to pray, to meditate, to walk closer with God. By The Dean And we look forward to our next Baptism and Confirmation service led by Bishop David in April and the national service commemorating the Battle of the Somme in July! The months of February In early March I hosted a public and March have focussed meeting to build awareness on And oh, did I mention the work Human Trafficking. This is another being done for the installation of on important issues in our modern day stain on our society. our new organ, the new lighting society. I hosted the Hate People, especially women and scheme, the opening of the East Crime Awareness event children are trafficked for labour, door and the new east window, the the sex trade, harvesting of organs, library refurbishment and our plans which was well attended. etc. This was attended by about 80 for redeveloping the West End? The theme was ‘Art people and was well supported by Amongst loads of other things. brings people together’ our leaders in politics, community groups and the statutory sector. May God be praised who gives - many participants from We watched a moving film entitled us the means and the strength to the community brought ‘Alicija’ (pronounced ‘Alicia’) about do these things! All for His glory works of art that spoke a Polish young lady trafficked in Jesus Christ our Lord, and in into England into the sex trade. service to the wider community! to the theme of building We are an Easter People in a Good community and peace. A few days later I hosted a reception Friday world. God is good, always! I was pleased that over to unveil the work of art depicting the bust of local community activist Rogers Govender 140 people attended. Dr Erinma Bell who has worked Page 2 Cathedral News Page 3 Cathedral News ridiculed. He said that what he wanted Dispatches was for the war to come to a victorious end and then for forgiveness, not revenge, Foxes from the to be offered. The response was hostile. On 4th May he acknowledged the public outcry at the Zeppelin raids, but warned Home Front against unrestrained anger. The attitude Have of a dying soldier shot by a sniper was required: ‘I bet he wouldn’t have shot me (1916) if he knew I have a wife and four children.’ Holes By Bishop Frank Sargeant Green reported that the Council of National Mission of Repentance and Hope By Virginia Moffatt We continue with our series had split, with one side advocating reform of notes on how World War in the nation and in the Church, and the 1 was seen by Canon Peter other opposed to church involvement with political issues. For the week of mission Green in Manchester. These in September, each diocese made its The Christian Think Tank, notes by Bishop Frank Sargeant own plans. Bishop Knox of Manchester Ekklesia is delighted to be are based on Artifex articles encouraged people to share their launching a pioneering new by Peter Green published in Christian faith with their neighbours. The book, Foxes Have Holes: the Manchester Guardian. Archbishops’ visitors, including William Christian responses to housing Temple and Guy Warman, addressed In January Green questioned gatherings throughout Lancashire. need in Manchester Cathedral on April 14th 2016 at 7pm. whether the National Mission would achieve anything. The Church had In November Professor Headlam, been abandoned by writers, thinkers later Bishop of Gloucester, stated that The book is a direct response to the and artists. This was regrettable, as war and inequalities in society were UK’s housing crisis that is seeing The book concludes with a ten point Christianity was the only philosophy for inevitable. Green responded angrily that citizens priced out of affordable action plan that lays out positive life on which democracy depended. poverty caused prostitution and stunted homes, the collapse of social housing steps to tackle the housing crisis growth in children. He was accused of and a rise in homelessness. ‘This collection of essays is a In March he expressed his dismay materialism in wanting to raise people out at a proposed National Lottery, and of poverty. He replied that materialism This up to date collection of essays timely reminder of why we are that the idea of Government Bonds was belief in the power of possessions provides a brief history of British housing, where we are, and is a challenge was ridiculous given the rising cost of with the dispossessed going to the demonstrating why Christians should to action for people of faith.’ living. He reported that Manchester wall. If the British supported this they care. It considers the role of local Rachel Lampard, businessmen were planning to isolate were no better than the Germans. authorities and housing associations Vice President Elect, Germany from commerce after the and includes reflections on changing Methodist Conference war. He countered their argument that On the 12 December Germany made cityscapes and the use of open this was no concern of the Church by a peace proposal. ‘Bellicose’ church space. There are essays on the rural Speakers at the book launch will saying that punishment had no curative leaders were vocal in opposing it communities, a theology of housing, and include contributors, Bishop David value and only love could heal. and Prime Minister Asquith resigned the impact of an inflated housing market. Walker and Helen Woolley, editor, after the proposal was rejected by the Andrew Francis and Ekklesia’s Chief On 20 April Green admitted that talk government. Green’s New Year Message Contributors include Bishop David Operating Officer Virginia Moffatt. of reconciliation was difficult. With the prophesied war-weariness and social Walker, Andrew Francis, Helen reporting of German atrocities at the Battle and economic dislocation, and a violent Woolley, Helen Roe and Paul Lusk. Admission is free and all very welcome. of Verdun, his notion of forgiveness was thirst for pleasure when the War ended. Page 4 Cathedral News Page 5 Cathedral News GREAT FOOD DESERVES THE GRANDEST OF SETTINGS Now open, a mouthwatering mix of Poetry Competition restaurants in a stunning Edwardian venue W.H. Auden, in his elegy looking forward to reading every “In Memory of W.B. Yeats”, entry and hopes to receive poems famously says, “poetry makes that explore ‘the spiritual’ and nothing happen.” More brutally, ‘divine’ from every faith perspective and none. Jo is well-known as an Seamus Heaney suggests, advocate for poetry, being the former “The efficacy of poetry is nil – lead person for National Poetry Day, no lyric ever stopped a tank.” and – as she has said to me and When two poets of international many poets regarding the Cathedral cornexchangemanchester.co.uk standing indicate the apparent Poetry Competition - ‘you have to #GrandTimes ‘uselessness’ of poetry, it’s not be in it, to win it!’ So do start writing unreasonable for the casual and sending in your poems. reader to question why they should bother with verse. Last year, to reflect the growing influence of the internet, we opened The Manchester Cathedral Poetry the competition up to online entry for regarding gun crime, recent successes, Competition – now in its 18th the first time. This year it is possible Guns to Art and the current situation in Salford. year – has supplied hundreds of to enter in both the traditional ‘paper’ answers. Year on year, poets have way and online. As Cathedral Poet, On Tuesday 8 March 2016, the Dean Manchester Cathedral has an close written hundreds of superb poems. I genuinely hope offering a range of association with the work of Erinma Bell, of Manchester hosted the official The very best not only challenged ways to enter widens participation who is an active member of the Challenging unveiling of a beautiful portrait of readers to think again about faith, in this special competition. peace activist Erinma Bell MBE, Hate Forum and the Modern Slavery Multi-faith Forum. The Cathedral has long but draw their audience deeply into DL, sculpted by artist Karen Lyons. the mysteries of what it means to be Further information about entering supported initiatives towards peace, and it the competition, either online The unveiling was performed celebrates the positive contributions made human. If Auden is right to say that poetry makes nothing happen, it’s or in paper form, can be found by Mayor and Police and Crime by diverse communities to the social and on the Cathedral website: cultural richness of the also true that it does so in a powerful Commissioner Tony Lloyd. The www.manchestercathedral.org/poetry sculpture is made to a scale 1.5 city of Manchester. The way. It offers us a glimpse of our divine and human natures without life-size, is cast in steel retrieved sculpture will be on display in Manchester ever being crass and utilitarian.