Philip Buckler, Dean       Gavin Kirk, Precentor      Mark Hocknull, Chancellor     John Patrick, Subdean ******************************************************** Since being installed as Subdean, over three months ago, I have spent a significant amount of time walking around the Cathedral and the Close properties, in the process discovering parts of this great building and its environs that I never knew existed. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable journey of discovery. This of course is very much part of my work at the Cathedral as (along ...Read more →

Philip Buckler, Dean   Gavin Kirk, Precentor    Mark Hocknull, Chancellor    John Patrick, Subdean It’s a fortnight now since we celebrated the Paschal Triduum and Easter Day but its memory is still fresh in people’s minds and hearts, given the number of comments the clergy have received.  It is, as always, a huge undertaking, rewarded this year by record numbers at almost every service.  Chapter is deeply grateful to the many people, staff and volunteers, whose skill, faithfulness and enthusiasm combine to ...Read more →

Philip Buckler, Dean   Gavin Kirk, Precentor   Mark Hocknull, Chancellor   John Patrick, Subdean ******************************************************** As we enter Passiontide and look towards Holy Week and Easter our thoughts and prayers are shaped and sharpened by the music of this season. The magnificent performance of Bach’s St John Passion here in the Cathedral recently set the scene. It underlined just how powerful music can be in enabling us to enter into the deepest meaning of those events in the account of God’s redeeming ...Read more →

Philip Buckler, Dean   Gavin Kirk, Precentor   Mark Hocknull, Chancellor   John Patrick, Subdean It is more blessed to give than to receive is a well-known saying attributed by St Paul to Jesus (Acts 20.35). Nevertheless there is a time both for giving and for receiving – and we need to have the humility to be able to receive as well as the generosity to give. Many of us will have known people who seemingly give of their time and indeed themselves ...Read more →

Philip Buckler, Dean   Gavin Kirk, Precentor   Mark Hocknull, Chancellor   John Patrick, Subdean ******************************************************** The practice of giving things up for lent is well known and is part of the discipline of Lent for many people. Talking with a colleague from outside the Cathedral this week, I discovered that her practice during lent is to try to recover something of the Great Silence practiced in monastic communities. Between the hours of 9pm and 8am she withdraws from contact with the outside ...Read more →

Philip Buckler, Dean   Gavin Kirk, Precentor   Mark Hocknull, Chancellor   John Patrick, Subdean What is the Church for? This is a question that I’ve found myself pondering this last week, partly in the context of the debates in the General Synod, partly in response to world development and partly as a result of our forum on the morality of the financial markets, held last Friday in the Chapter House. It’s easy enough to point to the things that any church does: ...Read more →

 Philip Buckler, Dean   Gavin Kirk, Precentor    Mark Hocknull, Chancellor   John Patrick, Subdean The Cathedral is such a dynamic place! It has a superb new website and most recent addition to the site is the Chancellor’s Blog.  I’m planning to write at least one new post per week to keep it topical and up to date. The current post raises the issue of the regulation and morality of the financial markets. This is the topic that will be discussed in the ...Read more →

Philip Buckler, Dean   Gavin Kirk, Precentor   Mark Hocknull, Chancellor  ******************************************************** It was said of Leonardo da Vinci that he saw connections where we see only differences. Just think how our world might be changed if that were to be our approach. The season of Epiphany continues over these weeks, urging us to reflect upon the manifestation of God’s loving purposes in the figure of Jesus Christ. A number of incidents highlight this: the visit of the Magi, the Baptism of ...Read more →

Philip Buckler, Dean   Gavin Kirk, Precentor    Mark Hocknull, Chancellor After two weeks of John the Baptist, the gospel today returns to the more familiar story of the Annunciation.  Our regular exposure to it in word, art and music can lead us perhaps to greater meditation upon its significance, or maybe desensitise us to its challenge.  The Old Testament is peppered with angelic visitations, from Abraham to Daniel, but today’s is different.  The patriarchs entertained angels unawares, Daniel was left feeling ...Read more →

 Philip Buckler, Dean   Gavin Kirk, Precentor    Mark Hocknull, Chancellor  I write this editorial in the in-between period of two royal visits.  The Cathedral was delighted to welcome TRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall on a visit last Tuesday, and is looking forward to the visit of the Princess Royal on 13th December when she attends the Townswomen’s Guild Carol Service which is to be held here this year.  We are much encouraged by the support of ...Read more →