I’m delighted to be writing my first contribution to a Chapter Letter, and to take this opportunity to thank the whole Cathedral community – congregation, volunteers and employees – for welcoming me so warmly to Lincoln. The last six weeks have gone very quickly (at least for me!). I’m hugely grateful for your kindness and support, and am greatly looking forward to all that lies ahead between now and Christmas.
Being Interim Dean involves me in doing lots of things for the first time. This week one of them was chairing my first full Chapter meeting. Governance is a hot topic in cathedrals at the moment, not least because of the implementation of the Cathedrals Measure, which will bring cathedrals under Charity Commission regulation. We’re very fortunate to be well on the way to completing this process, and to have non-executive Chapter members with a wide range of skills of experience who are all passionate about the Cathedral.
This week’s meeting included discussion about the Cathedral’s strategic objectives, the relationship between Chapter and the Senior Leadership Team, our Close properties, and preparation for a peer review later in the year by the Association of English Cathedrals.
Also on the agenda was how Chapter can better engage with the wider Cathedral community. As a first step, we’ll be organising a series of ‘Open Chapters’, to which all members of the community will be warmly invited. As well as providing an opportunity for us to meet one another informally, you’ll be invited to submit topics for discussion or questions in advance, and on the day members of Chapter will respond to them. As we develop the Cathedral’s strategic aims and objectives, we’re keen to hear from you and to have your input. Details of the first ‘Open Chapter’ will be published soon. Do come along if you’re able to, and thank you again for your warm welcome and encouragement.
SIMON JONES, INTERIM DEAN
Worship & Mission
Weekly service schedule
The service sheet for the coming fortnight can be viewed on the cathedral website (click link to visit)
Sacred Space
Sacred Space will be taking place at 7pm on the following Sundays in 2023:
21 May – Spirit and flame
16 July – The beauty of creation
10 September – New beginnings
19 November – The darkness of waiting
Sacred Space is a gentle, reflective service with time to wonder, the opportunity to use all your senses to explore faith and the chance to experience the unique and serene atmosphere of the Cathedral as the day draws to a close.
Stillpoint
This is a time of guided silent prayer to be still and aware of the presence of God. All are welcome to join us.
Please note the new time for Stillpoint. We meet in the Ringers Chapel from 8.45am – 9.15am on the following Mondays:
15 May
12 June
10 July
Ascension Day
Thursday 18 May
7am – Morning Eucharist for Ascension Day, followed by a simple breakfast
5.30pm – Solemn Evensong
7.30pm Sung Eucharist (Cathedral Consort)
Pentecost
Sunday 28 May
10am – Sung Eucharist for the Feast of Pentecost
Community
Parking restrictions
From 4pm on Saturday 13 May to 7pm on Sunday 15 May there will be parking restricts in place in parts of uphill Lincoln, including Minster Yard and Eastgate, as the Lincoln Cycle Grand Prix takes place. Please bear this in mind if you are visiting the cathedral on those dates and if necessary leave extra time for your journey and to park.
LCCA invite you to celebrate Pentecost Sunday
Sunday 28 May 2023
Festal Evensong for Pentecost (Whit Sunday) at 3.45pm followed by Cake in the Cloisters.
Tickets £5 – available after Sunday morning Eucharists or email lcca@lincolncathedral.com.
All proceeds to the Lincolnshire Warm Packs project.
Please inform us in advance of any dietary restrictions.
LCCA Summer Outing – date for your diary
On Saturday 29 July the LCCA are organising a visit to Tealby with a talk about its connections to Tennyson and the opportunity for you to picnic in the village. Further details to follow.
Lincoln Cathedral Annual Report and Accounts for 2022
The Cathedral’s annual report and accounts for 2022 have now been published and you can find them on the Cathedral website at – https://lincolncathedral.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FINAL-Annual-Report-and-Accounts-for-the-Year-Ended-31-March-2022.pdf
If you would like a paper copy, please contact chapteroffice@lincolncathedral.com.
St Teilo Organ
Visitors to Lincoln Cathedral will see, and hear, a new addition in St Hugh’s Choir as part of the Byrd 400 celebrations taking place this year. The St Teilo Organ is a modern reproduction of a Tudor organ of the type that would have been familiar to William Byrd during his time as Master of the Choristers at Lincoln Cathedral, and it is on display in the Cathedral until September 2023. You can find out more about the organ at https://lincolncathedral.com/st-teilo-organ-comes-to-lincoln-cathedral/
Events
Common Good Lecture – Just Economy
23 May, 6.30pm
Lincoln Cathedral is hosting a series of lectures throughout 2023 on the theme of social theology – how God calls us to engage with the world, in terms of the economy, work, nature, freedom, social peace, politics and civic life.
Join us for this online discussion with Professor Adrian Pabst, Professor of Politics at the University of Kent. Adrian is the author of Postliberal Politics: The Coming Era of Renewal, and Deputy Director at The National Institute of Economic and Social Research, Britain’s longest established independent research institute. His expertise on political economy places him among the leading figures seeding a growing cross party consensus around economic and civic renewal.
This lecture will be held online via Zoom. Please register your interest by following this link. Joining instructions will be sent via e-mail prior to the event.
Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight
16 June, 7.00pm
Featuring a cast of West End Singers and a live band, join us for a ‘landslide’ concert, jam packed with Fleetwood Mac hits as you have never heard them before.
Bowie by Candlelight
17 June, 7.00pm
An incredible night of Bowie anthems including ‘Let’s Dance’, ‘Starman’, ‘Life on Mars’, ‘Rebel Rebel’ and more, performed at the beautiful Lincoln Cathedral by Candlelight.
Byrd 400
30 June – 4 July
A five-day festival with daily choral services sung by the Cathedral Choir will focus on Byrd’s liturgical music
Lincoln Jazz Festival
14 July – 16 July
A weekend festival of Jazz and Gospel music featuring leading musicians from the UK and overseas.
Summer Organ Recital Series
12 August, 7pm
Our summer series begings with our very own Jeffrey Makinson. As always, there will be a big screen show you can enjoy watching the recitalist in action in the organ loft. There will also be an opportunity to meet the recitalist at the end of the performance.
For more details of forthcoming events and to book your tickets, go to our website at www.lincolncathedral.com/forthcoming-events
Bible Readings
Sunday 14 May
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Eucharist
Acts 17. 22-31
1 Peter 3. 13-end
John 14. 15-21
Evening Prayer
Zechariah 8. 1-13
Revelation21.22–22.5
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Sunday 21 May
Sunday after Ascension Day
Eucharist
Acts 1. 6-14
1 Peter 4. 12-14, 5. 6-11
John 17. 1-11
Evening Prayer
2 Samuel 23. 1-5
Ephesians 1. 15-end
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Sunday 28 May
Pentecost
Eucharist
Acts 2. 1-21
1 Corinthians 12. 3b-13
John 20. 19-23
Evening Prayer
Joel 2. 21-end
Acts 2. 14-21
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