Catholic Pic Jubilee Issue

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Commemorative Edition

Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King Golden Jubilee 2017

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Welcome Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP / Archbishop of Liverpool Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in its golden jubilee year strikes the eye as it reaches towards the sky. Its crown reminds us that there is a power greater than those on earth and its lantern shines out at night saying that God does not rest but holds us in his care at all times. Sir Frederick Gibberd’s very modern design for a Cathedral speaks of the hopes of the Catholic people of Liverpool soaring upwards to heaven. Those desires place us alongside our Christian brothers and sisters in the Anglican Cathedral as we jointly witness to Christ rising above our city.

The architect broke new ground in Cathedral design when he introduced a circular plan centred on the altar to meet the needs of the liturgical changes following the Second Vatican Council. It was a brave move that is taken for granted now, but 50 years ago was very adventurous.

As a relative newcomer to Liverpool and the Metropolitan Cathedral, I am still discovering its delights and unique features. What other Cathedral has a statue to Abraham, our father in faith, or a Lady Chapel that isn’t blue! I love the red shaft of light that comes from the reconciliation chapel and I am struck by the bell tower with its sculpted crosses reminding us of how it was through Jesus’ crucifixion that we are redeemed.

There is so much to find and enjoy in our Cathedral; it may take the next fifty years to appreciate them all.

Canon Anthony O’Brien /Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral This month we celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the opening of our Cathedral on the Feast of Pentecost 1967. We are extremely grateful to the Catholic Pictorial for producing a special edition of the magazine with memories and photographs from their archives spanning the construction, the opening ceremonies and events and celebrations that have taken place here over the intervening fifty years. There are the highlights such as the visit of Pope John Paul II or the National Pastoral Congress or just the regular Parish or Diocesan gatherings as well as the occasional unusual item which have all helped to make this building a truly spiritual home and a sacred place, not just for the Catholic Community but also the wider populace on Merseyside.

This commemorative edition is not just a trip down memory lane but a reminder of the important role that the Cathedral has fulfilled in Catholic Life both regionally and nationally over the last fifty years. The building is a living symbol of our Catholic faith, it is a unifying force within the Diocese where we gather to celebrate our joys and sorrows.

Countless numbers of people have been part of the Cathedral’s story so far, they are the living stones bringing life to this grand modern edifice of concrete and glass. We have a great deal to celebrate and give thanks for at this time and there are a range of events and services for us all to take part in. I hope that all these commemorations will renew our appreciation of and support for the Cathedral so that our future will be as blest as our past.

Editor: Peter Heneghan. Designed, produced and printed by CPMM Ltd Tel: 0151 709 7567 Credits: Photography and Words: Tom Murphy, ©Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk, nickfairhurstphotographer.com, Liam Deveney, Robin Clewley, Simon Hart

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Above: The Liverpool Workhouse

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The Lutyens design would have dominated the Liverpool skyline 4

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The beginning In 1853 Edward Welby Pugin was instructed to draw plans for a gothic Cathedral to be sited in the grounds of St Edward's College in Everton and in 1857 Bishop Alexander Goss opened the Lady Chapel of the Cathedral but the project lapsed because of the cost of new parishes and the provision of schools in the diocese.

In 1922 Archbishop Frederick William Keating began a fund for a memorial to his predecessor Archbishop Thomas Whiteside.

Archbishop Richard Downey succeeded him in 1928 and in 1930 the Archdiocese purchased the nine acre site of the former Workhouse on Brownlow Hill. Sir Edwin Lutyens was chosen as the architect and on Whit Monday, 5 June 1933, the foundation stone was laid. At the suggestion of Pope Pius XI the Cathedral was to be dedicated to Christ the King.

The Lutyens design would have dominated the Liverpool skyline; the height from the lowest step of the western front to the top of the lantern was to have been 520 feet and a total of 53 altars would have lined the nave and transept, apses and sacristies. Building of the Crypt continued until 1941 when the war saw the cessation of the work. After the war the Crypt was completed and remains part of the present Cathedral, but the cost of the Lutyens Cathedral had risen to an impossible ÂŁ27,000,000.

In 1953 Archbishop William Godfrey commissioned the architect Adrian Gilbert Scott, brother of the architect of the Anglican Cathedral, to produce a scaled down version of the Lutyens design with a budget of some ÂŁ4,000,000, but within four years Archbishop Godfrey had been translated to Westminster and the project went no further.

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Right: Of 300 entries from all over the world Sir Frederick Gibberd’s design was chosen and building began in October 1962

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Of 300 enteries from all over the world Sir Frederick Gibberd’s design was chosen Right: The crane became a familiar part of the Liverpool landscape

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A new design is found Archbishop John Carmel Heenan became Archbishop of Liverpool in 1957 and in October 1959 he announced an architectural competition to produce a completely new building to seat 2,000, which would relate to the existing Crypt and be capable of construction within five years.

Right: Archbishop Heenan inspects a model of the new design.

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Liverpool schoolchildren welcomed the guests

Right: Cardinal Heenan enters the Cathedral for the opening Mass

Left: Archbishop George Andrew Beck was seated opposite Cardinal Heenan for the opening Mass

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A Cathedral of our time On 13 May 1967 the new Cathedral was consecrated by Bishop Augustine Harris, then Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool.

The following day, the Feast of Pentecost, 14 May 1967, the completed Cathedral was opened with Mass celebrated by Bishop Harris, and the altar consecrated. The Papal Legate at the consecration was, most appropriately, Cardinal John Carmel Heenan then Archbishop of Westminster.

Above:

Below:

Children representing the schools in the archdiocese were present in the Cathedral while others joined the crowds outside to welcome the civic and ecclesiastical dignitaries.

Cardinal Heenan presides as Bishop Augustine Harris celebrates the opening Mass.

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We are

Celebrating

St Cuthbert’s Secondary Modern School was opened by the Most Rev. John Carmel Heenan, D.D., Ph.D., Archbishop of Liverpool, on September 29th, 1957.

Three generations of students have now passed through our school, and this year, we celebrate and reflect on 60 years of educating the children of St Helens.

We thank our community of staff, students, parents, governors and friends, both past and present, who have worked together as a Christian family to make St Cuthbert’s the thriving institution it is today.

Be part of our anniversary year! Full details of all events and activities can be found at www.stcuthberts.com Highlights include Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Wednesday 20 September, to which all are welcome to attend.

Share your memories of St Cuthbert’s using #60at60, or e-mail WeAre60@stcuthberts.com

T: 01744 678 123 W: stcuthberts.com

/stcuthbertschs @stcuthbertschs

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Our Archbishops The Cathedra is the seat or chair of the Archbishop in the Cathedral.

There have been four Archbishops of Liverpool since 1967.

Archbishop George Andrew Beck Was Archbishop of Liverpool from 1964 to his retirement in 1976. Ill health prevented him from undertaking the long ceremony to consecrate the Cathedral and Bishop Augustine Harris, his Auxiliary Bishop, took his place.

In retirement Archbishop Beck lived at Upholland until his death in 1978.

Archbishop Derek Worlock Came to Liverpool in 1976 and was Archbishop until his death in 1996.

During his time in Liverpool the first steps were taken to remedy the problems with the Cathedral roof.

Archbishop Patrick Kelly Succeeded Archbishop Worlock in 1996 and was Archbishop until his retirement in 2013 and now lives in Southport. Major repairs to the Cathedral roof were carried out and the new grand entrance to the Cathedral was added while he was Archbishop.

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon Is the current Archbishop of Liverpool and his Mass of Installation was celebrated in the Metropolitan Cathedral on the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, 1 May 2014.

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Our Auxiliary Bishops Auxiliary Bishops assist the Archbishop in the running of the Archdiocese. Since the Consecration of the Metropolitan Cathedral there have been seven serving in the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

Bishop Augustine Harris Was appointed as Bishop of Socia and Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool in 1965 and two years later he consecrated the Metropolitan Cathedral. He served in Liverpool until 1978 when he became Bishop of Middlesbrough. He retired in 1992 and died in August 2007.

Bishop Joseph Gray Served as Bishop of Mercia and Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool from 1968 until 1980 when he was appointed Bishop of Shrewsbury. He retired in 1995 and died in 1999.

Bishop Anthony Hitchen Was appointed as Bishop of Othona and Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool in 1979 and served in the Archdiocese until his death in 1988.

Bishop Kevin O’Connor Was ordained Bishop of Glastonia and Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool in 1979 serving until his death in 1993.

Bishop John Rawsthorne Was appointed Bishop of Rotdon and Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool in 1981. He served in the Archdiocese until 1997 when he became Bishop of Hallam. On his retirement in 2014 he returned to the Archdiocese and serves in the parish of St Wilfrid in Widnes.

Bishop Vincent Malone Was Administrator of the Cathedral when he was appointed Bishop of Abora and Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool in 1989. He retired in 2006 but still lives in Liverpool and is active in the Archdiocese.

Bishop Tom Williams Is the current Bishop of Mageo and Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool.

He was ordained Bishop in the Metropolitan Cathedral in May 2003.

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Cathedral Administrators and Deans Monsignor Thomas McKenna was the first Administrator of the newly consecrated Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. He was actually appointed in 1958, some years before the opening and remained at the Cathedral until 1975. He later became Parish Priest of Corpus Christi, Rainford and died in retirement in 2003.

Canon Michael O’Connor served as Cathedral Administrator from 1975 to 1979 and now lives in retirement in his native Ireland.

Monsignor Vincent Malone was Cathedral Administrator from 1979 until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool in 1989.

Monsignor Peter Cookson served from 1989 to 2006 Canon Anthony O’Brien is the current Dean of the Cathedral having succeeded Monsignor Peter Cookson in 2006

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Reflections Monsignor Peter Cookson Monsignor Peter Cookson succeeded Bishop Malone as Cathedral Administrator in 1989 and it was during his time at the Cathedral that the title Cathedral Dean was established. He is the longest serving in the post.

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Others who perhaps just come out of interest and are very moved by it. It has a very calming effect on people

Monsignor Peter Cookson recalls the significant renovation work overseen during 16 years as administrator and dean of a place he holds dear.

‘You’re a parish priest administering the sacraments day by day and taking part in the public working of the Cathedral, but at the same time you’re dealing with the multiple practical problems which a building of this size brings up.’ So Monsignor Peter Cookson sums up the challenges he faced after arriving at the Metropolitan Cathedral as administrator – a job title that later became dean – in 1989.

The one-time principal of Ushaw College came to Liverpool from St Mary’s Parish, Chorley and soon discovered the scale of the Cathedral’s problems. ‘Virtually every external surface needed to be replaced or restored,’ he explains. What followed was an extensive programme of repairs – from new drains to a new roof (of stainless steel instead of the original aluminium) – carried out at an overall cost, he suggests, of £8m and that renovation work was not the only major project of his tenure.

In October 2003, with the help of a grant from the European Union, the grand entrance and steps were opened together with a new Visitor Centre and the Piazza Restaurant. ‘It was a great opportunity to achieve the idea from the original architect,’ says Monsignor Cookson, who explains that Gibberd’s concept of a processional entrance looking on to Hope Street had not initially been possible ‘because there was a building in the way called the Innovation Centre which was leased to the university on a long lease’.

The longest-serving administrator/dean in the Cathedral’s history, Monsignor Cookson went on to play a prominent role too in the refurbishment of the crypt, whose deep purple brickwork and vaulted ceilings provide a permanent reminder of Sir Edwin Lutyens’ original 1930s designs.

Although ill health had led to his retirement as dean in 2006, he still played an active part by identifying objects for the treasury ahead of the crypt’s 2009 reopening. ‘Part of the crypt is given over to the treasury which is a collection mainly of sacred silver and gold vessels and also embroidered vestments,’ he explains. ‘The opening of the restored crypt was a big occasion. We had a choir concert in the Cathedral and then went down into the crypt for a reception and dinner.’

If that was one highlight, another was the 1990 inauguration of the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland. ‘We had all the church leaders signing a covenant to work together for Christian Unity, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal (Basil Hume),’ remembers Monsignor Cookson, who still lives in Cathedral House and says Mass daily in the crypt.

His attachment to the Cathedral is strong. ‘I appreciate its atmosphere of calm and prayer. The light from the windows makes it a very ethereal space, very calming and contemplative. It changes through the day, with different moods, and is a place which says something to all kinds of people, some who are Catholics and come to pray and take part in the liturgy and others who perhaps just come out of interest and are very moved by it. It has a very calming effect on people.’

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Papal visit

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A million people lined the route of the Holy Father into the city

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Pentecost Sunday, 30 May 1982, saw the visit of Pope St John Paul II to Liverpool. A million people lined the route of the Holy Father into the city following his helicopter journey from Coventry to Speke Airport. His Holiness briefly visited Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral to say the Lord's Prayer before making his way to celebrate Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Here the importance of the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) and forgiveness was emphasised during his homily: ‘There is no sin that cannot be forgiven, if we approach the throne of mercy with humble and contrite hearts. No evil is more powerful than the infinite mercy of God. In becoming man, Jesus entered completely into our human experience, even to the point of suffering the final and most cruel effect of the power of sin: death on a cross.’ Bishop Vincent Malone, oversaw the organisation of the Pope's visit to the North and was struck by the impact His Holiness had on young people: ‘One of the things that sticks in the mind is at the end of the Mass we’d arranged that the Piazza outside the Cathedral would be occupied by young people because there was a high pressure on spaces... He said various encouraging things to them...”You are the living Cathedral of Christ the King”, which of course got a great round of applause.’

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You are the living Cathedral of Christ the King

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Royal visitors Right: Her Majesty The Queen

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Welcome Your Majesty

Right: Below: Sarah, Duchess of York

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HRH The Duke of Gloucester

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In 1979 Mother Teresa was welcomed to the Metropolitan Cathedral by the then Administrator, Canon Michael O’Connor. She was in the city to visit the Missionaries of Charity at their convent in Seel Street to support their work with the homeless. She visited the Cathedral and later led the sisters in prayer and meditation before a public service in the then St Peter’s church, Seel Street.

She became St Teresa of Calcutta when she was canonised by Pope Francis on Sunday 4 September 2016. In his homily the Pope said: ‘God is pleased by every act of mercy, because in the brother or sister that we assist, we recognise the face of God which no one can see. Each time we bend down to the needs of our brothers and sisters, we give Jesus something to eat and drink. We clothe, we help, and we visit the Son of God. In a word, we touch the flesh of Christ.

‘We are thus called to translate into concrete acts that which we invoke in prayer and profess in faith. There is no alternative to charity: those who put themselves at the service of others, even when they don’t know it, are those who love God.’

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God is pleased by every act of mercy

Below: Canon O’Connor welcomes Mother Teresa

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The people’s Cathedral Hillsborough Mass: On Sunday 16 April 1989, the day following Hillsborough, the Cathedral became the focal point of the city. Thousands flocked to the Cathedral for support as Archbishop Derek Worlock celebrated Mass, with thousands outside an outdoor Mass was also celebrated.

The names of the 96 are inscribed in the Golden Book of Remembrance on display in the Cathedral.

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The names of the 96 are inscribed in the Golden Book of Remembrance

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BBC Songs of Praise: Over the last fifty years the BBC have visited the Cathedral on a number of occasions for their ‘Songs of Praise’ programme.

National Pastoral Conference: In 1980 the Cathedral was the focal point of Catholics from throughout England and Wales as the archdiocese hosted the National Pastoral Congress.

Pause for Hope: The Cathedral is a regular venue for the ‘Pause for Hope’ Service to support all who are affected by cancer.

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A year in the life of the Cathedral

Above:

Above:

Schools Advent Services and Christmas

Annual Mass for Marriage and Family Life

Above: Annual Civic Mass

Right: RCIA Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion

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Above: Mass of Chrism

Below: Pentecost Two Cathedrals Service

Above: Easter Day

Above: Nugent Good Shepherd Mass

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Cathedral staff Ministry of Welcome From it’s earliest days the Cathedral has extended a Ministry of Welcome to those coming to worship and visitors alike. The Guild of Guides is entirely voluntary as Deacon Paul Mannings, Head of Guild, writes: Ours is a shared ministry of welcome as we guide pilgrims and visitors around this beautiful Cathedral. We are a vibrant and energetic team of volunteers split amongst twelve groups of three to four guides, working three hour periods between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm, Monday to Saturday. What we have in common is the living of our Mission Statement by “Greeting visitors in the name of the Lord.”

Consequently, the Guild’s strength is a shared commitment in our striving to ensure they have the best possible experience and will want to return.

The Welcome Desk near to the porch is usually the first port of call. Here will gather the groups that have booked in advance and people will call on spec requesting tours. The casual visitor may want no more than a friendly conversation about their first impressions. Others will seek details of Mass and service times. Many will pass by simply wanting some personal space for stillness and or prayer. Here one can browse and select welcome leaflets available in many languages.

The desk is the hub at which we communicate with and offer hospitality to all who call. First impressions are so important and very often so too is a word of gentle encouragement and the ability to be interested in and listen to

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their stories. Anxieties and happy times are shared and very often prayers assured.

Our styles of tours are wide and varied. However, first and foremost is the expression that we are a living Church community, the Mother Church of the Archdiocese and the centre of a worshipping parish community. Within this context, we invite our pilgrims and visitors, indeed everyone, to belong, albeit for a brief time. However, we hope that by making this experience positive they will come back. Time permitting, we can lead groups around the whole Cathedral, Crypt and Treasury. Those in a hurry are at the very least welcomed, provided with basic facts and an assurance that a guide is on hand to answer questions. Within any tour there must be provision for the visitor to reflect, gather their own thoughts and to contribute to

conversations. Our collegial strength is the ability of each guide to interpret the spirituality of our Cathedral in our own style. Yes, we have the facts and figures. The personal creativity is our own stamp. We come from every walk of life with wide, varied and valued experiences!

Parishioners and hundreds of others pass through each day. There are busy periods suddenly interspersed by times of quiet. Pilgrims usually know what they are seeking in terms of religious spiritual enrichment. What of others, namely those numerous tourists who take advantage of Liverpool as a prized centre of tourism? Basically, we want the Cathedral to be here for everyone.

Our guides work to express its friendly human face. Even if you just want a friendly nod or wave, call by the desk.

From far or nearby, we will be delighted to meet you.

Above: Cathedral Guides (l to r): Marion Morrison, Teresita Rainford, Fran Lewis, Stella Masaba

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Cathedral staff Bringing forth beauty It was Easter Monday 1981 when Sister Anthony visited the Cathedral at the request of Monsignor Vincent Malone, the then Administrator. Sister Anthony had been teaching art at Notre Dame Teacher Training College and had been asked to become Art Director. It was the beginning of a journey which was to transform the Cathedral, and many churches in the Archdiocese and beyond.

Over the coming months Sister Anthony was to gather together teams of volunteers who worked tirelessly to create banners and hangings for the Cathedral, vestments, altar frontals and much more.

The colour brought to life the grey concrete walls and their creation involved many people from throughout the area including the Friday night group of teenagers who quickly learned the art.

Orders and commissions came in from churches throughout the country and, at times, the volunteers struggled to keep up with demand. A remarkable story enhancing an already beautiful building.

Above: Sister Anthony

Below: The Art Studio at the Metropolitan Cathedral

Right: The Cathedral Stewards help at all major services.

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Cathedral staff A Cathedral does not run itself but relies on dedicated staff and an army of volunteers.

The Cathedral Dean, Canon Anthony Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, is assisted in the spiritual life of the Cathedral by Father Stephen Lee, Father Dominic Risley and his predecessor as Dean, Monsignor Peter Cookson. They are assisted by Deacons Noel Abbott and Paul Mannings.

The Executive Assistant to the Dean, Claire Hanlon, oversees many aspects of Cathedral life and is supported in her work by, among others, administrative staff, maintenance and security staff and cleaning staff who keep the Cathedral in its pristine condition.

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Cathedral choir Right: The unique musical tradition of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is due almost entirely to the Duffy brothers, Philip held the post of Master of the Music from 1966 to 1996 and Terence was Organist from 1963 to 1993, and Director of Music from 2004 to 2007.

Below: Choir tours spread the Cathedral’s message far and wide throughout the world, including singing in St Peter’s Basilica in 2014 when Archbishop Malcolm McMahon received the pallium from Pope Francis.

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The Girls’ choir continues to go from strength to strength

Above: Life in the Cathedral choir is fun.

Below: Founded in 2008 the Girls’ choir continues to go from strength to strength, pictured here before one of the annual Schools Advent Services.

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The Cathedral’s choir schools

Above: Dr Christopher McElroy, Director of Music

Below: Students at the Cathedral Choir School, St Edward’s College, with Headteacher, Mr Stephen Morris.

Above: James Luxton, assistant Director of Music.

All the girl and boy choristers are pupils either at St Edward’s College (for those aged 11+) or Runnymede: St Edward’s School for the younger choristers (7-11yrs old). The first choir school was the former prep school of St Francis Xavier’s College, St Joseph’s, which Archbishop John Carmel Heenan took over in 1960, appointing two diocesan priests to the staff, one of whom was Father (now Bishop) Vincent Malone. It later became known as Woolton College and was run by a French order of teaching brothers.

They later closed the school in1973 and the boy choristers had to be dispersed between a number of local primary and secondary schools.

Fortunately successful negotiations between the Cathedral authorities and the Christian Brothers at St Edward’s resulted in the college becoming the choir school in 1974, reuniting the choristers. This allowed the normal hour of rehearsal before the school day to commence again. When St Edward’s became a maintained school again, after a period of independence, the preparatory school, Runnymede, retained its status as a separately governed school but remaining on the same campus. Both the Cathedral and the schools are proud of their association in helping train the internationally reputed choir.

The girl and boys choristers rehearse separately each morning and one or the other group is taken by coach to the Cathedral at the end of the school day to sing the choral services of Mass or Evening Prayer.

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‘Angels, Saints and Nations Sing’ Over the years the Cathedral choir has published more than fifteen recordings on both LP and CD. The latest ‘Angels, Saints and Nations sing’ is a tribute to 50 years of Cathedral music. It was launched at Choral Evening Prayer on Sunday 14 May, the fiftieth anniversary of the opening Mass in the Cathedral. Dame Lorna Muirhead DCVO, DBE, the Lord Lieutenant attended and was presented with the CD by Kelsey Thomas and Emmanuel Kurek-Chomyz representing the Cathedral choirs.

The CD will be available for sale at all the major Jubilee events in the Cathedral over the next few months, or direct from the Cathedral music office Tel: 0151 708 7283 or email: music@metcathedral.org.uk

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 – 2017

Golden Jubilee celebrations

“

It is with a great sense of joy and with many past memories that I wish to introduce the programme of events and special celebrations marking our Golden Jubilee Year Canon Anthony O’Brien Cathedral Dean

Voices of the Metropolitan Cathedral – Hope Street Listening Trail

Nugent: Cathedral Golden Jubilee Good Shepherd Mass

Til 30 June

15 June

Free entry. For more information visit: www.voicesofthemet.com Voices of the Metropolitan Cathedral is a fascinating audio trail that will take you on a journey along Hope Street.

Follow the trail across five locations – the Hope Street Hotel, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, the Everyman Theatre and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Along the way, you’ll discover audio tracks that recount a range of memorable anecdotes and memories from the Metropolitan Cathedral’s rich history. Voices of the Metropolitan Cathedral has been created by the award winning arts and heritage specialists METRO-BOULOT-DODO in partnership with the Cathedral.

Start 1.00pm. For more information visit: www.wearenugent.org This Mass for children, which is organised by Nugent, will be celebrated by Bishop Thomas Williams with students and teachers from Archdiocese schools and colleges. The theme of the Mass is #LiveOutLove which celebrates the faith in action of our young people and the continuous service that they give to help the most vulnerable people in the Archdiocese in the spirit of Fr James Nugent. At this Mass we’ll give thanks for the huge fundraising efforts of our schools and colleges who raise money throughout Lent, in support of the Good Shepherd Fund. Music at the Mass will be led by a 1000 strong choir of children from across the Archdiocese.

Cathedral Flower Festival – Cathedral Life: A Floral Tribute

Noye’s Fludde – Benjamin Britten

2-5 June 10.00am – 4.00pm. Free entry To celebrate our Golden Jubilee weekend the iconic interior of the Metropolitan Cathedral will be transformed by a dazzling array of floral displays themed around Cathedral life. Join us for a glorious day out, and enjoy homemade refreshments in the Gibberd Room whilst viewing over 20 displays designed by award winning florists from across the region.

Pentecost Jubilee Mass 4 June Start 11.00am. Free entry This Jubilee Mass, which takes place on the Feast of Pentecost, will officially mark 50 years of the Metropolitan Cathedral. Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP will preside at this Festival Mass and will be joined by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, guest preacher, who will be returning to his home city to celebrate with us, along with many of the priests who have served at the Cathedral over the years. All are welcome to attend this joyful Mass of thanksgiving.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra presents “Gloria” 10th June Start 7.30pm. Tickets £25 available from: Philharmonic box office 0151 709 3789. www.liverpoolphil.com We welcome the world-renowned Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra to present Sir James MacMillan’s Gloria. Undoubtedly the most high-profile composer of religious music in the country today. Sir James MacMillan originally wrote Gloria to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the consecration of the new Cathedral in Coventry and will conduct this concert. Written for a leading tenor soloist, Ian Bostridge sang in that first performance, and will also appear at this special concert to celebrate our own jubilee. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, joined by the choirs of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral will surely raise the roof with an evening that promises to be glorious.

13 July Start 7.00pm. Tickets £7.50 Tickets available from: The Cathedral Gift Shop or www.ticketsource.co.uk/lpoolmetmusic A one-act opera by the British composer Benjamin Britten, Noye’s Fludde was first performed in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral in the Jubilee year of 2000. Based on the 15th century Chester ‘mystery’ or ‘miracle’ play which recounts the Old Testament story of Noah’s Ark this production will be presented by musicians from the Cathedral and schools across the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

The large children’s chorus represents the pairs of animals who march into and out of the ark, and proceedings are directed by the spoken Voice of God, played on this occasion by the Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP, Archbishop of Liverpool.

A New Cathedral, 1960: Designs from the architectural competition for Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral 24 July – 3 September Start 10.00am – 4.00pm. Free entry This exhibition will bring together for the first time a selection of submissions from the 1960 architectural competition for Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. As one of the major architectural competitions of the post-war period, it attracted international attention with 299 entries from around the world. This unique exhibition, which has been produced by Liverpool John Moores University, will also include newly commissioned physical models of key schemes. Located within the main entrance porch of the Cathedral this will be an opportunity for the public to see some of the alternative designs, with contemporary reflections upon their merits.

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The Sixteen – Choral Pilgrimage

John Piper at Tate Liverpool

22 September

17 November – 18 March 2018

Starts 7.00pm. Tickets £16 available from: www.ncem.co.uk or call 01904 651485 The Sixteen – probably Britain’s most beloved choir, under the direction of Harry Christophers – return once again to Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral for their annual Choral Pilgrimage. Each year they feature different composers and this year pair Poulenc and Palestrina. Poulenc’s choral music was all written after 1936 when the tragic death of a close friend led to a religious epiphany. Its seriousness and intensity contrast with his more frivolous secular style, but these works make perfect compassion pieces for the pure counterpoint of the great Renaissance master, Palestrina.

Tickets £10 available from www.tate.org.uk See John Piper’s work in a whole new light, as Tate Liverpool presents a case for his role as a European modernist in Britain. The English artist John Piper (19031992) designed much of the stained glass within the Cathedral, including its famous Lantern Tower. Piper was renowned for his extraordinary diverse practice that embraced landscape, architectural and abstract compositions, as well as his theatre and stage sets for Benjamin Britten. Presenting more than 50 works including painting, relief, collage and photography, this exhibition offers a fresh look at the work of this versatile artist showing how Piper’s work fused the innovations of the European avant-garde with a powerful sensitivity to Britain and its history.

Liverpool Welsh Choral 4 November Start 7.30pm The Liverpool Welsh Choral Union (as it is known) took part in the opening concert of the Cathedral in 1967. In recognition of this, we are delighted that they have accepted the invitation to participate in our anniversary celebrations.

Directed by conductor Keith Orrell, the choir’s programme includes Lux Aeterna and Sure on this Shining Night by American composer Morten Lauridsen, Sleep by fellow American Eric Whitacre, Gorecki’s Totus Tuus and The Five Spirituals from Michael Tippett’s A Child of our Time, together with organ solos performed by Stephen Hargreaves.

Christ the King – Solemn Mass 26 November Start 11.00am. Free entry Our Titular Feast of Christ the King marks the end of the Liturgical Year. At this Solemn Mass we will come together to mark the conclusion of our Jubilee Year and to call on God’s blessing for the challenges that lie ahead as we embark on the next stage of our Cathedral’s journey. Our Choirs will be joined by many former Cathedral Choristers from the last fifty years, All are warmly welcome to attend.

15 November Starts 7.00pm. Tickets £20/£10 tickets available from: The Cathedral Gift Shop or www.ticketsource.co.uk/ipoolmetmusic Joining together in concert for the first time ever, the choirs of Westminster Cathedral and Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral perform Mozart’s sublime Requiem. Composed in 1791 but unfinished at his death, Mozart’s Requiem has captured the imagination of audiences worldwide since its first performance in 1793. Much of the intrigue surrounding the work is centered around exactly how much of the Requiem Mozart himself composed, and how much was completed by his students. Directed by the Cathedral Director of Music, Christopher McElroy, the choirs will be accompanied by the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra.

The Concerts Society Jubilee Programme 20 May 7.30pm Time and Tide A wide-ranging concert reflecting composers’ responses to the passing of time.

A Tribute to the Cathedral’s 50th Anniversary 24 June 7.30pm To focus on the splendour of the Cathedral’s 50th Anniversary this concert is built around Beethoven’s grand overture The Consecration of the House and the majestic Hymn of Praise by Mendelssohn. Additionally, the Society has commissioned a number of new works from composers closely associated with the Society, the Cathedral and Liverpool. These include Robin Hartwell’s new Concertante for Solo Trumpet, Moseley’s new orchestral version of In This House and works for unaccompanied Cantana Choir by Michael Stubbs; James Smith; James Luxton (Metropolitan Cathedral) and Dr Rob Howard (St Edward’s College).

Stephen Pratt’s 70th Birthday Concert 8 July

Jubilee Organ Recitals Requiem – Mozart

Concerts

Tickets £5 per recital. Tickets available from: The Cathedral Gift Shop or www.lpoolmetmusic As the Cathedral reaches its 50th Anniversary, so does its famous Grand Organ. Built by Walkers and completed just hours before the consecration in 1967, it has since been played by some of the most celebrated organists in the world. This year, we’ll pay tribute to the Cathedral’s much-loved Grand Organ in a special series of 50th anniversary recitals alongside our regular Summer series of organ recitals.

1 May, 3.00pm Martin Baker - Westminster Cathedral 29 May, 3.00pm James Luxton – Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral 16 June, 7.30pm Johann Vexo – Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris 7 July, 7.30pm Ian Tracey – Liverpool Cathedral

7.30pm This concert, appropriately in the Cathedral’s Anniversary year, celebrates the Society’s longstanding conductor Stephen Pratt. The chosen works reflect his musical enthusiasms and include the premiere of his Imaginary Folksongs written for the clarinetist Jacqueline Thomas and the premiere of New Year – a birthday piece by John Moseley for Stephen.

Celebration 7 October 7.30pm The title speaks for itself as, continuing the celebrations for the Cathedral’s special year, this concert celebrates British music in this wonderful building. A new feature is the formation of the Cathedral Community Choir, drawn from the wider Cathedral Community: an opportunity for all those associated with the Cathedral to join in the celebrations. Announcements will shortly be made regarding how to join this exciting new group.

Far from the Madding Crowd 11 November 7.30pm An antidote to the stresses of daily life with music that harks back to times when most people lived in a rural setting and their lives, though hard, were less pressured and hectic. This concert will take place in the intimate surroundings of the Lutyens Crypt Concert Room.

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017

The grand organ of the Metropolitan Cathedral

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Now 50 years old, like the Cathedral, it needs some work to be carried out This wonderful and vast instrument was built by the London firm of J W Walker & Sons in time for the opening of the Cathedral in May 1967 writes Terence Duffy. It was constructed first in their works in Ruislip before installation in the Cathedral. At that time it was the most significant large organ constructed. It has four manuals or keyboards, plus a pedalboard (a keyboard for the feet), 108 stops and a total of 4565 pipes ranging from 25mm to about 10 metres in length and made from wood or metal. A striking feature is the display of trumpets projecting horizontally into the Cathedral. Now 50 years old, like the Cathedral, it needs some work to be carried out to replace electrical components and leatherwork which are showing their age. The organ is in constant use for daily services and practice by the organists, as well as recitals. This year there is a programme of four Jubilee recitals as well as the annual Summer Series on Saturday afternoons. Details of the recitals can be found on the Cathedral website www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk

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The Golden Book Liverpoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Metropolitan Cathedral was built by the people of the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

To build a Cathedral, particularly on the scale of the original Lutyens design, requires a large amount of money and the Catholics of the north west who although many had little to give, rallied round immediately. In 1928 just six years after Archbishop Keating first started the fund, it stood at ÂŁ122,000. It was in the 1920s that the Golden Book was established where benefactors make a donation to the Cathedral and have their name or the names of their families and friends inscribed in the Golden Book and are remembered at Mass celebrated in the Cathedral.

The Golden Book remains open today. The first name inscribed was that of Archbishop Richard Downey who served from 1928 to 1953 and so far, there are 17 bound volumes containing 460,000 names.

To donate to the Golden Book contact The Golden Book Office, Cathedral House, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, L3 5TQ. Tel: 0151 707 2107. Email: t.lundbeck@metcathedral.org.uk The Golden Book Office in the Cathedral is open from 10.00 am to 1.15 pm and 1.45 pm to 3.30 pm Monday to Friday.

Below: The generosity of Liverpool Catholics is exemplified in the Prudens Chalice which is made from wedding rings donated to the Cathedral fund by members of the public.

Below: Tony Lundbeck of the Golden Book Office with the first volume

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“Growing together in the spirit of Christ’s love” All Hallows Catholic High School Crabtree Avenue • Penwortham Preston • Lancashire • PR1 0LN T: 01772 746121 • F: 01772 908502 E: enquiries@allhallows

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017

Cathedral schools Another aspect of Cathedral life is that it also serves as a parish church, with all the pastoral responsibilities involved including primary schools.

Father Dominic Risley prepared pupils from St Nicholas Primary School for their First Communion which they received in the Cathedral in May.

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The Cathedral Clergy are also responsible for the pastoral care of St Vincent de Paul parish in St James Street and pupils from St Vincent de Paul Primary School are regular visitors to the Cathedral.

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017

Our Catholic schools

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Schools from throughout the archdiocese are always welcome at the Cathedral Right: Broughton Hall Nugent Good Shepherd cheque presentation

Right: Pupils from St John Bosco High School

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Above: The Academy of St Francis of Assisi launched their ‘Pilgrimage into adult life’

Above: Archbishop Beck Catholic Sports College Chamber Choir sang at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Below: St Julie’s celebrated the Year of St Julie at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017

Our beautiful Cathedral

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017

Our beautiful Cathedral

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Giving glory to God and Christ the King

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017

Our beautiful Cathedral Sean Rice: Stations of the Cross and Abraham The spectacular Stations of the Cross in the Cathedral were commissioned by Archbishop Derek Worlock and are the work of Liverpool sculptor, Sean Rice. A former senior lecturer at Liverpool College of Art, Sean Rice worked in bronze, his depiction of Abraham can also be seen in the Cathedral. He died on 4 January 1997 shortly after completing the Stations of the Cross.

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 – 2017

Cathedral memories Winifred Park Winifred Park has a lifetime of memories of the Metropolitan Cathedral – dating back to the day the foundation stone was laid in 1933.

‘It is not a stained-glass roof if I may say so – it is solid lumps of coloured glass and that’s why the colour is so intense,’ says Winifred Park, hinting at the deep well of knowledge she would draw from regularly during 16 years as a guide at the Metropolitan Cathedral.

It would not be easy to find anybody with a better appreciation of the Cathedral than Winifred – and not just for her aforementioned spell as a guide. After all, this is a woman who, on 5 June 1933, visited the site where the foundation stone had been freshly laid earlier that same day as work began on the original design by Sir Edward Lutyens.

Winifred was then eight years old and a pupil in the prep wing at Bellerive Convent School. ‘We learned a special hymn which had been commissioned for the opening of Christ the King Cathedral – Hail Redeemer King Divine,’ she remembers. ‘My parents were invited to the opening. It was an open-air service, and they had built this big altar with a covering. There was great excitement all over the city. They came home afterwards and said, “We’re going to take you down to see where we’ve been today.” We saw this big site with buildings around it because they hadn’t demolished a great part of the workhouse.’

Later, as a Modern Languages student at Liverpool University, Winifred would pass the former workhouse site on Brownlow Hill where work on the Lutyens crypt continued until 1941 and was completed after the war. By the time the redesigned Cathedral opened in 1967, she was the mother of three boy choristers.

‘I had three boys in the Cathedral choir and one of them, William, was a soloist at the opening,’

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she says. ‘I was tucked away on one of the balconies and I remember what a joyful sound it was as the organ was playing for the first time and the trumpets were blasting out.

‘There was great excitement but it was just a shell of a building – the spaces were there for the chapels but none had been set up. They just had the altar up on its high position and the archbishop’s throne and the altar servers. They just wanted to get it open as soon as possible so we could enjoy the experience of having a Cathedral when we had waited so long.’

Winifred’s own timeline of Cathedral memories also takes in Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1982. ‘The roof was raised when he came in! In the Catholic Church we don’t on the whole clap but it was so joyful.’

Previously a reader at Mass for 15 years, Winifred, now 92, still comes to the Cathedral each Sunday and will be present at the Mass of Thanksgiving on 4 June.

She believes she has much to give thanks for, reflecting: ‘Sometimes when I go in, I recall the wonderful times we’ve had there. It’s a place of joy and prayer.’

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Canon Christopher Cunningham Canon Christopher Cunningham, Parish Priest of Sacred Heart and St Alban in Warrington, assisted with the opening ceremonies at the Cathedral and was ordained there just a week later. As he celebrates the Golden Jubilee of his ordination he recalls the events of fifty years ago.

During May 1967 I was a deacon preparing for ordination to the priesthood. We, the deacons at Upholland College, were invited to be involved in serving at the liturgy for the opening ceremonies.

On Saturday 13 May some of us assisted at the consecration of the walls of the Cathedral. In a relatively private ceremony, with Bishop Harris as celebrant, we processed around the outside and then the inside of the Cathedral, and the bishop anointed the walls at various places with Chrism.

Mass was not celebrated since the altar had not yet been consecrated.

A few days before, we had a rehearsal for the two ceremonies, I recall thinking how bare the walls of the Cathedral and the chapels looked, since work had not yet been completed: it would take several years to bring them up to the present standard. Also, at this time, the benches had not yet been put into place.

On Sunday, the grand ceremony of opening the Cathedral took place and we, the deacons, once again assisted in serving during which my role was to be one of two acolytes. The Cathedral was full, of course, and Cardinal Heenan presided on a throne at the side of the sanctuary whilst Bishop Harris was principal celebrant at the Mass; in the absence of Archbishop Beck who was too ill to participate. Every parish had been allotted a couple of tickets each and my mother was fortunate to be asked to attend on behalf of her parish (Sacred Heart, Wigan). My sister, (a student at Liverpool University) without a ticket, enjoyed observing the long procession of bishops and priests making their way into the

Cathedral via the ramp: the steps were not yet in place.

The Mass which included the consecration of the High Altar was a wonderful, unforgettable experience. As we returned to the college (without further celebration) we managed to catch the evening news to view the report on television, a rare privilege for students at the seminary at that time.

On the following Saturday, 20 May, nineteen of us were ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Cardinali who was the Apostolic Delegate. The ceremony lasted three and a half hours, finishing at 2.00 pm. This was probably the first time it had taken place in English and the archbishop (an Italian) must have doubted the validity of the words used, so he repeated the words of ordination in Latin… just in case! After Holy Communion when people were expecting to leave, the archbishop asked everyone to be seated saying in broken English ‘I wish to speak to the parents’…another sermon, lasting for almost half an hour. This caused some unease as the FA Cup final was taking place that afternoon.

Fifty years ago: wonderful occasions, never to be forgotten.

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> Catholic Pic Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1967 – 2017

Cathedral memories Eileen Petrie Eileen Petrie attended the Metropolitan Cathedral’s consecration in 1967 and 50 years on has participated in an audio project celebrating its golden jubilee.

Eileen Petrie was only eight years old at the time yet there are certain impressions which have not left her of that day, five decades ago, when she attended the very first Mass at Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral.

It was the Mass of Consecration, celebrated by Bishop Augustine Harris, on 14 May 1967 and for Eileen, a pupil from St William of York primary school in Thornton, the sights that greeted her inside the newly opened place of worship were rather overwhelming.

‘I remember walking into the Cathedral as I’d never been into such a big building before and I remember how light it was and how many people were there – it was a bit scary in a way for a child. Another memory is there was some modern dance in the ceremony, and it was the first time I’d seen anything like that.’

If a shock to the senses then, the Cathedral became a place of succour for Eileen subsequently. As a teenaged pupil at Seafield Convent Grammar School she and a friend would travel into Liverpool each Maundy Thursday to attend the lunchtime Mass of Chrism there. ‘The year I did my A levels, when I was 17, I asked Archbishop Worlock to pray for me,’ she says. ‘The friend I was with was cross because I didn’t ask for her too, but I did get an A for my English!’

Eileen, who later worked for the Diocese of Westminster’s Pastoral Centre, is today a regular parishioner at St Peter and Paul’s in Crosby. Her presence at that first Cathedral Mass 50 years ago meant she was perfectly placed to play a part in ‘Voices of the Met Cathedral’, the Heritage Lottery-funded project, to which 50 people each contributed a memory or anecdote

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about the Cathedral’s 50 years.

‘I am on one of the listening posts talking about the opening ceremony and I interviewed some people as well,’ says Eileen. ‘The project started around March and was officially launched on LightNight [19 May],’ she adds, explaining that there are listening posts placed along Hope Street – at the Hope Street Hotel, Philharmonic Hall and Everyman Theatre as well as the Cathedral itself – which will move later to Liverpool ONE. Today, at 58, she reflects that the Cathedral remains a special place for her. ‘I know Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral very well and have been very privileged to see many Cathedrals abroad,’ says Eileen, who works with charities in the Merseyside area. ‘I still think of the Metropolitan Cathedral as my Cathedral, though. I’m very proud to be a Catholic in Liverpool and what has always struck me is how the Cathedral comes to life whenever there is a service in it. It changes so much when there is a service on. The biggest thing I love though is the light and how the light changes through the day as the sun moves around.’

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A letter to the Cathedral L.A.G.Prichard Chartered Architects, Kings Dock Mills, Liverpool Sunday 4th June 2017 Dear Cathedral It is with great pleasure that we are able to wish you every good wish in this your Golden Jubilee year. We have seen you grow and shared your life as you have watched over us for the past 50 years, through troubles and sacrifices, funerals and weddings, and to the glory of this day.

While we look back over the years we realise how often you have been there for us and that you are as much a beacon to us now as you always have been. I was told once by a lovely old friend â&#x20AC;&#x153;Know your past as this has shaped you, but live in the present as this defines your future.â&#x20AC;?

Looking back and remembering gives us an opportunity to look back on our own lives and realise how important that both you and the Archdiocese have been to so many of us over the many years. For my part, we will soon be realising our own 100 years since my Grandfather started our practice in 1921. You can imagine how many Clergy, Head Master, Head Mistresses, Religious Orders, Housekeepers, Parishioners and Advisers we have had the pleasure of working with and who have influenced our lives. I have been associated with this work of the Archdiocese, which all stemmed from you for the past 30 years and my life has been so much richer for it.

We wish the Cathedral and all associated with her every good wish for the next 50 years.

As always With all good wishes Jonathon Prichard LAGPrichard, Chartered Architects Dum Spior Spero

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> Catholic Pic

Profile Dean Anthony O’Brien / dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral

Looking ahead Canon Anthony O’Brien, Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral, reflects on what the future might hold.

For Canon Anthony O’Brien, there was a glimpse of the future of the Metropolitan Cathedral during the Year of Mercy celebrations that took place in 2016.

Recalling the pilgrimages made to the Cathedral by different deaneries from across the Archdiocese, he explains: ‘They were each given a day to come to the Cathedral on pilgrimage and during that day they had a time for devotions, a celebration of the sacrament of penance and reconciliation, and a Mass. It created a lovely atmosphere and I think everyone who came found it an uplifting experience. I’d love that idea to grow where the parishes felt they could come and use the Cathedral and its facilities, have a Mass and some time to spend reflecting and also a bit of a day out as well.’

If that is one wish for the future, Canon O’Brien is able to offer other insights into how life may change at the Cathedral in years to come.

Dean since 2006, he has discerned some notable trends already. ‘There’s a growing appreciation from people who want a more formal type of celebration,’ he says. ‘Even if they don’t want the Mass in Latin, they like the idea of some of the plain chant being sung and choral music.’

At the same time, the Cathedral provides ‘for a wider constituency’ than it did previously, owing to the closure of inner-city churches and the amalgamation of others. ‘What we can offer is a facility and a choice of Masses for people living around the inner city,’ he says citing the variety of services on offer, including an evening Mass for young adults and Sunday morning family Mass in the crypt.

The crypt provides not just a place of worship. Since its reopening in 2009 it has proved a vital source of revenue – estimated at around £200,000 per year. Canon O’Brien explains: ‘We have everything ranging from wine tasting to corporate dinners to the university using the spaces for exams or gatherings or lectures. All of that brings in an income.

‘Because we are in the city centre, we also have a lot of community-run events and ecumenical events. We work in partnership with other churches, particularly with the other Cathedral and events are either hosted here or down the road. They are not necessarily income-generation but bring a lot of activity into the building. Every day there’s a range of things happening. There could be something community-focused down in the crypt and we might have a school Mass upstairs.’

There is also a steady flow of visitors. That number has almost doubled, he reckons, to ‘about half a million a year’ during the past decade. ‘There’ll always be that interest in the building. It’s an example of 20th-century architecture of which there are not many, so it will always be a place that people flock to as an iconic building.’

Iconic, but expensive to maintain. ‘We are never finished with maintenance,’ adds Canon O’Brien who, looking ahead, believes that the Cathedral’s upkeep will require £5m or more in each decade to come. ‘The biggest worry we have now is the lantern tower of the Cathedral,’ he explains. ‘That will need ongoing maintenance and the big problem is the height and the access.

Anything at that sort of height carries a huge cost because of people having to get up there and work safely.’

There is a more significant challenge for the future, though – namely that ‘the Cathedral will always be relevant to people’. He continues: ‘We are seeing a decline in the number of clergy and also people attending Mass. At present the Cathedral is still very buoyant and active. With every generation we need to work with people for them to see the relevance of the building and to be involved. Getting that involvement is key because the Cathedral is nothing without the people who are involved.’

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The Cathedral is nothing without the people who are involved

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