FREE - Please take a copy
OCTAG N MAGAZINE
CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY Page 3
SUMMER AT ELY CATHEDRAL Page 5
ORDINAND ON ATTACHMENT HANNAH RICHARDSON Page 4
FOCUS ON THE FRIENDS OF ELY CATHEDRAL Pages 10, 11
Issue 8 - Summer 2019
Welcome
New Starters at Ely Cathedral
As ever there is a lot happening at the Cathedral over the next three months. Do come and see the Museum of the Moon before it goes on 9 June - it has been the centre piece of a fantastic Science Festival.
We are pleased to welcome Sally Porter as our new Visitor Experience Manager.
from The Dean
Sally joined us in early April and is responsible for managing the Welcome that we offer to all users of the Cathedral, but with a particular focus on Visitors.
It was announced on 7 May that the new Bishop of Huntingdon will be the Revd Canon Dr Dagmar Winter. You can read more about her on page 3. Dagmar will be ordained a Bishop on 3 July and begin in earnest in September. We look forward to welcoming her to the Diocese and to the Cathedral. We have grabbed a date in the diary for the new Bishop to preach at the Harvest Songs of Praise in October. You have to plan ahead!
Having previously gained experience working with the National Trust at Anglesey Abbey, Sally joins us from the Churches Conservation Trust, where she was responsible for overseeing the day to day operation of 129 churches in the South East, including volunteer management and the improvement of visitor experience.
As always worship is our core activity and there is an abundance of ‘high points’ in the first few weeks of the period covered by this edition. Pentecost on 9 June, Trinity Sunday on 16 June (the Cathedral is dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity, so this is our Patronal Festival); Corpus Christi on Thursday 20 is followed by the feast of St Etheldreda on Sunday 23 and then, to round the month off, two ordination services on 29 and 30 June.
Do please say hello to Sally if you see her around the building and we wish her every success in her important role. We are also pleased to welcome Suzanne Holland as our new Ely Cathedral Conference Centre Coordinator. Suzanne joins us from Cambridge Judge Business School where she was Executive MBA Admissions Manager. She will be looking after the day-to-day running of the Cathedral Centre, Monday - Thursday. ‘I’m really pleased to join the staff at Ely Cathedral and look forward to getting to know you more over the next few weeks. If you are passing the Centre, please drop in and say hello.’
You are most welcome to join us at any of these celebrations, and everything else that is taking place. Every blessing. The Very Reverend Mark Bonney, Dean of Ely
Regular
Claire Mills will retain the strategic overview and management of the Centre, whilst supporting Sarah Coakley with HR and Compliance.
Service Times
Sundays: 8.15am: Holy Communion 10.30am: Sung Eucharist 4pm: Evensong Daily Services: 7.30am: Morning Prayer 8am: Holy Communion 12.10pm: Holy Communion (Thursdays and Saints’ Days) 5.30pm: Evensong
Any enquiries for the Centre can be emailed through to Suzanne on centre@elycathedral.org From September we welcome our new Assistant Director of Music Glen Dempsey, who will shortly complete his studies as Organ Scholar of St John’s College, Cambridge. Read more about Glen on page 7.
2
New Bishop of Huntingdon
Dagmar has been a member of General Synod since 2005, has served on the Rural Group and the Mission and Public Affairs Committee of the Church of England, and is currently on the Meissen Committee. In her rural role she has chaired a community-led rural development funding programme for the Northumberland Uplands, and in Hexham she has been involved in setting up a Community Bank. Since 2012 she has been on the Bishop’s Senior Staff as Bishop’s Adviser for Women’s Ministry.
It was announced on 7 May that the new Bishop of Huntingdon will be the Revd Canon Dagmar Winter. Dagmar is currently Rector of Hexham in the Diocese of Newcastle. She is of British and Swiss-German descent and studied theology at various universities including Aberdeen and Heidelberg, where she completed a PhD in New Testament studies.
As time allows, she has continued to make contributions to academic discourse and furthering the understanding of theological issues in today’s context. Her interests include walking and running, especially with her lurcher, Tilda.
She served her title from 1996 - 1999 in Bromley, Rochester Diocese, before becoming Associate Vicar and Deanery Training Officer at Hexham Abbey. From 2006 she was Rural Affairs Officer for the Diocese of Newcastle, as well as Priest-in-Charge of a group of rural parishes in Morpeth Deanery, Northumberland.
Dagmar will be consecrated a Bishop on 3 July in St Paul’s Cathedral and will begin her ministry here in the Diocese sometime in September. We much look forward to welcoming her to the Cathedral.
Brass Rubbing returns this summer 3 June - 3 September | Mondays 2pm - 4pm, Tuesdays 10am - Midday
Ely Christians against poverty debt centre
A wonderful activity from our extensive collection of British and European facsimile brasses. We provide all materials and friendly instruction, assisting visitors to create their own souvenir to take home. Our brasses range from fun, such as a Dragon, small, (taking about 30 minutes to complete), through to medium (about 1 hour to complete) and large (about 1½ hours to complete); to a range of historical characters such as Queen Elizabeth I (medium) and a local knight Sir Roger de Trumpington (large).
For the last two years Ely Cathedral has been partnering with other churches in Ely to run a Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Debt Centre in the CB6 and CB7 postcode areas. Based at St Mary’s Church in Ely, the Debt Centre has been providing free help for people struggling to cope with debt.
Rubbings cost £4.50 (small), £6 (medium), £9 (large). Suitable for adults and children alike; however, adult supervision is required for children. For individuals or families there is no need to book in advance. We will consider sessions for groups of up to 8 people, and at other times in the week, by prior arrangement. Please note however that payment will be required in advance.
It has been amazing to see how God has provided for this work, how He is working within the lives of those visited, as well as in the lives of team members. We give thanks and pray this will continue.
For further information please contact Mandy King or Lynne Williams: brass.rubbing@elycathedral.org If you would like to join our group of happy volunteers, please do contact us. 3
Since opening, the Debt Centre has been able to help over 80 clients and their families. 12 clients have become debt free and others began a debt management and repayment programme. As well as supporting those in debt, the centre regularly runs free money management courses, including one for young people going to college and university.
If you know someone who may need the help of the Ely CAP Debt Centre please encourage them to book an appointment by calling 0800 328 0006. To support the work or volunteer please email: elycap@stmarysely.org or follow @elycapmoney on facebook and twitter.
FEATURE Ordinand on attachment at Ely Cathedral, Hannah Richardson I am a second year Ordinand at Westcott House and live in Haddenham with my husband, Simon. I moved to Cambridge around five years ago to work in a parish in central Cambridge, but I’ve fallen in love with Cambridgeshire and haven’t left! Having done a parish placement last year, I was offered the opportunity to be on attachment at Ely Cathedral for this academic year, and I am so grateful to have been given such an exciting, challenging, and different attachment. Having a weekly attachment at a Church is an important part of being an Ordinand, and I have been so lucky to serve this years at the Cathedral. In the last seven months I’ve had the pleasure of working within the various departments, getting to know staff, volunteers, and clergy, and leading and participating in various acts of worship. It has been a real gift to be able to learn from those who work at the Cathedral, and working alongside the Dean, Precentor, and Canons has grounded my formation for Ordained Ministry by giving me an insight into what being a Priest really looks like. I have also learned so much about the running of a Cathedral and the importance of having so many wonderful people who work or volunteer to make everything happen. I’ve already had some truly wonderful moments in my time here. I have loved being Subdeacon at the 10.30am Eucharist and preaching at Evensong (however I will admit to being a little terrified my first time) and helping to lead and preaching at the Christingle service was a great privilege. Leading various things like Morning and Evening Prayer has given me more confidence with liturgy, and doing so with great advice from the clergy has refined my leading style. I’ve also loved being involved with some of the children’s work, such as sitting in the boy choristers’ rehearsal, helping out at the half term drop in day, and shadowing the King’s Ely Chaplain for a day. I’ve always loved working with children, and have had a lot of experience in that area, but being involved from a Cathedral perspective has been new and exciting. I had thought that I would become slightly complacent about working in such a beautiful building, that it would become “normal” to be worshipping, leading, and working in such an incredible environment, but I am happy to say that every weekday, every Sunday, every time I walk into the Cathedral for my day ahead, I am blown away by the beauty, the music, the liturgy, and the people. As Ordinands, our attachments are expected to build upon any previous experience we have, and enrich the training we receive in college. Having done quite a lot of parish work (I was a Pastoral Assistant for two years before I began training) being on attachment somewhere slightly different to that has been interesting, challenging, and fulfilling. I’ve been lucky to enjoy the Cathedral in other ways, having done the Octagon tour (I was a bit scared about the height, but it was absolutely amazing) and attending services like Candlemas and the Carol services, I have grown to love this wonderful place more and more. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to deepen my understanding of Priesthood, learn, grow and develop my experience for my future ministry. To work in the Cathedral that I will (God willing) be Ordained in in 2020 is humbling, exciting, and a little terrifying, and it has been a wonderful experience that I will carry with me in my final year of training, curacy, and beyond.
4
SUMMER AT ELY CATHEDRAL The Octagon Tower continues to operate ever popular daily tours. Acknowledged as one of the wonders of the medieval world, this incredible structure, suspended high over the centre of the Cathedral, was completed in 1342 and is considered the jewel in the Cathedral crown. The fascinating tour over 165 steps takes you behind the scenes of the lantern and opens up the angel doors so you can peer down into the Cathedral, before climbing even further upwards onto the roof of the tower.
As we get ready to welcome an abundance of visitors to our Cathedral this summer, it is worth reminding ourselves of all that this building has to offer, even to those who visit frequently or worship regularly. The Cathedral is an engaging place to be but even more so during the summer months when the weather allows you to really explore the Cathedral grounds and monastic buildings. We are particularly fortunate to be surrounded by some of the oldest inhabited monastic buildings in the UK which can be explored at leisure as you wonder around the Cathedral precinct, or as part of our free ground floor tours which take place regularly throughout the day. Despite being located in the centre of one of Britain’s smallest cities, the Cathedral is surrounded by gardens and parkland. These make an ideal spot for a picnic or to sit and enjoy the spectacular views.
With our Cathedral choirs enjoying a well-earned rest, the summer months also present an opportunity for visiting choirs to take up residence and provide choral voices to accompany Evensong or the Sunday Sung Eucharist. The standard of music from these choirs is always very high and, not only provides the opportunity for choirs to sing in such majestic surroundings but also enables us to continue Ely’s great tradition of choral worship during the holidays, particularly Evensong. This particular service, with its resonant and beautiful words, lasts approximately 45 minutes and typifies the English Cathedral tradition of choral worship. Evensong takes place daily at 5.30pm or 4pm on Sundays. Everyone is very welcome to attend whether to engage in the service with the congregation or just to come and observe and take in the experience. Another space that truly comes into its own during the summer months is the Almonry Restaurant. This unique venue, set in the medieval precinct is always popular with visitors. Where else do you have the opportunity to enjoy morning coffee and cake or an Almonry cream tea in the beautifully maintained gardens overlooking the Cathedral’s East End?
www.elycathedral.org
Obviously, the summer also opens up many more opportunities to experience a tour of the West Tower. Dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, the west tower dominates the Fenland landscape and is well worth the 288 step climb, rewarding you with stunning views over the beautiful, historic city and the surrounding fens. The tower features in many well know literary works including Tom’s Midnight Garden.
Please remember, if you live locally with a CB6 or CB7 postcode you are entitled to a free Cathedral Resident’s Pass. Anyone wishing to apply for a Resident’s Pass will need to bring a document showing proof of residency in the form of a utility bill, driving license etc. The pass is valid for two years before it will need to be renewed. 5
MUSIC AND WORSHIP The Feast of Corpus Christi: Eucharist, Procession and Benediction Thursday 20 June | 7.30pm
The Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for ‘Body of Christ’) is a service which was commonly celebrated in medieval England and although suppressed after the Reformation has been celebrated more widely in the Church of England over the past century and is part of the Church’s formal pattern of services. It is the traditional day to give thanks for the institution of Holy Communion. After the celebration of the Eucharist there is an opportunity to give thanks by the saying of special prayers and the president blesses the congregation with the bread itself (in a monstrance, which means something to show something with) as a sign of Christ’s particular presence with us in his sacraments of bread and wine. You may have been part of a procession of the Blessed Sacrament and particularly in continental Europe, these can be very elaborate! There has been a wariness about the feast in some parts of the Church of England because of it seeming to sit uncomfortably with our Reformation inheritance. But at its heart it is a special day to give thanks for what, after all, was Jesus’s own gift to his followers when he told them to ‘Do this in remembrance of me’. The splendidness of the liturgy grew from this. Although he did not originate the feast, St Thomas Aquinas - the greatest medieval theologian - was instrumental in making it popular throughout the world. In medieval times in many parts of Europe, Corpus Christi was a time for the performance of mystery plays. So for example York’s were always performed then. The service in Ely is a moving and a solemn one where preaching and ceremony give thanks for the mystery of Jesus’s sacrifice for us and how we are sustained by his gift of his body and blood at every Eucharist. Sunday 9 June is the Feast of Pentecost when we give thanks for the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles as they hid in a closed room after the ascension of Jesus. They felt abandoned and fearful; God’s spirit gave them courage to go out and preach in the name of Jesus. It has often been referred to in shorthand as the Church’s birthday. The Sung Eucharist and Festal Evensong mark the specialness of the day and Pentecost Praise in the evening includes Baptism and Confirmation, itself a moment of prayer for strengthening by the Holy Spirit. Sunday 16 June is Trinity Sunday, the Cathedral’s Patronal Festival when the Church celebrates God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: our Eucharist and Evensong are both special celebrations. The Dean will preach in the morning. Following the 10.30am Eucharist the Cathedral’s Annual General Meeting will take place. We celebrate Etheldreda, the first Abbess and founder of the monastery on Sunday 23 June with a Festal Eucharist at 10.30am and Evensong with a special procession which includes the area of the former cloister, now of course, the Bishop’s garden. Canon Professor Sarah Foot is the preacher at the 10.30am Festal Eucharist and gives the Etheldreda lecture at 7pm. The Ordination of Priests takes place on Saturday 29 June at 5pm and on Sunday 30 June at 10.30am the Ordination of Deacons is celebrated. 6
Etheldreda Lecture Sunday 23 June | 7pm
This year we celebrate St Etheldreda’s Feast day with a lecture from the distinguished early medieval historian, Canon Professor Sarah Foot. Sarah is Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Oxford and a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral. Her research interests lie with the early medieval Anglo-Saxon saints, particularly women saints, and she has also worked extensively on the Venerable Bede. Her lecture will help us understand the context for St Etheldreda (Anglo-Saxon spelling and pronunciation: Aethelfryth) and for her saintly reputation and miraculous afterlife. Professor Foot is also preaching at the 10.30am Festal Eucharist for Etheldreda’s feast day. Come to both and have an Etheldreda feast for the Feast of St Etheldreda! Discover more about our own saint and Founder. All are welcome; entrance is free and drinks will be served.
Way of Life Breakfast meetings to continue! We have had such a good time over this Lent eating croissants while we explore our faith and how we strengthen and express it, that we are going to go on doing it! Way of Life Breakfast meetings will take place on the second Saturday of every month in Powcher’s Hall, 8.30am 10am. We will drink coffee and juice, eat a breakfast together, which may be more exciting even than just croissants (come and see what we cook up!) and continue to explore the life of prayer and the gifts of faith as it relates to our own, everyday lives. Everyone is welcome to any or all of these meetings. For catering purposes please inform Canon Martin: j.martin@elycathedral.org or telephone (01353) 660304. Next meetings: Saturday 8 June, Saturday 13 July | 8.30am-10am.
MUSIC AND WORSHIP Music Update Ely Cathedral bade a fond farewell to Paul and Sally Trepte on Easter Sunday, as Paul stepped down after 29 years of distinguished service as Director of Music. A special reception after Paul’s final service saw hundreds of friends, colleagues and former choristers gather in recognition of his immense contribution to the music and worship of the Cathedral. The Dean presented Paul with a piece of stonework from the Cathedral, mounted on a wooden plinth, as well as a gift from the congregation, and paid tribute to his great dedication to the daily liturgy. The Treptes have plenty to keep them occupied in the next chapter of their life together: as an experienced Associated Board examiner, Paul sets out for the summer exam session in Singapore in June, while he and Sally eagerly await the birth of the their first grandchild in the spring. As readers of Octagon will probably know, Paul is succeeded by Edmund Aldhouse, who came to Ely in 2013 as Assistant Organist. Edmund’s change of role itself creates a vacancy, for which interviews were held in late March. Appointed to the retitled role of Assistant Director of Music was Glen Dempsey, who will shortly complete his studies as Organ Scholar of St John’s College Cambridge. Born in Suffolk in 1994, Glen’s formative musical experiences were centred around the English choral tradition - as a chorister in St Mary’s, Bury St Edmunds and later in the choirs of St Edmundsbury Cathedral. In 2013 Glen was appointed Organ Scholar at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and during the academic year 2014/15 he resided in the Netherlands and was the Assistant Organist of St Nicholas’s Basilica, Amsterdam. Speaking about his appointment Glen said ‘I am absolutely delighted to be joining the team at Ely Cathedral, with its fine organ and distinguished musical history. It is exciting for me to have the opportunity to contribute to that tradition. Everyone in the Cathedral was extremely warm and welcoming at interview and I am particularly looking forward to becoming part of a group of such wonderful and mutually-supportive colleagues.’ The first chance to hear Glen playing in Ely comes on Sunday 1 September, as he performs in the Cathedral’s annual summer recital series. As well as concerts from the Cathedral‘s home team of organists, this year we welcome the distinguished American organist Janette Fishell and the Assistant Organist of Hereford Cathedral, Peter Dyke. The series begins on Sunday 21 July. All recitals are at 5.15pm and admission is free.
Habits of Prayer: a Half-Day Conference exploring prayer in daily life “One does not live by bread alone.” (Luke 4.4)
Just as we need food every day to give us life and energy, so we need prayer to sustain us and enliven us just as regularly. It’s not always easy to build prayer into busy routines, and this half-day conference offers ways to help with that. It is practical, open to all, and free! Come along on Saturday 27 July to the Cathedral between 1.15pm and 4.30pm and explore habits of prayer that will nourish you day to day. Speaker: Canon Jessica Martin. Tea will be served at 4pm. Contact j.martin@elycathedral.org or telephone (01353) 660304 if you would like to attend. 7
EVENTS / CONCERTS PETER PAN ‘OPEN-AIR THEATRE PRODUCTION’ 17 - 21 July | Various times
ETHELDREDA FAIR Saturday 1 June | 10am
KD Theatre OPEN AIR THEATRE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Productions present a brand new open-air production of Peter Pan in the beautiful setting of The Dean’s Garden at Ely Cathedral. It’s time to sprinkle some fairy dust, think happy thoughts and fly with us to Neverland for an awfully big adventure. Peter Pan is desperate to find the LostThe Boys a mother Deans Garden and he finds just the girl in Wendy. But by 17th bringing the 2019 Darling – 21st July Family over to Neverland, is he putting them in danger with w w w. k d t h e a t r e . c o . u k | 0 1 3 5 3 7 2 5 0 2 6 the villainous Captain Hook and his pirates following their every move? A swashbuckling family adventure that will keep you hooked! Entrance to The Dean’s Garden is via the East Lawn and Almonry Garden. Seating is limited and unreserved. Audience members are encouraged to bring their own picnic blankets or chairs and enjoy the show! Tickets available online and from the Cathedral Box Office. KD Theatre Productions Ltd
Present
A S wa sh b u ck l i n g Fa m i ly A d v e n t u re
Surrounded by the splendour of the Cathedral and The Old Palace, The Etheldreda Fair offers an entertaining day for the whole family, with its selection of over 40 tempting stalls featuring local crafts, foods, jewellery, plants, gifts and summer produce. Visitors will have the opportunity to try their luck on the tombola and test their aim on the coconut shy. Stalls selling Pimm’s, champagne and strawberries and cream will be added attractions at this special event. All proceeds benefit Ely Cathedral Choir Tour Fund.
– ELY C ATHEDR AL –
En t r a n ce v i a t h e E a st L aw n and Almonry Garden
peter pan.indd 2
11/02/2019 20:39
BRAVE NEW WORLD: DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS A Lecture Series at Ely Cathedral July | 6.45pm ‘O, brave new world that has such people in it!’ The speaker is Miranda, daughter of the magician Prospero in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest. She is looking forward to leaving the enchanted island which is all she knows of life so far, and exploring the rest of the world. Her father - who knows what the world can be like - replies dryly, ‘Tis new to thee.’ The digital realm is a new world, and a new way of connecting the world. It looks like a vista of wonderful possibility. But the digital realm is as mixed, as complex and as potentially dark as any other human community. During July, expert lecturers will help us think about what the digital realm means for our own lives. About the different possibilities - and dangers of artificial intelligence. About the potential for robot use in some very surprising contexts. About what it means for us to live significant parts of our lives online, and therefore in an exposing public gaze, leaving behind trails of data for others to use. About cybersecurity, the power it controls as well as the power it confers. Four experts - Malcolm Brown (4 July), Anne Richards (8 July), Chris Roberts (15 July) and Maria Farrell (18 July) - help us to think through these areas together in a free lecture series with space for discussion. Come and engage with the future at the Cathedral, and make the new into the familiar. 8
Malcom Brown
Anne Richards
Chris Roberts
Maria Farrell
RETROSPECTIVE Launch of Renew: Ely Cathedral Environment Group On Wednesday 3 April, a special Evensong Service became the prelude to the launch of Renew: Ely Cathedral Environment Group and the Cathedral’s work towards becoming an ‘Eco-Church’. As part of our mission to the world, Christians are called upon to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth; the Cathedral Environment group is hoping to help the Cathedral community engage in this vocation. About 30 people stayed for the launch, including local councillors, friends from other churches and the wider City of Ely. It seems that the Environment is an issue which draws whole communities together to work towards the common good of all people and the whole of creation. It is hoped the Cathedral can be part of the city-wide initiatives to care for the environment. A presentation was made by Jonathan Chaplin, Chair of the Ecochurch committee at St Paul’s Church, Hills Road in Cambridge and also a member of the Divinity Faculty in Cambridge. He has written and lectured on Christian ethics, sustainability and energy policy and offered some useful insights into the Eco-Church Award and the activities that can result from it. The next meeting of Renew is on Sunday 9 June 12.15pm - 1.15pm in Powchers Hall. All are welcome. Did you know? The Cathedral gets through over 86,000 votive candles every year! With the help of the Vergers, Renew is now ensuring the aluminium holders are properly recycled. Litter Picks: All are welcome to the monthly Litter Pick on the first Saturday of every month at 8am. Meet at the south door. We tidy Ely for an hour and then come back for Coffee and Cake at 9am. Coming up: Saturday 1 June, 6 July and 3 August.
Ely Cathedral’s Science Festival successfully lifts off! Over 300 people attended a special Choral Evensong to launch ‘The Sky’s the Limit’ a space themed science festival to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. This special service featured the world premiere of a new piece of music by the composer Tim Watts, artist in residence at the Institute of Astronomy at Cambridge University. Evensong was followed by ‘A Night at the Cathedral’ when over 600 people came to enjoy the spectacular vision of the Museum of the Moon suspended above the Cathedral Nave. Visitors were also encouraged to join in interactive science themed activities and browse the many amazing exhibits including meteorites and space suits. The Cathedral community choir performed a short programme of moon themed music and a special intergalactic guest in the form of a Dalek greeted visitors on arrival. Ely Cathedral has proved to be one of the most stunning backdrops for the Museum of the Moon which will be in situ until 9 June. This magnificent 7 metre diameter sphere is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. It features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface and, at an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface. This celebrated installation has been fascinating viewers across the world having been showcased in places such as Sydney, Brazil, Bilbao and Houston.
Image: James Billings
With a focus on space exploration, artificial intelligence and future technologies, the Science Festival has included an exciting programme of events including talks by the Astronomer Royal, Lord Rees; Sky At Night presenters Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Chris Lintott, and television celebrity and space enthusiast, Dallas Campbell. The space themed exhibition includes meteorites, astronaut suits, a space toilet and space food and many other fascinating items on loan from The Science Museum, The Institute of Astronomy and The Sedgewick Museum.
Don’t miss your opportunity to explore The Museum of the Moon and the Space exhibition which will be in situ from now until 9 June. 9
FOCUS ON The Friends of Ely Cathedral Give us a brief history of The Friends of Ely Cathedral. The Friends of Ely Cathedral is a registered charity that was started in 1936 by Dean Blackburne. His daughter Margaret was the first Friends’ Secretary and by the first Annual Report, April 1937, there were already 632 Friends. The Princess Royal was Patroness and First Friend and, as now, the Dean was Chairman and The Lord Bishop of Ely was President. The Prime Minister (Stanley Baldwin) was a Vice-President. The Annual Subscription was a sum ‘not less than 5 shillings’ (25 pence) and the total amount collected from subscriptions in the first year was £190 (Life) and £354 (Annual). By comparison our figures for 2018 were about 2,000 Friends worldwide with annual subscriptions (minimum £15) raising £24,473. Out of interest 5 shillings in 1936 is worth about £17 now! Tell us about some of the major projects The Friends have supported throughout their history? The Friends have played a significant role in the life of the Cathedral for over 80 years. Their first gift, in 1938, was the installation of electric light. The cost was £950 and the Dean wrote ‘it will be a very great gain to see our books during service time and be rid of the fumes of gas’. The second gift, refurnishing the reacquired Lady Chapel, was delayed since the association was in abeyance during WW2 as the Secretary was ‘engaged on full-time war work’. More recently The Friends were delighted to pay for the Way of Life sculpture to mark the millennium, the re-ordering of the Lady Chapel altar in 2011 and the new choirstalls in 2018. We also fund less glamorous projects such as refurbishing the Cathedral kitchen and toilets and paying for signage, noticeboards, cupboards etc. Amazingly since 2010 gifts from The Friends to the Cathedral have totalled over £780,000.
How do you become a Friend? New members are always welcome, membership is open to everyone and joining is very easy. Membership forms are available from Cathedral admission desks, the Friends’ noticeboard, Office and webpage and should be returned to the Friends’ Office with a cheque, cash or standing order. Minimum annual subscriptions are just £15 single/£25 joint whilst life membership is £200 single/£350 joint. What are the benefits of being a Friend? All members receive a Friends’ Pass which gives free entry to the Cathedral as well as to the Stained Glass Museum. They also receive the Friends’ Annual Yearbook and regular Newsletters with invitations to the Friends’ Annual Festival Day and social events, talks and outings. We aim to keep Friends, far and near, in touch with the Cathedral. What is the next Friends event? Our New Friends’ Evening is on 18 June and in July we shall be mailing our Summer Newsletter. Friends’ Day is on 28 September this year and we are delighted that our Guest Speaker will be Prof Paul Binski. Paul is a well-known art historian, author, broadcaster and Professor of the History of Art at Cambridge University. He is an expert on British medieval art and architecture and one of his recent books has a chapter devoted to the fourteenthcentury works at Ely. Advance notice - on 3 October we look forward to introducing the new music team when the Director of Music and the Assistant Director of Music will talk and perform for us at a special Friends’ Evening. What other future plans do you have for 2020 and the future? We seem to have settled into a happy pattern of events - so will probably continue along the same lines. Last year we held a Summer Social ‘Puddings and 10
Punch’ and there have been several requests for us to repeat that. We are also thinking about a local membership drive - there are many areas of Ely (notably the new developments) where there are few Friends. Of course if each current Friend introduced a new Friend then our membership would double! Suella (Sue) Hunting, Friends’ Officer
How long have you worked at Ely Cathedral and where did you work previously? I have been here for nine years and thoroughly enjoy it. How did I get here well it’s a strange story! I originally came to Cambridgeshire as Heath Education Officer for Cambridgeshire Health Authority (my degree is in Biochemistry & Nutrition!). Marriage and family followed and I was a stay-at-home Mum for many years. After a couple of interesting jobs including working as a ‘sensory analyst’ (food taster) I spotted an intriguing advert for Friends’ Officer and the rest is history. I hoped that working for The Friends would enable me to combine my hobbies, interests and experience and it certainly does. I live and worship at the southern end of the Diocese and really enjoy the contrasts between our village church (St Mary’s, Sawston) and the Cathedral. I feel fortunate to be able to enjoy the best of both.
What does your role as Friends’ Officer involve on a weekly / monthly / yearly basis? This is almost impossible to answer as it involves anything and everything! Basically I run the Friends’ Office and am responsible for recruiting Friends, supervising memberships, organising Friends’ events, including Friends’ Day, producing Newsletters, the Yearbook and publicity material, preparing papers for the quarterly Council (Trustee) meetings, banking subscriptions and other money, organizing Friends’ merchandise (Christmas Cards in particular) and liaising with other Cathedral departments about Friends’ gifts, activities and everything else. I’m glad to say that there is much help from Richard Setchell (Friends’ Hon Treasurer) and Joyce Fenton, our new Hon Subscriptions Secretary. We are also indebted to Andrew Dunn who helps maintain the database and produces our electronic Passes. The Friends’ Council are the Trustees of The Friends and last year Ed Gifford took over from Helen Merrick as Chair of Council. There is also an active Friends’ Social Committee which helps brainstorm ideas for our events as well as giving much practical help. I also organise Friends’ mailings and these, together with our Christmas Cards, are all packed by our fantastic volunteers. Offers of help are always welcome. What is the most rewarding aspect of your role? To feel I am making a difference - whether by helping people be ‘wowed’ by the Cathedral or encouraging people to become Friends and enjoy the camaraderie that comes with that. It is also satisfying to have a healthy bank balance (special mention should be made of the legacies we receive) and to know that we are in a position to make generous gifts to support and enhance the Cathedral. The Friends is a very positive organisation and we only exist to support the Cathedral. What is the favourite thing you have been involved in with The Friends? There are so many things - I enjoy nearly everything! I think the most special is being in the Cathedral at night, after a successful Friends’ event. Sometimes there are only me and the verger left in the building and to stand, alone, under the Octagon is really moving. The Friends are a fantastic group of people and it is a real privilege to work with them.
Friends’ Heraldry Afternoon – September 2018
Friends’ Stall at 2018 Flower Festival
Enjoying Lunch on Friends’ Day – September 2018 11
JUNE
Tuesday 9 6.30pm Lady Chapel Concert Saturday 1 Stephanie Flack (violin) CATHEDRAL CLOSED TO VISITORS ALL DAY Thursday 11 10am Etheldreda Fair (Palace Green) 11am & 3pm Open University Degree Ceremony 1.10pm Lady Chapel Lunchtime Concert University Choir Lille MUKO Sunday 2 - Sunday 9 Friday 12 Science Festival - Museum of the Moon 7pm The Isle of Ely Arts Festival and Space Exhibition present ‘A Night at the Movies’ Sunday 2 - 7th Sunday of Easter Saturday 13 8pm Compline by Moonlight 12.30pm Walsingham Cell Mass (Lady Chapel) Saturday 8 Sunday 14 - 4th Sunday after Trinity 12.30pm Walsingham Cell Mass (Lady Chapel) Monday 15 Sunday 9 - Day of Pentecost 6.45pm ‘Brave New World’ Lecture 7pm Pentecost Praise with Chris Roberts Baptism and Confirmation Wednesday 17 Tuesday 11 Barnabas The Apostle 7pm KD Theatre Productions 12.10pm Holy Communion present ‘Peter Pan’ 1.10pm Lady Chapel Lunchtime Concert Thursday 18 Waukee High School Choir Saturday 15 1.10pm Lunchtime Concert Christine Bennett (soprano) 1.10pm Lunchtime Concert 6.45pm ‘Brave New World’ Lecture The Ely Imps Maria Farrell Sunday 16 - Trinity Sunday 7pm KD Theatre Productions 12pm Congregational AGM present ‘Peter Pan’ Tuesday 18 Friday 19 6.30pm New Friends’ Evening 7pm KD Theatre Productions Thursday 20 - Corpus Christi present ‘Peter Pan’ 1.10pm Lady Chapel Lunchtime Concert Saturday 20 Stanford Chamber Chorale, USA 2pm & 7pm KD Theatre Productions 7.30pm Solemn Eucharist, Procession present ‘Peter Pan’ and Benediction Sunday 21 - 5th Sunday after Trinity Saturday 22 2pm KD Theatre Productions 10am Places of Poetry present ‘Peter Pan’ Sunday 23 - St Etheldreda 5.15pm Organ Recital - Peter Dyke 7pm Etheldreda Lecture Monday 22 Mary Magdalene Canon Professor Sarah Foot 12.10pm Holy Communion Monday 24 - The Birth of John the Baptist Thursday 25 - James the Apostle 12.10pm Holy Communion 12.10pm Holy Communion Wednesday 26 1.10pm Lady Chapel Lunchtime Concert 1.10pm Lunchtime Concert Erina Ishiyama (piano) Volda Vokal Saturday 27 Saturday 29 - Peter and Paul, Apostles 1.15pm Half Day Prayer Conference 12.10pm Holy Communion Sunday 28 - 6th Sunday after Trinity 5pm Ordination of Priests 5.15pm Organ Recital - Edmund Aldhouse Sunday 30 - 2nd Sunday after Trinity Tuesday 30 10.30am Ordination of Deacons 6.30pm Volunteer Recruitment Evening Wednesday 31 JULY 10am Holiday Drop-In Session Wednesday 3 - Thomas the Apostle 12.10pm Holy Communion Thursday 4 AUGUST Thursday 1 - Saturday 31 5.30pm Evensong with farewell to Ely Photographic Society Exhibition departing boy choristers Thursday 1 6.45pm ‘Brave New World’ Lecture 1.10pm Lady Chapel Lunchtime Concert Malcolm Brown Jessica Ryckewaert (Percussionist) Saturday 6 Friday 2 1.10pm Lady Chapel Lunchtime Concert 1.10pm Lady Chapel Lunchtime Ely Cathedral Octagon Singers Performance - Dance Divine, Sunday 7 - 3rd Sunday after Trinity Octagon Studios 4pm Evensong with farewell to Saturday 3 departing girl choristers 10am Cathedral Centre Craft Fair Monday 8 Sunday 4 7th Sunday after Trinity 6.45pm ‘Brave New World’ Lecture 5.15pm Organ Recital - Janette Fishell Anne Richards Tuesday 6 - The Transfiguration of Our Lord 12.10pm Holy Communion
Wednesday 7 10am Holiday Drop-In Session Sunday 11 - 8th Sunday after Trinity 5.15pm Organ Recital - Edmund Aldhouse Wednesday 14 10am Holiday Drop-In Session Thursday 15 - The Blessed Virgin Mary 12.10pm Holy Communion Friday 16 1.10pm Lady Chapel Lunchtime Performance - Lantern Dance Co Sunday 18 - 9th Sunday after Trinity 5.15pm Organ Recital - Aaron Shilson Wednesday 21 10am Holiday Drop-In Session Saturday 24 - Bartholomew the Apostle 12.10pm Holy Communion Sunday 25 - 10th Sunday after Trinity 5.15pm Organ Recital - Kai Krakenberg Wednesday 28 10am Holiday Drop-In Session Saturday 31 7.30pm EACH Open Air Cinema Bohemian Rhapsody Safeguarding Audit 18 - 20 June In June the Social Care Institute for Excellence will be carrying out an independent audit of the Safeguarding arrangements at Ely Cathedral. This is part of a programme of audits across both Diocese and Cathedrals across the Church of England. The aim of the audits is: to support each cathedral in its safeguarding journey and create, for the first time, a national picture allowing us to share good practice in cathedral safeguarding arrangements and work together on common areas where further development is needed. At Ely we have been preparing for the audit with the help of our Safeguarding Advisor and the Independent Chair of our Safeguarding Group. Please look out for the latest edition of the Safeguarding Newsletter which is available in the Cathedral and on our website Safeguarding pages. Thank you for all your continued support in this area of Cathedral life.
Octagon Magazine
Copies are available in the Cathedral, Cathedral Gift Shops, Refectory Café and Almonry Restaurant. Electronic copies can be viewed at www.elycathedral.org Comments or suggestions for Octagon are welcome. Please direct them to news@elycathedral.org Issue 9 - Autumn edition available early September. Information correct at time of printing. Ely Cathedral, The Chapter House, The College, Ely, Cambs, CB7 4DL 01353 667735 | www.elycathedral.org Follow us on Download the free Ely Cathedral App