Cathedral News Sunday 2 August - Sunday 16 August
Living Treasure, New and Old In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus describes the disciple as ‘like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old’ (Matthew 13.52). It is a deceptively simple image, but one that repays careful reflection. In my sermon that morning (www.bit.ly/Sermon-19-July-2026 www.bit.ly/Sermon-19-July-2026), ), I suggested that Jesus is not inviting us to choose between old and new. Rather, he is calling us to be faithful stewards of the treasures God has entrusted to us, receiving them with gratitude and sharing them generously so that others may discover their life-giving potential. This theme resonates deeply with our 2030 Vision and Strategy (www.lincolncathedral.com/mission-structure-and-accounts/ www.lincolncathedral.com/mission-structure-and-accounts/). ). The strategy begins with the aspiration for the Cathedral to become ‘a visible sign of God’s presence, proclaiming the good news that, in Christ, God is with us’. Everything else flows from that. We seek to be deeply rooted in the Christian faith while becoming ever more outward-looking in the service of our city and county, becoming, in the words of our vision, a beacon of hope for all. Jesus’ image helps us understand why. Lincoln Cathedral has inherited remarkable treasures: an extraordinary building, a rich musical tradition, a remarkable library and collections, and nearly a thousand years of worship and prayer. Yet these gifts are not ours simply to preserve. They are entrusted to us to be shared in the service of God’s mission.
In the sermon I suggested that the disciple Jesus describes is rooted enough to cherish what is old and confident enough to embrace what is new. That, it seems to me, is our challenge today. We are called neither to change for its own sake, nor simply to preserve what has been handed down to us. Rather, because Christ is alive and his mission continues, we must discern how the treasures we have inherited can best serve today’s world. That means having the courage to do some things differently: building new partnerships, finding fresh ways of welcoming people into the Cathedral’s life, widening access to our worship, and listening carefully to the needs and hopes of our communities. Change can feel unsettling, but a living tradition has never stood still. Every generation has found new ways of proclaiming the unchanging gospel. That is why our strategy places such emphasis on welcome, partnership, learning, sustainability and engagement. These are not activities alongside the Cathedral’s worship; they are expressions of it. Every school visit, event, act of hospitality, new partnership and conversation about faith becomes another opportunity to bring out treasures both old and new. The Cathedral’s Vision and Strategy is, at heart, an invitation to live out the Gospel afresh in our own generation. Over the coming weeks, I hope you might revisit it and consider how each of us can play our part. Together, rooted in Christ and open to the Holy Spirit, we can continue to bring out of God’s treasure what is new and what is old, so that others may discover in Jesus Christ the greatest treasure of all.
Simon Jones, Dean
Worship and Mission Weekly Service Schedule Details of services and music can be viewed on the Cathedral’s website. Visit: www.bit.ly/services-and-music Stillpoint This is a time of guided silent prayer to be still and aware of the presence of God. We meet in the Longland Chantry from 9.15am to 9.45am on the following Mondays: 7 September, 5 October, 2 November, 7 December Visiting Choirs While our choir is on summer break, we’ll be joined by a variety of visiting choirs for our choral services. Continue reading to find out who will be joining us and when. • 27 July - 2 August: DomMusik St Gallen, Switzerland • 3 August - 9 August: Lyra Davidica • 13 August - 16 August: Goring Chamber Choir • 20 August - 23 August: Coventry Cathedral Choir • 24 August - 28 August: Sussex Festival Singers Cathedral Confirmations Confirmation is an important sacramental stepping stone in our Christian life at which we affirm our faith for ourselves and are strengthened by the Holy Spirit for service and witness. In response to requests from members of our community, we are very pleased that Bishop Nicholas will be celebrating with us the Sung Eucharist for All Saints’ Day, Sunday 1 November, at which he will baptise and confirm. This will be in addition to the usual baptisms and confirmations at the Easter Vigil. If you are interested in exploring this, please contact either: kevin.walton@lincolncathedral.com or rowena.king@lincolncathedral.com
Community Music Celebration 2026 The Dean of Lincoln, The Very Revd Dr Simon Jones, and Chair of the Music Fund Council, Mr Andrew Clark DL, invite you to evensong and a celebration of the wonderful music of Lincoln Cathedral on Sunday 4 October 2026, starting at 3.45pm (please be seated by 3.40pm). To help us with catering arrangements, we kindly ask that you reserve your place by Friday 18 September 2026. Please RSVP to amber.hardy@lincolncathedral. com, by calling 01522 561613 or by using the link below: www.bit.ly/Music-Celebration-2026
A New Face We’re delighted to welcome Daisy Cartlidge-Brown to the Cathedral community as our new Social Media and Content Manager. Daisy brings a wealth of experience in social media strategy and content creation, having spent the last six years supporting businesses and organisations across Lincolnshire. You’ll likely see Daisy around the Cathedral capturing stories and creating content. Please join us in giving her a warm welcome. Chapter Members We’re seeking to appoint two new members of Chapter. Chapter is the governing body of the Cathedral, and its members are trustees for the purposes of charity law. Chapter plays a vital role in the strategic direction and governance of the Cathedral, supporting the Dean in overseeing its life.
Your Next Read Earlier in the year, we were delighted to host The Reverend Richard Coles during our Dean’s Dinner event. Fans of his will be pleased to know that three titles from his bestselling Canon Clement mystery series are available in the Cathedral Shop. Choose from Murder Before Evensong, A Death in the Parish, and Murder at the Monastery, a collection of witty and engaging mysteries from the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author. Visit the Cathedral Shop to pick up your copy.
We are particularly interested in recruiting individuals with experience in any of the following areas: conservation of historic buildings, estate master planning, fundraising, human resources and/or legal matters including governance, employment practice, and regulatory compliance. Visit our website to find out more - www.lincolncathedral. com/current-vacancies/
A Special Community Screening: The People’s Emergency Briefing Wednesday 5 August, Doors at 6.30pm St Peter in Eastgate (LN2 4AA) is hosting a special screening of the eyeopening 50-minute film, The People’s Emergency Briefing, which brings together nine leading UK scientists and experts, presenting the latest evidence and explaining why it matters for things like extreme weather, food security, health and the cost of living. The film is based on the National Emergency Briefing with appearances from Chris Packham and a range of UK voices. After the film, there will be a facilitated discussion about what it means for our community and what we can do locally. We will invite local councillors, hoping they will join their constituents for this important discussion about our future. Seats are free but limited, so please book in advance www.bit.ly/Peoples-Emergency-Briefing
Events Threads Summer Crafts Every Tuesday to Friday in August, 10am to 3.30pm Looking for something creative to do this summer? Join us for Threads Summer Crafts in the Learning Centre and get hands-on with activities such as paper plate basket weaving,colourful collage creations, and art-inspired clay crafts. Plus, crafts change every week, so there’s always something new to discover. All our crafts are FREE with your Cathedral admission, so don’t miss out, come make some summer memories with us!
Join the Community Roll Want to hear more from the Cathedral? Join the Community Roll! The Community Roll allows us to keep in touch and send you updates, including Cathedral News by email. You can also join the Worshipper’s Roll, which helps us stay connected as a congregation and allows eligible members to vote in Deanery Synod elections. To join either or both rolls, scan the QR code. Threads Exhibition Wine and Wander Wednesday 12 August, 7pm An exclusive opportunity to explore the Threads Through The Bible exhibition in the serene atmosphere of the Cathedral after hours. Enjoy a drink as you explore the astonishing colours and patterns of the textiles and see Bible stories brought to life in a unique way.
Threads Through The Bible – Late Night Opening Wednesday 19 August, 6.30pm to 9pm Enjoy an evening opportunity to explore the spectacular textile project Threads Through The Bible, which tells some of the stories from the first and last books of the Bible. Take the time to explore the exhibition and enjoy the gothic architecture and atmospheric surroundings of Lincoln Cathedral on a late summer evening. Entry is our regular admission price. No need to book, just turn up. Cathedral of Curiosities Tour Saturday 29 August, 1.30pm To celebrate Lincoln’s Steampunk Festival, join us at the Cathedral for an enlightening tour featuring all things Steampunk. We’ll investigate the impressive Victorian Gothic features of the Cathedral, including the architecture and the stained-glass windows. On this tour, you will see the supernatural elements of St. Hugh’s Shrine, the fantasy and horror of grotesques, dragons and the cadaver tomb, and all the weird and wonderful aspects of this magnificent Cathedral. Threads Through Revelation: Interpreting the Bible’s Most Puzzling Book Saturday 29 August, 3pm Join our Chancellor, Kevin Walton, for his second lecture in conjunction with Threads Through The Bible. In this lecture, he’ll explore what kind of writing Revelation really is, how its first readers might have understood it, and how we might make some sense of its vivid imagery, mysterious symbols, and coded language. This is a free event, but booking is essential. Visit our website to book your place www.bit.ly/Threads-Through-Revelation
Be a Chorister for a Day Saturday 12 September, 1pm Do you know a child who loves to sing? Join us at Lincoln Cathedral to ‘Be a Chorister for a Day’! This fun event gives young singers a taste of what it is like to be a chorister at Lincoln Cathedral. It is aimed at children in school years 2 to 6. During the afternoon you’ll get a free singing lesson with one of the cathedral’s specialists, a tour of the Cathedral, afternoon tea and the opportunity to sing with the cathedral choir at the end of the day during Evensong. To book your place, please complete the form on our website www.bit.ly/Be-A-Chorister Academy of St Martin in the Fields Wednesday 23 September, 7pm Returning to its founder Sir Neville Marriner’s birthplace, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields will be joined by violinist Stella Chen to perform one of the greatest violin concertos of the nineteenth century. From the opening drumbeats, Beethoven’s Violin Concerto unfolds into a journey from wind chorales to warm string chords and orchestral climaxes, all woven together by Chen’s lyrical and expressive violin playing.
For more details of forthcoming events and to book your tickets, go to our website at: www.lincolncathedral.com/events