Cathedral News Sunday 18 January - Sunday 1 February
Moving forward in hope 2026 is well and truly underway, and although the Christmas trees and crib remind us that our celebration of Christ’s birth continues until Candlemas, it’s a good time to reflect on the services and events that took place in the Cathedral last month. As some of you will already be aware, the numbers attending the Cathedral’s Christmas services (from the carol service on 23 December to Evensong on Christmas Day) increased by 25% compared with last year (4,978 in 2024; 6,216 in 2025). This is remarkable and would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of many staff and volunteers. I’m enormously grateful to you all. Such growth can be attributed to a number of factors, including national trends, and it will be interesting to see figures from other Cathedrals and parishes when they are published. For us here in Lincoln, I also see this as a sign that we’re making real progress towards our aim of encouraging more and more people to see Lincoln Cathedral as their
Cathedral. The generous welcome we strive to offer, a diverse programme of high-quality events, our growing engagement with schools and young people, warm hospitality in the shop and café, excellence in liturgy and music, and the development of strong external partnerships, are all contributing factors. As we enter 2026, we have much to be thankful for in the year that has passed, and much to learn from it too. I hope that our experience of growth over Christmas will give us confidence and renewed determination as we look to seize exciting new opportunities and to tackle the significant challenges of the year ahead. May God bless us all in this endeavour, and in this new year.
Simon Jones, Dean
Worship and Mission Weekly service schedule Details of services and music can be viewed on the Cathedral’s website. Visit: https://lincolncathedral.com/worshipmusic/services-list 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: 2 February, 2 March, 13 April, 11 May Prayers for Healing and Wholeness Prayers for healing with the laying on of hands and anointing will be offered after Evening Prayer (which begins at 5.30pm) in St Hugh’s Shrine on the first Wednesday of each month. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 This Sunday (18 January) sees the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and we are invited this year to pray with Christians of the Armenian Apostolic Church who have developed material around the theme of ‘One Body, One Spirit’. You can download a booklet of daily prayers and reflections from the Churches Together website - https:// ctbi.org.uk/resources/week-of-prayerfor-christian-unity-2026/ You can join in a service at the Cathedral on Tuesday 20 January at 12noon, followed by our usual 12.30pm Communion service. Other services across Lincoln are: Mon 19 - Monks Road Methodist at 11am Tue 20 - Lincoln Cathedral at 12noon Wed 21 - St Nicholas Newport at 9.30am and All Saints of Lincolnshire Orthodox Church on Burton Road at 6pm Vespers followed by refreshments.
Fri 23 - St Mary Magdalene at 12noon Sat 24 - Our Lady of Lincoln at 3pm On Thursday 22 January at 7pm, Bridge Church is holding its annual prayer service. Racial Justice Sunday service Sunday 8 February, 3.45pm. Join people from across Lincolnshire in marking Racial Justice Sunday 2026 at a special service in Lincoln Cathedral. Stay for warming hospitality in the Chapter House after the service, with catering supplied by ‘Tashady,’ with an African and Caribbean twist. To help with catering and seating, please use this form to book if you are planning to come along - https://forms. office.com/e/LLfeaP4arx Would you like to explore Baptism and/or Confirmation? Saturday 4 April Each year, the Cathedral holds a service of Baptism and Confirmation at 8pm on Easter Eve during the Easter Vigil. For those wishing to explore this as a next step in their faith, we will be offering Confirmation classes beginning the week commencing Monday 23 February and running weekly until Easter. If you are interested in joining these classes, please contact Canon Rowena (rowena.king@lincolncathedral. com) before the end of this month, when she will schedule a time for the classes that is suitable for those wishing to join.
Community Alistair Knott’s Journey In 2023, during Floor Guide training, I was diagnosed with life-limiting Prostate Cancer. Throughout all my treatments, everyone at Lincoln Cathedral has been so supportive. 16 months later, I achieved my dream to become a floor guide, enhancing my faith, love of life and those who embrace it with me. I have raised £15k so far for Prostate Cancer UK and will continue to fight for men to get early diagnosis of this silent, deadly disease. Search “ProstateCancerIronman” on YouTube to see my journey, and JustGiving if you would like to support. Thank you all so much. New Year Sale Bag yourself a bargain in the shop’s New Year sale! We have up to 25% off on our remaining Christmas stock, including tasty treats from the British Hamper Company as well as delightful reed diffusers and wax melts from our Heart and Home range. Not only that but there’s also up to 35% off our exclusive Sophie Allport homeware range. Please note that no further discount applies to sale items.
A Lecture by Jim Cheshire On Monday 2 February at 6.15pm, Jim Cheshire will be delivering a lecture entitled: “Making the Bible Speak: the Iconography of Post-Medieval Stained Glass in Lincoln Cathedral”. The revival of stained glass in the Victorian period was not just about enthusiasm for medieval-style art: commissioning windows allowed people to articulate their beliefs and preoccupations in unprecedented ways. This lecture will use the windows of Lincoln Cathedral as a focus for exploring how Victorian culture used stained glass to help create a new relationship between biblical imagery and Victorian Christians. There will be refreshments beforehand, and you’re welcome to stay after the lecture for questions. It will take place on the University of Lincoln’s Brayford Pool campus (MB0302, Cargill Lecture theatre, Minerva Building). You can register for the lecture here - https:// tinyurl.com/2rjkp6hz Art of Music Exhibition Sale The beautiful photographs that make up our Art of Music exhibition are now for sale for a suggested minimum donation of £50 each in support of Lincoln Cathedral. You can apply gift aid to your donation. Donate by cash or cheque by emailing sally.bleasdale@lincolncathedral.com, or by card, by calling Amber Hardy on 01522 561613. To arrange collection, please email sally. bleasdale@lincolncathedral.com or phone 01522 565560. We are unable to post any of the pictures; all pictures are sold as seen
Thanksgiving for Gillian Jolly A service of thanksgiving for the life of Gillian Jolly will take place at 2pm on Wednesday 4 February in St Hugh’s Choir, followed by refreshments in the Chapter House. All are welcome to attend. Lincoln Cathedral Pancake Supper The LCCC invites you to the annual Shrove Tuesday Supper on Tuesday 17 February in the Chapter House, where you can enjoy a 2-course meal. Tickets are £20 and are available after Sunday morning Sung Eucharist or by emailing lccc@lincolncathedral.com. Please bring your own choice of drinks. It’s recommended you join from 6.30pm, ready for a 7pm start. Please state if you have any dietary requirements or food allergies when you buy your tickets. Friends of Stow Minster There are plans to relaunch the Friends of Stow Minster so that the exceptional church can be used as a place of learning and a resource for deepening understanding of the historical, archaeological, architectural and spiritual heritage of Stow Minster and the surrounding area. A meeting will take place at the Cross Keys in Stow on Thursday 22 January at 2pm. If you’re interested in ensuring Stow Minster is used and celebrated for many years to come, you’re welcome to share ideas. It is planned to relaunch the Friends of Stow Minster with an evening lecture on Vikings by Dr Johanne Porter, Collections Development Officer at Lincolnshire Archives, on Saturday 13 June. For more information please contact the Revd Jane Foster-Smith on 01522 702427
Events Mythical Monsters of the Deep Crafts Saturday 24 January, 10am to 3.30pm In the Learning Centre, you can help give Marty the giant Sea Monster a body with collaged scales and make some fun or scary collage monsters inspired by images in the Cathedral.
Be a Chorister for a Day Saturday 9 May, 1pm Do you know a child who loves to sing? Join us at Lincoln Cathedral to ‘Be a Chorister for a Day’! This free event gives young singers a taste of what it is like to be a chorister at Lincoln Cathedral and is aimed at children aged 6 to 12 years old.
The inspiration for this fun-filled children’s event comes from a Victorian book called ‘Historium Animalia’, where you will see impressive paintings of real animals alongside some scary mythical ones.
In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a 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 during Evensong.
Children’s Come and Sing Saturday 28 February Learn from our music team, and perform in the Cathedral with Children’s Come and Sing, featuring songs from the musical Oliver.
To book your place, please complete the form on our website - https:// lincolncathedral.com/events/be-achorister-for-a-day-2/
Set against the stunning backdrop of our Cathedral, this is the chance for girls and boys aged seven and upwards to join our choristers, members of our junior choir and the Cathedral’s vocal coaches to rehearse much-loved songs from the musical. The day will begin with registration at 10.30am and will conclude with a performance in the Chapter House at 3pm. To book your place, fill out the form on our website - https://lincolncathedral. com/events/childrens-come-and-sing/ Bach’s St John Passion Saturday 21 March, 7pm Experience the dramatic and emotional power of JS Bach’s mighty choral retelling of the last hours of Jesus’ life, in the intimate surroundings of St Hugh’s Choir, at the heart of Lincoln Cathedral. Performed in a concert setting by Lincoln Cathedral Choir in collaboration with the Byrd Consort.
The Music of John Williams in concert Saturday 16 May, 7.30pm Join the Band of the Royal Air Force College for an unforgettable evening celebrating the iconic music of legendary composer John Williams. From the epic themes of Star Wars and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to stirring compositions written for historic moments, this exhilarating concert promises a journey through some of the most powerful and recognisable scores ever written. Hosted by Melvyn Prior, this special charity event will raise vital funds in support of the wider Armed Forces community.
For more details of forthcoming events and to book your tickets, go to our website at www.lincolncathedral.com/ events