Cathedral

The Dean is delighted to announce the appointment of Christopher Johns as the Director of Music of Leicester Cathedral to succeed Jonathan Gregory who leaves the cathedral in September 2010.

Christopher is currently Choral Director in the Diocese of Leeds (based at Leeds Cathedral), Conductor of Tees Valley Youth Orchestra, and Deputy Chorus Master of Leeds Philharmonic Society.

Christopher began his musical career as a chorister at Derby Cathedral. He was a Choral Exhibitioner at Jesus College, Cambridge (where he read Modern and Mediaeval Languages and then completed an M.Phil in Linguistics) and then spent five years living in Germany, first as Assistant Choirmaster at Osnabrück Cathedral and then as a student of Church Music in Düsseldorf. He returned to the UK in 2003 to study for a Ph.D. in Linguistics at Durham (where he was Cathedral Organ Scholar and Conductor of the University Orchestra).

Since 2006 he has been part of the team leading the Schools’ Singing Programme in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds, and has had particular responsibility for Bradford Boys’ Choir, recruited from a range of primary and secondary schools across Bradford. He also plays for many of the choral services at Leeds Cathedral. He remains active as a singer, both as a soloist and as a member of St Peter’s Singers, a mixed choir based at Leeds Parish Church.

Chris will be working part time with the cathedral team (led by Simon Headley as Acting Director) through the autumn as he hands over his Yorkshire responsibilities, and joins us full time in January 2011. Those of us who have met Chris know that he is a person of musical energy and Christian commitment. We look forward very much to welcoming him back to the Midlands.

The Leicester Diocesan Forum for Ethnic Minority Anglicans work for racial justice in the Diocese of Leicester, Leicestershire and beyond. We aim to make a real difference in the Christian community and far beyond by raising awareness, encouraging effective working together. Every year on the second Sunday in September Racial Justice Sunday  is celebrated which is an opportunity for all Christians in Britain and Ireland to focus their worship, prayer and action on racial justice by:

• Celebrating human diversity.
• Rejoicing in how far God’s people have travelled together.
• ·        Recognising that there is much further to go both in the Church and in the world.  

Our aims are:

• To raise awareness and deepen understanding of the diversity of culture and experience both in society and in the church.
• To become more inclusive, outward-looking and welcoming within the Diocese, Leicestershire and beyond.
• To encourage all Christians and the people of Leicestershire to tackle injustice, not ignore it.

Would you please remembers racial justice issues and help us work for a church and society which reflects God’s creation. And please download the poster to advertise this event in your area  -  Poster.pdf

Racial Justice Sunday this year will take place on 12th September.  A Service has been arranged at Leicester Cathedral, St. Martin’s East Leicester to take place at 4 pm. Our preacher will be the Ven. Danny Kajumba, Archdeacon of Reigate, who is also the chair of the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns for Archbishop’ Council. We request your presence and participation in the service to support the racial justice and to encourage presence and involvement of people of ethnic minority in our diocese and social life. Please do advertise this in your churches and encourage people to attend.  We look forward to welcome you.

Rev. Javaid Iqbal

Chair

Leicester Diocesan Forum for Ethnic Minority Anglicans

Leicester Cathedral is delighted to be hosting five works by the acclaimed Durham based sculptor Fenwick Lawson. Lawson is most well known for his larger than life Cuthbert’s Journey or The Journey 1999 currently sited at Lindisfarne and for his exhibition will show five works under the theme Humanity and Inhumanity.  The five works will be Condemned 1984, Hostage 1984, The Scream 1985, Weeping Women 1989-1990 and Burning Bush 2003.
 
The artist will join us for the opening event on Wednesday 25 August at 6.30pm.  Tickets are £10 and available from Julia Unna 0116 248 7468 julia.unna@leccofe.org.  We would be delighted if  you could join us for what promises to be an interesting evening.
 
www.fenwicklawson.co.uk
 
www.cathedral.leicester.anglican.org

Event Date: Friday 10th September

10am-1pm at the Cathedral. The education work with schools at the cathedral is growing in capacity and reputation – we have recently been awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Qaulity Award. Our team of volunteers is led by Janet Ingram and supported by the Canon Chancellor. We now need to extend our team of volunteers with more people from across the diocese. We are providing a taster morning for potential volunteers when we will explain what we do, offer the chance to meet some of the current team and explain how we offer support and training. Attendance does not commit you to anything as we would need to discern with you whether this is appropriate and then tailor what you can offer with what we also need. If possible please let us know if you plan to come along by ringing 0116 248 7468.

On Saturday 30 October, 9am – 3pm, Leicester Cathedral, in association with Slow Food Rutland and Lincolnshire, celebrates Harvest 2010 with ‘Slow Harvest’ – a day of celebration of food, grown and prepared in and around Leicestershire with up to 25 stalls inside the Cathedral, craft and artist stalls in the Cathedral Visitor Centre, food demonstrations and tastings during the day and related workshops in the Cathedral precinct.  A traditional paysanne soup and bread lunch will be available throughout the day in the Cathedral.

Slow down, as we invite community and families into the enriching space of Leicester Cathedral – enriching the soul and now Slow Harvest enriching the body.

Slow down, and spend a day watching local food being prepared and eat with friends and family in and around the Cathedral.

Leicester Cathedral’s series of Summer Organ Recitals are now well underway with tomorrow featuring Peter Holder Prize winner at the Royal Academy of Music to include music by Gigout and Franck. 

The concert will start at 8pm. Tickets cost £7.50, accompanied under-14s free.

Further recitals then take place each Tuesday at 8.00pm throughout July and August, plus a special performance on 28 September at 7.30pm, featuring BBC Radio 2’s Nigel Ogden accompanying the silent film ‘Nosferatu’ (1922).  Tickets £10 available in advance from 0116 2487 468 claire.recordon@leccofe.org

Further information on the Cathedral website www.cathedral.leicester.anglican.org

Event Date: Tuesday 20th July

Leicester Cathedral’s series of Summer Organ Recitals continues on Tuesday 20 July at 8.00pm with a concert by Peter Holder, a prize winner at the Royal Academy of Music, including music by Gigout, Vivaldi, Schumann and Franck.

Entry is £7.50, accompanied under-14s free.

The recitals continue throughout July and August, Tuesdays at 8.00pm. All are welcome!

This weekend Leicester Cathedral was the venue for the ordination of 20 people to be Deacons and Priests in the Church of England.

At two services led by the Bishop of Leicester, this annual event welcomes men and women called by God to work as Curates and Vicars across the Diocese of Leicester.

On Saturday at 5.30 pm, 11 people who were made Deacons this time last year became Priests, and on Sunday at 10.30 a.m. a further 9 people began their lives of service in the church and community, working alongside vicars in churches throughout the city and county.

 The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Tim Stevens is delighted. “That so many people are hearing the call of God to Priesthood in the church is a cause of great celebration. Many of them have come out of secular employment in a wide variety of roles, and we rejoice that they’re prepared to commit their lives to God and people in this way.”

The service was led by Bishop Tim, with Bishop Christopher and the Dean, with the full Cathedral choir and about 700 guests of the Ordinands.

 Details and photographs of those ordained can be found on the Diocesan website

Rejoice week at Leicester Cathedral 26th July to 30th July 
 
All week Free refreshments, childrens craft and activities, interactive prayer trails, from 10:00 until 16:00. 
Monday Evening Transcendence service with Guest preacher John Saxbee the Bishop of Lincoln, from 18:00.  A traditional style Eucharist service with a modern twist.  
Tuesday Experience Breathe in the Cathedral from 10:00. 
Wednesday Evensong from scratch, come and join the choir to sing evensong rehearsal starts around 14:00 
Thursday Godly Play stories from the bible afresh, from 10:00. 
Friday Evening Taize style service, introduced by BBC Radio Leicester John Florance from 18:00
 
For more information email us at rejoiceweek@gmail.com

Event Date: Friday 18th June

Come and join a vast gathering of singers in Leicester Cathedral on Friday 18th June, 10.00am-12.30pm taking part in ‘Conduct Halleluya’.

BBC Radio Leicester’s John Florance has been having conducting lessons from Canon Stephen Foster, and is now ready to conduct the rousing ‘Halleluya Chorus’ from Handel’s ‘Messiah’.

Three more choruses will also be rehearsed and performed, under the baton of Canon Foster, with the results recorded and broadcast on the BBC airwaves.

There is a charge of £5 for the morning, all of which will be going towards funding the Cathedral’s Chorister Outreach Project, helping to encourage children in local schools to enjoy learning to sing.

There are limited supplies of music, so if you have your own score, please do bring it along, and have a fun time in aid of a great cause!

For more information call 0116 248 7456.

Event Date: Thursday 17th June

Stephen Foster, Canon Precentor Leicester Cathedral warmly invites you to attend our Chorister Outreach Programme fundraising concert on Thursday 17th June, at 5.30 pm.

Five schools from across the city and county will sing together in a celebration of progress made with choral animateur Matt Haynes over the past two years. We are grateful for the government funding we have received to date and in order to continue to develop this important work we are currently raising money.

Tickets £3 on the door.

Leicester Cathedral’s series of Summer Organ Recitals begins on Tuesday 6th July at 8.00pm with a recital by David Titterington, Head of Organ Studies at the Royal Academy of Music. He will be performing a wide range of pieces, including music by Elgar and Vierne.

Tickets for this recital cost £10, accompanied under-14s free.

Earlier in the day, from 2.00-5.00pm he will be giving a masterclass to six young organists – there is a £5 charge for observers, payable on the door.

Parking is available at the St Nicholas NCP Car Park next to the Holiday Inn on St Nicholas Circle.

Further recitals then take place each Tuesday at 8.00pm throughout July and August, plus a special performance on 28 September, featuring BBC Radio 2’s Nigel Ogden accompanying the silent film ‘Nosferatu’ (1922).

Leicester Cathedral is now advertising 2 positions:-

Canon Precentor and Director of Music

Full details and application forms can be found on the Diocesan website

Event Date: Wednesday 9th June

5.30pm Cathedral. Four more honorary canons will be licesned by the Bishop and installed by the Dean in the cathedral – Revd Rob Gladstone, Revd Chris Oxley, Mr David Wilson and Bishop Gordon Mursell. Gordon is currently the Bishop of Stafford as well as being a well known writer and speaker and he will be one of our new Canons Theologian. We are pleased that he will be preaching at this service. All most welcome.

2011 will mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Version of the bible with events being planned across the country. I am exploring whether there may be artefacts, original bibles etc around in the diocese that we could curate into an exhibition during 2011, celebrating the bible in english and using this as a tool to encourage people to engage with the scriptures. I’m interested in finding copies of english bibles published prior to 1611 (including Wycliffe’s bible) as well as KJV texts from 1611 and others beyond that which may have a significant story attached to them. Please check your old cupboards and let me know if you discover anything of significance that may help us celebrate the ways in which the bible has shaped our language, culture and the arts as well as shaping our faith.

Canon David Monteith
davidmonteith@leccofe.org

On Sunday 23rd May four Canons were installed at the Cathedral. Stephen Barney who is Chair of the Board of Finance, the Revd Philip O’Reilly and the Revd John Sharpe all became Honorary Canons, and Canon David Jennings became Canon Theologian. The Cathedral Choir were joined by the Choir of St Catherine Burbage and together they sang splendidly.
Stephen Barney’s daughter Georgina read from the Old Testament, Exodus 33:7-20 and Revd Clare King, Deacon at St Chad’s  and wife of Philip O’Reilly read from the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 3:4 to end. David Jennings delivered the sermon.
A key part of the service is the prayer of promise and commitment.
God our Father,

                    in the name of Christ and in the power of your Spirit,

we commit ourselves to you and to one another,

to live, work, and pray as one body in Christ,

to trust each other as fellow workers in your Church,

and to give ourselves with body, mind and spirit

to the ministries to which you have called us.

Give us vision, give us courage, and give us joy,

that the world may believe that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to your eternal glory.

A unique programme of residential summer holiday camps for young people gets underway from July to help protect some of the nation’s most remarkable religious heritage. 

Cathedral Camps, which are run by UK volunteering charity CSV (Community Service Volunteers), will see young people cleaning spires, clearing graveyards, painting railings, polishing altars, oiling doors, sweeping aisles and surveying tombstones.  ‘Campers’ can explore behind the scenes at many of the nation’s favourite cathedrals and some will get the chance to sleep within the sacred walls of selected cathedrals. The camps are open to people aged 16-25. 

With fewer young people ever having entered a cathedral or major church, CSV has put together the heritage conservation project to get young people playing a role in preserving social history and preventing landmark buildings from falling into disrepair.

Rebecca Wilkinson, CSV’s project manager for Cathedral Camps, said: “Cathedral Camps demonstrate the positive impact that young people make in helping to protect our architectural heritage. Volunteers’ time, energy and enthusiasm plays an important role in preserving social history and preventing landmark buildings from falling into disrepair.” 

Exeter Cathedral, Wentworth and Stanwick Church are part of the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) and campers at these sites will be given the opportunity to learn even more about preserving listed buildings and restoring them to their former glory. 
Cathedral Camps Summer programme 2010

 7 -       14 July              Edinburgh St Mary’s
14 -      21 July              North Yorkshire CCT Stanwick Church
21 -      28 July              London Islington Union Chapel
28 July – 4 Aug              North Devon CCT Exeter including Exeter Cathedral, St Michael and All Angels, Princetown.
28 July – 4 Aug              Liverpool Cathedral
28 July – 4 Aug              St Albans Cathedral and Abbey Church
4 -         11 Aug             All Hallows by the Tower, London
4 -         11 Aug             Brecon Cathedral, Wales
4 -         11 Aug             Truro Cathedral, Cornwall
4 -         11 Aug             Wakefield Cathedral
11 -       18 Aug             Canterbury Cathedral, Kent
11 -       18 Aug             St Pancras Church, London
11 -       18 Aug             St Paul’s, Weymouth
18 -       25 Aug             Chester Cathedral
18 -       25 Aug             Leicester Cathedral
18 -       25 Aug             Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire
18 -       25 Aug             Wells Cathedral
25 Aug – 1 Sept             CCT Wentworth Church 

Each camp runs from Wednesday to Wednesday for one week with Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday free for relaxation or exploring the local area.  Activities are arranged for the evenings to see the sights and have some fun with fellow campers. 

The camps are subsidised, with participants making an additional contribution of £155 towards accommodation, food, tools, equipment, instruction, supervision and work materials. 

For further information and booking details about Cathedral Camps contact www.cathedralcamps.org.uk or call 0207 643 1395

MOPA Theatre Company presentMacbeth.  Experience the moral minefield of Shakespeare’s Classic Tragedy in a stunning new setting which unlocks imagery and metaphors in the play that are simply not possible in a secular context… 
 
With its roots in Medieval morality plays, Macbeth is the perfect vehicle for a production which brings classic theatre back to the birthplace of modern drama – The Cathedral.  It is guaranteed to entertain, provoke thought and inspire new understanding of Shakespeare’s great text.  And it’s coming to Leicester Cathedral on Saturday 22nd May.
 
All seats unreserved. Ticket prices £12 standard/£8 concessions. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm performance.  Running time 2 hours and 15 minutes.  Call the box office on 07918 761252

A booklet containing the collected talks on the theme of “God’s Story – Our Story” given by members of the Cathedral congregation at Sunday Evensongs over Lent 2010 are available from the Cathedral Office, priced at £2. Or they can be ordered and posted out for a total cost of £3 (cheques payable to Leicester Cathedral).
Please contact Julia Unna (email julia.unna@leccofe.org or telephone 0116 248 7456)

Event Date: Tuesday 29 June 7.30-11.00pm

The Cathedral is organising a Summer Supper Party in a marquee at Gordon & Janet Arthur’s home in Smeeton Westerby. Summer Supper created by Firenze Restaurant from Kibworth Beauchamp, including a drink on arrival (wine, beer and soft drinks available from the bar) with music and good company. We are inviting donations of £35/person.

Supper will be at tables of 10 – you can apply for a table of 10, or apply as an individual or as a small group and we’ll do our best to meet your seating requests. We have already allocated 110 seats with about 80 still being available – please conact Julia Unna or Canon David Monteith at the Cathedral Office (0116 248 7456). It should be a really lovely evening!