Truro cathedral

Cathedral News

Penlee remembered 30 yrs on

On Monday 19th December the RNLI standard from the Solomon Browne will be on special display in the Cathedral with a chance for people to come and light a candle to the memory of the brave crewmen who lost their lives trying to save the crew of the Union Star freighter off Mousehole 30 years ago.

In 1985 a flagstaff made from the wreckage of the Solomon Browne, and her flag, were presented to the Dean and Chapter of Truro Cathedral as a permanent memorial and in appreciation of the support given by the then Bishop and the Cathedral staff at a time of great tragedy.

Cathedral, Eden Project and Cornwall Community Foundation link together to raise funds for Cornwall Flood Fund

A special concert is being held to mark one year on from the major flood which struck parts of mid Cornwall last November and to raise more funds for people whose homes were affected by it. mAll proceeds from the charity event at Truro Cathedral on Friday November 11 at 7pm will go to the Cornwall Flood Fund, set up by the Cornwall Community Foundation. The concert is a partnership between the Foundation, Truro Cathedral and the Eden Project and will feature the Cathedral’s renowned choir and the Eden Choir. Tickets are now on sale and the organisers are hoping that takings will provide a major boost for the fund in the run-in to the Christmas period. Linda Whitaker, the Foundation’s Executive Director, said that CCF were delighted to collaborate with the Cathedral Choir and Eden to raise further funds for people affected by the floods last year. The fund can help people buy items such as replacement household goods, to make repairs and carry out prevention work.Linda said: “Many people are still living in temporary accommodation or have much work still to do in order to rebuild their lives and homes. All profit from this event will be directed to the Flood Fund to help even more people. “It’s another great example of partnership working and much given pro bono, which I personally thank both organisations for so doing. We hope to have a full house and I’m sure it will be a memorable and reflective evening”

Tickets cost £10 and are available from Eden Project Box Office 01726 811972 or on the door. There are a limited number of free tickets available for under-18s.

New Chief Executive for the Cathedral

The Chapter of Truro Cathedral is delighted to announce that Mr Alan Wallace has been appointed its new Chief Executive.
Alan, who hails from Northern Ireland, joins the cathedral staff after eighteen months as Associate Pastor and Church Manager in Christchurch, New Zealand. Alan has over 20 years experience in a variety of church roles, having originally trained for lay ministry at the Church Army’s College of Evangelism. His enjoyment of youth work and his experience at parish, deanery and diocesan levels led to a prestigious position as National Youth Officer for the Church Mission Society. In recent years Alan has also built up an Events Management business that has successfully delivered a number of high profile Christian events such as the Lambeth Conference, World Conferences for Young Anglicans, Action Against Hunger and working on the relaunch of the Bible Society.

New Canon Pastor appointed

The Bishop has appointed the Reverend Prebendary Lynda Barley to the joint post of Diocesan Secretary and Canon Pastor of Truro Cathedral. Lynda comes to Truro from Exeter where she has lived and ministered since ordination in 1996. In 2000 she moved from parochial ministry to take on the post of Head of Research and Statistics at the Archbishops’ Council, continuing the themes of some of her earlier work before ordination when she was a professional statistician and social researcher. In recent years her priestly ministry has been split between some Devon villages and Southwark Cathedral where she has been an honorary chaplain.

Lynda will begin her work here in November. She will spend the majority of her time in her Diocesan administrative role, but will be ministering here as Canon Pastor for about three days a fortnight, together with the majority of Sundays. With her varied background and skills she will have much to offer to the Cathedral community and to our deliberations as a Chapter.

Canon Peter Walker will also be continuing as a full member of Chapter on a non-stipendiary basis, alongside his principal work as Chaplain to the Isles of Scilly. He will in future occupy the position of Canon Librarian, and during his visits to the mainland will work in particular to strengthen the link between the Cathedral and the Isles of Scilly.

I know that you will want to keep us all in your prayers during this time of transition, and to pray in particular for Lynda and her husband Chris as they prepare to move to Cornwall in the late Autumn.

New Chief Executive

Today the quest for a new Chief Executive has begun with adverts placed in the national press. This position is a demanding and multi-faceted role leading the Cathedral Executive in responding to the challenges and opportunities facing the Cathedral.  It requires vision, commitment, and excellent communication skills to deliver strategic outcomes, strong financial management, pursue collaborative relationships, realise sponsorship and funding opportunities, and develop the skills of others.

The deadline for applications is Friday 22 July 2011

The Job Application Pack can be downloaded below.

Rick Stein coming to the Cathedral

On Friday 16th September at 7.30pm you can reserve your place for an evening of fine dining à la Rick Stein at Truro Cathedral’s Restaurant.

Rick Stein has generously agreed to put together a four-course dinner, on behalf of the Cathedral’s Inspire Cornwall Development project, which is seeking to create an Education Centre, open up the Cathedral Green for community use and restore the Old Cathedral School.

The multi award winning TV chef has agreed to sponsor this event and said, “I am delighted to be working with Truro Cathedral again and helping to raise much needed money for their Inspire Cornwall project.”

The dinner will take place at the Cathedral Restaurant in the Chapter House, where Rick Stein and his team of chefs will produce a set-menu with some of his most famous signature dishes including Seared Scallops and Ibérico Ham with Pimenton and Pardina Lentils, Fish and Shellfish Soup, Char-grilled Fillet of Sea Bass with a Tomato, Butter and Vanilla Vinaigrette with a Hot Chocolate Fondant to finish.

The cost is £85 per person (includes wine) sharing on tables of ten. Ring Julie Brigden on 01872 245006 to book.

All proceeds in aid of the Cathedral’s Inspire Cornwall fundraising appeal. For more information and to see how you can help go to www.inspirecornwall.com.

Howard Goodall has written a new choral piece for the Cathedral Choirs

Black Adder, Mr Bean and the Vicar of Dibley all have one thing in common. The theme music was written by Howard Goodall. Howard is an EMMY, BRIT and BAFTA award-winning composer of choral music, stage musicals, film and TV scores, and a distinguished broadcaster. In recent years he has been England's first ever National Ambassador for Singing, the Classical Brit Composer of the Year and Classic FM's Composer-in-Residence. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to music education.

Now he has written A New Heart, A New Spirit for the four choirs based at the Cathedral (Cathedral Choir, St Mary's Singers, Cornwall Youth Choir and Cornwall Junior Choir).

This concert will be the world premiere of this piece and starts on Sat 18 June at the early time of 5pm. For tickets click on the link below.

Turner Prize winner to show at Cathedral

Tardis Projects is an artist run project led by artist
contemporary practitioner Liam Jolly and will launch on
17 June 2011 with an exhibition of Work No. 227: The lights going on and off, by Turner Prize winning artist Martin Creed.
A series of exhibitions are planned for the minute interior of Tardis House in Truro which will provide the foundation to the project that aims to promote all aspects of Contemporary Art practice within the region.

New bells peal out over city

Last Sunday morning while Truro basked in sunshine the first ever ring of twelve bells in Cornwall rang out over the city from the NW bell tower of Truro Cathedral.

Toward's Silence by Sir John Tavener

Thursday 2nd June 2011 at 7.30pm

This remarkable new work for four string quartets by John Tavener has been jointly commissioned by the Rubin Museum, New York and The Music Mind Spirit Trust.
In it the composer uses both space and sound to explore the nature of consciousness and the tenuous yet vital creative connection that may be experienced near death. Lasting approximately 35 minutes this powerfully spiritual work has been composed for the Medici String Quartet who through rehearsing and performing together act as mentors and musical guides to other talented young professional ensembles.

Cathedral Organ Discovery Day

Truro Cathedral is holding an Organ Discovery Day on Saturday 28th May. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the Cathedral’s world famous “Father Willis” organ and even to have a go yourself.

Have you ever wondered how the Cathedral organ works? Have you ever wanted to blast out a few notes? Well, there is an opportunity for everybody to have a go as part of the Cathedral’s first ever Organ Discovery Day.

Luke Bond, the Cathedral’s Assistant Director of music, is organizing the event as a joint venture between the Cathedral and the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM). He said: “People of all ages and abilities will be welcome – those who are serious organists, those who perhaps play the piano a little and those who have no keyboard skills at all.

Amnesty International celebrates 50 years

Over the next two weeks the Truro and Falmouth Group of Amnesty International (AI) will be holding an exciting series of events to celebrate the creation by British lawyer Peter Benenson in 1961 of the highly respected, world wide human rights organization, Amnesty International.

Click here to find out more