Truro cathedral

Cathedral News

2nd grant supports Roof Appeal

In November 2016, we were delighted to find out that we had been awarded a grant of £500,000 towards Phase 2 of the roof project. This is the second grant we have been awarded from the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund for the roof, the first kick-starting the Roof Appeal and work to Phase 1.

We anticipate that work will begin on Phase 2 later in the year and will include the re-slating and re-leading of the South Nave Aisle, the Baptistery, the South Porch and the Narthex roofs as well as the windows and associated external stonework of the Baptistery and the South Aisle which are in a very poor state of repair. The roofs have been patched over the years and are suffering from nail erosion causing the slates to slip letting water and pigeons into the building. The Baptistery roof will be re-slated in Cornish Delabole slate removed from other parts of the roof. Its design and stonework form a uniquely Cornish part of the cathedral. Its windows show a unique devotion to the Cornish Saints and the life of the local Cornish missionary, Henry Martyn. The Baptistery roof will be the only part of the roof to have Cornish slate, the rest being re-roofed in Welsh slate.

Phase 1 of the work, which was completed in May 2016, saw all 22,000 slates replaced on the high Level Western Arm Nave and North Aisle roofs. Original slates removed from the roof were salvaged at a rate of about 20%, and sold on for use on other specialist projects, raising approximately £10,000 towards the roof appeal. Once the work on the forthcoming second phase is complete, the whole of the Western End of the cathedral will be re-slated, protecting it for generations to come.

This latest grant brings the total raised since the launch of the roof appeal in July 2015 to £1,182,244 – over a third of the way towards our £3.2m target. This would not have been possible without the overwhelming support we have received from our local community and visitors alike. ‘Sign-a-Slate’, which offers members of the public the chance to get involved and make their mark on history by signing or writing a message on the back of one of the roof’s new slates in return for a donation towards the appeal, has already raised over £90,500. More than 3,500 have taken part so far and the slate station continues to welcome new people every day.

Dean Roger, who has been an active promoter of the roof appeal said “We continue to be truly humbled by the support received for the appeal. From the engagement of the public and local community, to the support of official bodies from all over the country. This latest grant from the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund, combined with the wider support, might enable the fairly ‘simple’ act of replacing slates on the roof and therefore the restoration of the physical building to its former glory, but it also ensures the life and work of Truro Cathedral is sustained for all the communities it serves for years to come.”

Naomi Belert

Development Officer

Imran Qureshi Art Installation

Imran Qureshi has created a striking, temporary installation for Truro Cathedral, developed in collaboration with Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange, Penzance, who will host a major exhibition of his work which runs throughout the summer. The work is vast in scale, occupying much of the south aisle and spilling over rows of pews in the nave. The work isconstructed from 30,000 A2 crumpled, printed sheets carrying images devised by Qureshi and was installed by the artist and a team of 14 volunteers working over 4 days, all in the public gaze.

Imran Qureshi grew up in Hyderabad and lives in Lahore, Pakistan, where he teaches at the National College of Art. In his paintings and installations, he combines the techniques and motifs of Mughal miniature painting with a site-specific installation practice. Qureshi has attracted considerable critical acclaim in recent years, following the creation of a major installation for the 2011 Sharjah Biennial, inspired by a fatal bomb attack in a market place near his home. A similarly ambitious work was made for the roof of the Metropolitan Museum, New York in 2013. Later that year he was selected as the Deutsche Bank Artist of the Year.

Consistent with his work over recent years, the Truro commission reflects on global political events since 2001 and the terror attacks that have affected cities around the world, but this work also embodies a current of humanity and resilience than rises above such tragic events. During its brief siting in the Cathedral, the work will become a catalyst for interfaith dialogue, reflection and debate, echoing the Cathedral’s mission as a space where the issues of faith and the common good, through the medium of art, can inspire, provoke and challenge us all to see the world with new perspectives.

The exhibition is 'Free' and is open Monday - Saturday 10-5pm and Sunday 12-4pm

Girl Choristers first Service

Historic moment for Truro Cathedral as it celebrates its musical tradition

At 10am on Sunday 11th October, Truro Cathedral Choir will appear with its new girl Choristers for the very first time. The choir is celebrated for its primary role in enhancing the worship offered at the Cathedral, but it also has a national and international reputation as one of the premier ensembles of its kind, regularly receiving top billing by critics in the classical music press.*

The Very Reverend Roger Bush, Dean of Truro, said: "Since our consecration in 1887, boy Choristers have provided the treble line in our Cathedral Choir, but we now have the opportunity to fulfil our long-held ambition to introduce girl Choristers alongside them.

"I am grateful to our Cathedral staff and close supporters who have been working hard behind the scenes for more than a year now to prepare for the girl Choristers' arrival. I would also like to pay tribute to Andrew Gordon-Brown and his staff at Truro School, where the girl Choristers will be educated, for the meticulous work they have done on so many fronts to help us recruit such wonderfully talented girls, and to ensure the best possible systems are in place to support and nurture them as they work intensively at the highest level."

A year ago, Truro Cathedral made the announcement that it was to introduce girl Choristers to its Cathedral Choir, in partnership with Truro School. Shortly after that, recruitment began in earnest, with a "Be a Chorister for a Day" event in November before eighteen girls were appointed at the subsequent auditions.

Truro Cathedral's Director of Music, Christopher Gray, said: "We were absolutely overwhelmed by the standard of applicants. The appointed Choristers have been rehearsing intensively at school and at the cathedral with my colleague, Luke Bond, and I, and it is already clear that we have all the ingredients to create an extraordinary choral sound. It is quite a different experience for us working with the girls aged 13 to 18 when we are so used to the boys who are much younger, aged 8 to 13 before their voices change."

All of the girls have now been measured for their new robes, known as cassocks and surplices. Lots of practical measures have also been put in place, from purchasing a new set of music folders to re-modelling the toilet facilities in the crypt rehearsal room to accommodate both males and females.

The girl Choristers have been recruited from across Cornwall and beyond, and all of the successful applicants attend Truro School where they receive scholarships and means-tested additional bursaries where required. As with the boy Choristers, the aim has been that selection is based solely on musical criteria, as well as academic suitability for a place at the school.

The girl Choristers rehearse every weekday morning before school and will, once they are fully up and running, sing two or three services every week at the Cathedral, as well as taking part in CD recordings, BBC broadcasts and choir tours.

Christopher Gray said: "It has been a pleasure to work with the staff at Truro School to make this dream a reality. I have been struck by the professionalism and warmth of the staff who have ensured the whole thing has run as smoothly as it could possibly have done; their drive to find imaginative solutions to problems that have arisen has spoken volumes about their passion for the whole thing. It feels like we are creating something very special indeed.

"Of course, we will continue to pour every fibre of our collective being into sustaining and nurturing our wonderful boy Choristers through this year of change, supported as always by the amazing staff at Polwhele House School which has been such an important part of their success. This whole new development with girl Choristers is possible only because of the tremendous success of the current team with whom it is my privilege to work on an almost daily basis.

The girls will add a new dimension to our Cathedral music, and my firm belief is that the boys will continue to thrive, and that our community and our worship will be enriched by their talents."

The girls will be singing at both the 10am Eucharist and also the 4pm Evensong.

Cathedral's £3.2m Roof Appeal

Make your mark on history and Sign-A-Slate at Truro Cathedral

Truro, Cornwall, July 27, 2015: It’s not often you can literally sign, scribe or scribble your mark on history, but Truro Cathedral is giving you the opportunity to do just that, all in support of the Roof Appeal launched earlier this year. Sign-A-Slate offers those making a donation to the appeal the chance to sign or write a message on the back of one of the 60,000 new slates being used to re-slate the cathedral roof – a roof that will be in place, complete with those messages, for generations to come.

The Dean of Truro, the Very Reverend Roger Bush, said: “The cathedral is a beautiful and special place that means many different things to many different people. It is people that form the heart of the cathedral and so it was very important to us to find a way for everyone to get involved and feel part of this important restoration project. Sign-A-Slate feels like a very fitting way to do that, providing people with a unique opportunity to leave a personal and lasting message within this special building.”

There are three levels at which you can participate. For a donation of £5 you have the opportunity to sign or write on one-sixth of a shared slate. For a £25 donation an entire slate becomes your canvas, upon which you can write and draw. Lastly, for a £250 donation, you can enjoy an extra special VIP signing experience as you and up to three friends and family write on your slate at an invitation-only drinks reception hosted by the Dean.

Whatever your level of participation, you will receive a special certificate of thanks to celebrate your contribution to this once-in-a-lifetime appeal, and your name will be added to a special Roof Appeal Supporters Book which will be on display in the cathedral once the project is complete.

Roger continued: “In the past couple of weeks, scaffolding has started to go up around the western arm of the nave as the roof repair works get underway. But this is a long and expensive project. In total, it will take five years and £3.2 million to undertake the required works and to date we have secured slightly more than £504,000 towards the project, leaving nearly £2.7 million to be raised between now and 2020. We are hopeful that Sign-A-Slate offers a very tangible and interactive way for people to show their support for this important project.”

Commenting on the current state of the roof, Izaak Hudson, Cathedral Architect, said: “The existing cathedral roof has been in place since it was first laid c1885-1908, which means the slates we are removing are between 107 and 130 years old. Many of the slates are delaminating and also suffering from corrosion of the nails which fix them and breakages around the nail holes which cause the tiles to slip and create holes. Because the roof space is so large, much of the rainwater that is getting in evaporates before it drains through the vault stonework into the main cathedral spaces, but it is important we undertake the repairs now to ensure the interior of the cathedral remains protected. For those of us who will be laying the new slates that have been signed, it will be a real honour as every single one will be a reminder of the various ways people value and support the preservation of Cornwall’s only cathedral.”

In conclusion, the Dean commented: “We truly believe this will be an enjoyable activity for people to take part in, and whether you use the slate to sign your name, draw a picture, mark a special occasion or even remember a loved one, your messages really will be a lasting legacy.”

To take part in Sign-A-Slate, simply visit the ‘Slate Station’ in the cathedral. Open between 10am and 3pm from Monday to Saturday, cathedral representatives will be on hand to answer any questions and provide you with your slate and a special, permanent slate pen to use to write your message. Anyone who signs is encouraged to share photographs with their slate on Twitter and Facebook using #TCsignaslate.

Those wishing to take part but who are unable to visit the cathedral to write on the slate in person can download and complete a Sign-A-Slate donation form from the appeal website (www.tcroofappeal.org.uk), including a note of what you would like written on the slate. The cathedral team will gladly scribe on your behalf.

To find out more, download a donation form or make an online donation to the Truro Cathedral Roof Appeal, visit: www.tcroofappeal.org.uk

 

Good News for Truro

Truro Cathedral receives government grant to repair roof

ChurchCare, the buildings division of the Church of England, welcomed the announcement today by Culture Secretary Sajid Javid MP of £8.3 million in grants for 31 English cathedrals. The money has come from a government-sponsored fund set up to support vital repairs to some of England's most important historic buildings.  Truro Cathedral itself has been allocated one of the highest grants of £500,000 towards the restoration of the Nave roof.

Mr Javid MP announced that the grants will provide 25 Church of England and six Catholic cathedrals with grants worth between £15k and £600k for repairs ranging from roofs, stonework and structural work through to detailed work on intricate stained glass windows.

The successful applicants will receive £8.3 million of money made available as part of the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund. This is the second round of grants from the £20 million Fund, which was announced in the Chancellor's March budget.

The Dean of Truro, The Very Revd Roger Bush, said, “We are delighted with today’s announcement of the £500,000 grant towards urgent repairs and restoration of the Nave and Nave Aisle roof. Without this help from the Government’s First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund it would be very difficult indeed for us to maintain our precious Christian heritage. Cornwall’s Cathedral is a vibrant resource for the whole county welcoming nearly 200,000 visitors a year. It is steeped in a rich religious tradition where our continuing ministry and mission are right at the heart of all that we do. Welcoming visitors while trying ‘to keep the roof on’ can at times be a difficult juggling act. This grant is very good news indeed.”

Rt Hon Frank Field MP, Chairman, Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England, said:

"As moving commemorations of the First World War continue to be held across England, it is a most excellent thing to see taxpayer's money being used to create a lasting legacy of cathedral grants which takes the pressure off building repairs and allows cathedrals to be the centres of remembrance and worship that people rely on them to be. There is always more to be done, but through this scheme government has begun a very vital task."

Cathedrals are a key part of forming the cultural identity of many of England's cities, and are powerful symbols of our shared history. But this does not mean they are just icons of the past. They are active and powerful community hubs. In several cities they are at the centre of urban regeneration, providing a focus for civic pride. This includes many cathedrals supported by this round of grant, such as Peterborough and Blackburn, which are both creating vibrant new cathedral quarters.

The Church of England's 42 cathedrals alone welcome over 11m visitors a year, employ over 6,000 staff and are supported by over 15,000 dedicated volunteers; demonstrating how much cathedrals contribute to, but also depend upon, the communities around them. Church of England cathedrals contribute annually at least £350 million for the national economy. These grants will help them to complete works which are urgently needed for them to stay safe, open and welcoming, and to continue to make this contribution to their communities.

 

Be a Girl Chorister For A Day

Open day for cathedral’s new girl choristers

Following the announcement in August that Truro Cathedral is to recruit 20 new girl choristers to be part of its prestigious cathedral choir, there is to be a “Be a Chorister for a Day” event where interested girls can find out more.

The event takes place on Tuesday 14th October and is open to all girls currently in Years 7 to 12 at any school.

The “Be a Chorister for a Day” event will aim to give girls a taste of what life will be like as a cathedral chorister, which includes attending Truro School. It will begin with a rehearsal at 8.10am with Truro Cathedral’s Director of Music, Christopher Gray. Participants will then attend lessons at Truro School, before coming to the cathedral to meet the boy choristers and experience a rehearsal with them. The day will culminate in the chance to sing Evensong with the cathedral choir, putting into practice what they have learned during the rehearsals.

Christopher Gray said: “Being a chorister is a unique opportunity and, for the right girl, I’m confident it will be life-changing. The girls will be part of a close-knit team that performs at a very high level almost every day, with rehearsals before school each morning and two or three public performances each week. There will also be live radio broadcasts, CD recordings and foreign tours in due course. I would warmly encourage anyone even remotely interested to sign up for our “Be a Chorister for a Day” to find out more. There is no obligation to apply if you come next Tuesday, of course, but it might help you to make up your mind whether this would be a good thing to explore further. And I can guarantee it will be lots of fun, whether or not it leads to an application.”

Auditions will be held in November and January and are open to any girl in the appropriate age group, regardless of whether or not she has been to the “Be a Chorister for a Day” event.

Full details are available from Truro Cathedral’s website home page (www.trurocathedral.org.uk) and places must be booked in advance via Jayne Grigg at Truro School: 01872 246008; jeg@truroschool.com .

 

Co-op Local Cause

Co-op Community Fund

 

Thrilled that our Backpack Explorer Project has been chosen as one of Co-ops Local Causes! Under this scheme the Co-op donates 1% of the sales of its products and proceeds from carrier bag sales to the causes backed by members. You can support us by choosing our Backpack project as your local cause if you are a Co-op member and live within 15 miles of the Truro Store.

 

Girl Choristers at Truro School to enrich Cathedral tradition

Pictured: The Very Reverend Roger Bush, Dean of Truro, shakes hands with Andrew Gordon-Brown, Headmaster of Truro School, sealing the new partnership to introduce girl choristers to sing in the cathedral choir. Picture by James Ram.

 

The Chapter of Truro Cathedral is pleased to announce a new partnership with Truro School which will see the introduction of girl choristers, aged 13 to 18, to sing in the cathedral choir from September 2015.

The cathedral has had a choir in the traditional form of boys and men since it first opened its doors in 1887. The twenty new girl choristers will sing services in parallel with the current team of boy choristers, aged 8 to 13, who will continue to be educated at Polwhele House School.

The Very Reverend Roger Bush, Dean of Truro, said ‘The cathedral’s governing Chapter has had a desire for many years now to have girl choristers as well as our highly successful boy choristers, joined by our dedicated team of professional gentlemen who sing the lower parts. We are convinced that Truro School will be the right place to nurture the kind of world class excellence Polwhele House has nurtured so successfully in our boy choristers.’

The new girl choristers will receive 25% scholarships at Truro School, as well as additional means-tested bursaries. As with the boy choristers, the aim is that selection will be solely on musical and academic potential, not financial background.

Commenting on the partnership, Truro School’s headmaster Andrew Gordon-Brown said:  “With our shared commitment to musical excellence, this partnership between Truro School and Truro Cathedral is wonderful news indeed. We already have one of the biggest and busiest music departments in the south-west, and we are delighted with the introduction of a new chorister programme for girls that gives us new opportunities to build on this further.”

Recruitment for the new choir will begin in the Autumn. Full details are available on the school website www.truroschool.com.

For more information download our girls Choristers leaflet

Crafting the Cathedral

A Contemporary Crafting of Truro Cathedral

A public exhibition at Truro Cathedral from 18th – 26th January will showcase contemporary artefacts, designed by final year students at Falmouth University.

The personal responses to Truro Cathedral - it’s stunning architecture, history and purpose as a place of worship – by students on the BA(Hons) Contemporary Crafts course has led to an engaging mix of small and large-scale artworks.

The course at the University has for some time worked closely with a range of external partners exploring new ways of engaging audiences with objects and places. “It’s been a really important, demanding, yet rewarding challenge to create interpretive objects that live up to the building, the people and items that live there,” said Jason Cleverly, Senior Lecturer. “Many of the Cathedral’s artefacts carry great metaphorical power as well as some fascinating and unusual stories – we hope you will enjoy the students responses to the building.”
Truro Cathedral is keen to provide opportunities for students to explore and respond to it and understand what it might mean to different groups of people. Kirsten Gordon, Acting Education Officer, commented: “We have found the students’ approach to their brief to be interesting and incredibly varied, demonstrating both technical skill and creativity.

“It is a valuable experience for us to see with fresh eyes the many different Church artefacts and ideals which are familiar, and yet speak on so many more levels than we perhaps see at first glance. We hope ‘Crafting the Cathedral’ will encourage visitors to reflect on their own interpretation of this Cathedral Church.”

The exhibition is open daily from 10.30am – 5.00pm, 18th to 26th January, with free admission.

Truro Cathedral to stage iconic 1880 Christmas service

On Tuesday 17th December at 7.00 pm Truro Cathedral will stage a reconstruction of the first ever “Nine Lessons” service, devised by Bishop Edward White Benson in 1880.

In December each year, people in Cornwall rightly celebrate their ownership of a very special piece of Christmas history: it was here, in 1880, that the popular format for carol services, ‘Nine Lessons with Carols’, was born.

The innovative service first took place at Truro Cathedral on Christmas Eve in 1880, the brainchild of the first Bishop of Truro, Edward White Benson. The format quickly travelled to other churches and its place in history was secured when Eric Milner-White adapted it for King’s College, Cambridge from where it has been broadcast almost annually on Christmas Eve since 1928.

On Tuesday 17th December at 7.00 pm this year, Truro Cathedral will take its congregation back to 1880 by reconstructing this first ever service of Nine Lessons with Carols. Truro Cathedral’s director of music, Christopher Gray, said: “Millions of people tune in to hear the broadcast from King’s College, Cambridge each year, and millions more attend a ‘Nine Lessons’ service in person. Benson’s format has travelled across the globe and we have recently been piecing together exactly what the origins of this great institution are.”

In 1880, Truro Cathedral as we know it today was in the earliest stages of its construction so the ‘Nine Lessons’ service took place in a wooden structure where services were held until 1887. Some four hundred people crammed in to hear carols, readings, several anthems from Handel’s ‘Messiah’ and various prayers and blessings.

Christopher Gray said: “Piecing together what took place at 10.00 pm on Christmas Eve in 1880 has been fascinating. My own interest in those earliest days of the cathedral was ignited by Michael Swift, Stained Glass Adviser to the Diocese of Truro, who is currently researching a book on Benson. Michael has presented a number of fascinating lectures in recent years and it seemed a good time to revisit this specific event from 1880.

“As well as Michael Swift, I am grateful to a number of other people who have helped me to locate pieces of the jigsaw and then to piece them together. Among them are Alison Spence at Cornwall Record Office, and Richard Longman who has untangled and found solutions to many of the problems we faced with finding correct versions of the music. I am also indebted to conductor and musicologist Jeremy Summerly who has conducted detailed research into the Truro origins of the ‘Nine Lessons’ service in preparation for his forthcoming book, ‘A Cause for Carolling’. Jeremy was able to confirm our findings and provide a great deal of useful wider context.

The service on 17th December is free to attend and all are welcome. There will be a talk on the reconstruction, for those who wish to find out more, at 6.00 pm and the congregation is asked to be seated by 6.30 pm at the latest for a rehearsal in advance of the 7.00 pm start.

The service will be webcast and should be available to listen to online later in the evening on 17th December.

 

Choir CD enters charts top 20

The new CD by Truro Cathedral Choir has just entered the Specialist Classical Charts, run by the Official Charts Company, at number 20. The album was released in March and features music by contemporary composer Philip Stopford who is rapidly emerging from among the younger generation of British composers as one of the most popular and prolific writers of new choral music, and is in increasing demand on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Cathedral’s Director of Music, Christopher Gray, said: “It’s a great honour for our recording to be in the top 20, alongside some of the top names in classical music. I suspect it is helped by that fact that one of the tracks, Lully, lulla, lullay, is currently in Classic FM’s Hall of Fame and is therefore being played a lot on national radio. My experience is that Philip’s music really connects with people and I can understand why they go straight out, apparently in large numbers, and buy the album when they have a taste of it on the radio. Our own cathedral shop sold 200 CDs in the space of a few days when it was launched, though it’s got plenty more in stock again now!”

In its first major review in the national classical press, the CD received a maximum five-star rating, with the reviewer concluding:"This is a superlative CD worthy of every choral music collection. Inspirational singing from one of the top cathedral choirs in the land, coupled with brilliant organ playing by a highly gifted musician on a first-class instrument, provide the perfect vehicle for Phillip's wonderful, fresh music."

Composer Philip Stopford said: “When I stepped foot into Truro Cathedral in May of 2012 for the first recording session, I was thrilled that Christopher Gray, Luke Bond (Assistant Director of Music) and the Cathedral Choir had agreed to recorded this CD of my choral music. And now to be in the Classic FM Hall of Fame and Specialist Classical Chart is a wonderful achievement for all concerned. As my music is published mainly in America, Truro Cathedral Choir are now being heard more globally than ever before. Likewise, fans of choral music in the UK are hearing Stopford music possibly for the first time, and ordering sheet music for their own choirs to perform. Christopher and the Cathedral Choir have excelled themselves in bringing together the best performances of my music to date. Every stage of this project has been pure joy."

The CD is available from Truro Cathedral Shop and online from Regent Records and from all the usual outlets such as Amazon.

Truro Cathedral Choir will be giving their summer concert at 5pm this Saturday (22nd) in the cathedral. Tickets £12 on the door.

Children's Coronation comes to Truro Cathedral

Children from all over Cornwall are being invited to take part in a special 60th anniversary re-enactment of the Queen’s 1953 Coronation on Sunday 2nd June 2013 at 4pm in Truro Cathedral.

The call has gone out for Children aged between 7- 12 who would like to participate in this royal performance. The children can dress up and take the parts of Lords and Ladies and join in with the processions and singing. It was originally devised in 2002 for The Queen's Golden Jubilee where the young children of St Mawes Primary School performed The Children's Coronation on St Mawes Quay. In June 2012, the ceremony was repeatedfor the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and a video of the occasion was made and sent to the Queen. (See Youtube, type in ‘Children’s Coronation’).

The re-enactment in Truro Cathedral will exactly mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation that took place in Westminster Abbey on 2nd June 1953. This St Mawes version has got the Royal seal of approval with Her Majesty the Queen congratulating organisers and children for all their ‘dedication, hard work, and attention to detail’.

Organiser Yvonne Fuller, who co-ordinated two previous re-enactments in St Mawes, said, “We are all incredibly excited that the Children’s Coronation is going to take place in the full splendour of Truro Cathedral. It is a magnificent building and a stunning setting for the re-enactment; the children are going to love it.’’

She said, “We have tried to capture the look and feel of the original Coronation in minute detail. We have created child-sized costumes, replica crown jewels including crowns, orb and sceptre, and there is even a 8ft 6in royal carriage. All this will help to re-create all the pomp and ceremony of the original Coronation.”

The Children’s Coronation performance will replace the normal Evensong at 4pm with Truro Cathedral Choir taking part and singing Parry’s I Was Glad and Handel’s Zadok The Priest.

People of all ages are welcome to attend this historic occasion.If your child would like to take part or if adults would like to volunteer their help, please contact: Yvonne Fuller 01326 270617 ymm.fuller@btinternet.com

Archbishop of Canterbury to visit Diocese of Truro

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will be in Truro Cathedral for a day of prayer on Monday 18 March. This is part of his national ‘Journey of Prayer’, prior to his Enthronement on 21 March.

The purpose of Archbishop Justin’s journey is to pray and to encourage others to pray with him; so he is keen that a welcome is extended to everyone across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

During the day, from 10.30am – 3.30pm, he will be joined by schoolchildren and members of the many groups who are currently working together to meet the challenges that we are all facing at this time of austerity.

There will be a range of resources available in the Cathedral so that people can engage with different forms of prayer. These will include:

• guided prayer;
• prayer trees;
• a prayer labyrinth;
• prayer maps; and
• a children’s prayer space.

Archbishop Justin will be spending part of the day praying on his own and, at times, with other people.

Bishop Tim says: “Please do come to the Cathedral and join with the Archbishop in prayer on Monday 18 March.  As we journey through Lent, considering our own discipleship, what better time to pray for the him as he takes this momentous step on his journey; and we can also pray for ourselves and for the wider church.

“Prayer is a radical action with enormous and unforeseen consequences. Prayer enables us to recognise that we are not in control but that God is. And so prayer allows us to be transformed into the people God wants us to be.”

New Dean Installed

On Saturday 22nd September at Truro Cathedral the Very Revd Roger Bush was installed as the Dean of Truro.

Canon Perran Gay, Acting Dean and Head of Worship, welcomed a large congregation to Truro Cathedral on Saturday as the Very Revd Roger Bush was installed as Dean Of Truro.

The 350 strong congregation included the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Edward Bolitho, and the Deans of Exeter and Wells.

The Service consisted of a number of parts, some legal, some religious, with some unscripted humorous exchanges between Roger and the Bishop of Truro, demonstrating the close working relationship the two already have, Roger having been part of the Bishop’s Staff group for a number of years as Archdeacon of Cornwall.

The Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Edward Bolitho, represented Her Majesty the Queen, and invited Roger Bush to swear allegiance to her as Defender of the Faith and Head of the Church of England. After the new Dean was robed he was physically led and placed in his stall by Canon Perran Gay who then led the congregation in a rousing round of applause.

Towards the end of the service The Cathedral Choir were joined by St Mary’s Singers (The Cathedral’s Voluntary Choir and one that Roger Bush has belonged to for a number of years) singing Edward Bairsow’s Anthem: Blessed city, heavenly Salem.

Camborne Brass Band and Camborne Youth Band entertained the congregation before the service with a selection of music and ‘Cornish Cavalier’ by W.E Moyle during the ‘Peace’.

In his sermon Roger Bush linked together the three themes of creativity, curiosity and commitment as foundations for our shared journey of faith. “We are all on a journey to a greater understanding of God’s nature, and it’s through our questing spirit that this is undertaken. I may have to rely on the creativity of others, but I am innately curious and am deeply committed to the Gospel, and I know that with a shared purpose we can all travel joyously towards he undiscovered country of God’s grace, God’s love”.

After the service The Very Revd Roger Bush said, “The Dean of Truro not only has care and concerns for the Cathedral community but as Dean of the Truro Diocese in Cornwall, also has a wider role to proclaim the gospel message; that God is there for everybody. I hope that as a Cathedral we can play a vital role in supporting such initiatives across Cornwall.” Asked about his priorities for the coming few months the new Dean identified two.  One, is to keep pushing forward with the Cathedral’s Inspire Cornwall development project. This is a £1.5m project to restore the Old Cathedral School and transform it into a community centred creative hub. And the other is to continue to develop the Cathedral’s outreach and mission. He said, “I think that over the last few years, the Church of England has increasingly recognized the importance of reaching out to the local community in which the church, or cathedral, sits. I’d very much like to be part of the development of creating links and fostering debates over the many contemporary issues affecting our unique Cornish community.”