A message from the Chairman of
The Friends of Coventry Cathedral
September 2024
COVENTRY CATHEDRAL CHOIR is pictured above rehearsing in the Quire of Wells Cathedral.
The Choir has just returned home from singing daily services in the Cathedral Church of St Andrew, Wells for a week. Accommodation was found at Wells Cathedral School, and in between services and rehearsals time was found to explore the city and its surroundings.
The choir was welcomed by the Rev Canon Dr Megan Daffern (ABOVE LEFT) who is the Canon Chancellor of Wells, and who is well known to many of us from her time in Coventry. Her husband, Canon Adrian Daffern, served as Precentor of Coventry from 2003 to 2010 and the couple were married at Coventry Cathedral.
Before each service the Cathedral Choir gathered by the "scissor arches" for which Wells Cathedral is famous. These arches are modern in appearance but were originally built between 1338-1348 as an engineering solution to a very real problem.
The height of the central tower had been increased by the addition of a wooden spire. The structure began to crack under the added weight, and the scissor arches were the master mason's solution to spread the additional weight and avoid further damage.
The stalactites and stalagmites with the tunnels and chambers of Cheddar Gorge resounded with music when the choir members on that outing were invited by their guide to sing in one of the biggest caverns. On another day the singers are pictured on the left when they finally emerged into daylight out of Wookey Hole, which is a similar local underground attraction with huge illuminated caverns and passages. On the way home one of the choristers complained that no one had seen a Wookey. (Too much Star Wars. Who is going to tell him?)
The party was led by Luke Fitzgerald (Acting Director of Music) and Canon Nitano Muller accompanied the choir. The organ was played by David Rice (Acting Assistant Director of Music).
ON 13th OCTOBERafter the Sunday morning service a Covid and Flu Vaccination Clinic will be held in the John Laing Centre at the Cathedral.
Jane Williams and Julie Bain are both members of the Cathedral congregation. They are registered nurses who have worked in the NHS vaccination programme since it began in January 2021. At the Cathedral Vaccination Clinic they are able to offer the latest Flu and Covid vaccinations.
Vaccinations are freely available for
• adults aged 65 years and over
• individuals under 65 years in a clinical risk group (Jane and Julie will be able to advise you if you meet the criteria)
• frontline NHS and social care workers
To ensure that the correct number of vaccination doses are available on the day, it is necessary to make an appointment in advance. There is an appointment booking form available in the Cathedral at each Sunday morning service or you can contact Jane by email at [email protected] or by phone/text on 07880 500411.
ELECTIONS. The Annual General Meeting will be held on 12th October 2024. The Friends Constitution provides for rotation of Friends Council members, which creates three vacancies to be filled at the AGM this year. The Friends Council meets 4 times a year. Why not give it a try? VISIT TO RSC STRATFORD. The Friends Council has been unable to find any Friends members to help with the administration of this planned visit, so the visit will not take place this month and will remain an aspiration. If you would like to help with the administration of an event in future, please get in touch with any of the Friends Council members whose contact details are in the list above.
A TREE COLLAPSED on to the John Laing Centre at the Cathedral last month as was widely reported in the press.
It must have fallen gently overnight in a swirling gust of wind. It ended up leaning against the new building, but appears to have caused only superficial damage.
Trees do not last forever but have a life span just as we do. Over the years the Cathedral grounds have seen ample evidence of this fact.
The new Cathedral is built on the ancient graveyard of St Michael’s Church, and in this photo taken in 1946 you can see that the site was at that time planted with rows of trees that had withstood the Coventry Blitz. The builders of the new Cathedral cleared the site of any trees that obstructed their work and left the remainder standing.
During construction work temporary builders’ huts were erected on what today is Unity Lawn. During a gale in January 1962 those huts were almost demolished when one of the remaining trees collapsed on top of them.
Later that same year cherry trees were planted on Unity Lawn in time for the consecration. Thereafter in early summer each year the brilliant pink of their blooms contrasted with the green/grey Westmorland slate of the Chapel of Unity cladding. A beautiful sight.
The colourful blossom was used to advantage in 1984 when in preparation for its USA tour the Cathedral Choir posed for a publicity photo amongst the blooms. Those cherry trees lasted well into the 1990s before they died. They were not replaced.
Last November I reported the collapse of the huge manna ash tree in unity lawn that also brought down a lesser tree growing alongside it. Today near its site you can see the young replacement, a Davidia Involucrate tree.
From the inset picture that shows the anticipated blooms you can see why the Davidia is often referred to as a dove-tree, or a handkerchief tree, or a ghost tree.
Although the species originally came from China in 1904, it flourishes in our climate and has become a popular choice for parks and public gardens. It is named after the 19th century missionary, Fr David, who discovered it.
The oriental plane tree planted in 1962 is still thriving in the middle of Unity Lawn, and if you look at the photograph carefully you will see in the background the stump of the lesser tree that was brought down by the manna ash – and there are shoots sprouting from it. Its time is not yet up!
A FLOOR INSCRIPTION now records the year of dedication of the John Laing Centre.
The building is a lasting legacy of Coventry’s year as the UK City Of Culture – a year that began in 2021 but was extended into 2022 because of the Covid19 lockdowns.
September Organ Recitals Each Monday between 12.30pm and 1pm there is a free organ recital on Coventry Cathedral Organ. The full programme of recitals is available on the Cathedral website. https://www.coventrycathedral.org.uk/worship-music/the-organ/organ-recitals
Colour! I love it!
… when it creates drama and impact
... when it dances before your eyes
... when it stirs the soul and fires the imagination
… when it shouts, or sings, or simply whispers”
“In my work, I’m constantly searching for that patch of luminosity, looking at ways to create or imply the light in a piece. I think it is an expression of the deep hope inside me. The hope and the joy bubble up when I’m working with my colours. My aim is to give viewers a joyful and arresting visual experience. To inspire deep contemplation. To lift spirits and make people smile. (And maybe also to intrigue them a little!)
These are the words of Alexandra Kingswell, the artist whose work was on display in the Cathedral throughout the month of August. “Seeking the Light” was the title of her exhibition.
The photo shows some of the works displayed beneath John Piper’s equally colourful baptistry window.
Come and join us!
If you are enjoying this newsletter and are not yet a member of the Friends of Coventry Cathedral I invite you to join us today. The Friends support the ministry and buildings of Coventry Cathedral so that it can be there for future generations. Joining is easy. Simply use the online
membership application form.
https://www.friendsofcoventrycathedral.org.uk
I CAME ACROSS the word “apparitor” for the first time when I recently discovered this old cutting from the Coventry Evening Telegraph reporting a talk by the Venerable Canon Proctor, Archdeacon of Warwick.
It seems that “apparitor” is the title still given to an officer of the ecclesiastical courts appointed by the judge to serve the parties and witnesses with summonses to attend court.
I read further and discovered that in the Catholic Church the title may be given to those church members appointed to keep good order during services (like Cathedral Wardens). And some universities apply the title “apparitor” to the mace-bearer who walks officially in front of dignitaries.
I am ignorant no more.
THE MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL Voluntary Choir sang the services in Coventry Cathedral over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Stuart Fielding (PHOTO RIGHT) was one of two former Coventry Cathedral choristers to be found in their ranks.
Stuart joined the Coventry Cathedral Choir in the 1970s and is photographed close by the baptistry window wearing his Coventry Cathedral Chorister’s medallion that was awarded at that time.
Volunteer stewards
STEWARDING HELP IS sought for the following events 27th September
Concert: Tribute to Hans Zimmer & Film Favourites Illuminated
Time: 5.45pm – 10.30pm (Doors at 6.00pm for the first concert and 8.00pm for the second, each lasting 75mins) 25th October
Concert: Heather Small at Coventry Cathedral
Time: 6.45pm – 10.15pm (Doors at 7.00pm, Concert runs from 8.15pm to 10.00pm) 26th October
Concert: Ibiza Proms
Time: 5.45pm – 11.15pm (Doors at 6.00pm, Concert runs from 6.00pm to 11.00pm) If you are able to help at any of these events would you please contact Tim Stone in the Events Department at the Cathedral. Email: [email protected]
A CATHEDRAL THEMEDbeermat featuring the baptistry window, the three spires and 1962 – the year of the Consecration - advertises a beer that is produced by the Triumph Brewery, a micro-brewery close by Coventry Rail Station.
The Friends of Coventry Cathedral was founded in 1934. It is an independent Charity No. 1061176 registered in England and Wales, with an annually elected Council.
The stalactites and stalagmites with the tunnels and chambers of Cheddar Gorge resounded with music when the choir members on that outing were invited by their guide to sing in one of the biggest caverns. On another day the singers are pictured on the left when they finally emerged into daylight out of Wookey Hole, which is a similar local underground attraction with huge illuminated caverns and passages. On the way home one of the choristers complained that no one had seen a Wookey. (Too much Star Wars. Who is going to tell him?) 
AL
