Farewell to Canon Philip and Fran!

JUNE / JULY 2014
Farewell to Canon Philip and Fran!
Canon Perran enjoys looking
back at Canon Philip’s time at
the cathedral
I can well imagine the conversation in twenty years’ time.
‘Do you remember that Canon
who was always on about his icons
and his psychology? And do you
remember those dreadful jokes he
used to tell in his sermons? He’d
get three quarters of the way
through the story and then keep
you hanging on all through the
serious bit, and then when you got
to the punchline you wondered
why you’d waited!’
What more need I say in this little
appreciation of my dear colleague
Philip, as he and Fran prepare to
leave for pastures new of the Cretan variety? Perhaps I could just
elaborate on that imaginary conversation for a few moments…
Philip the icon man: – I guess that
sums up a lifetime of interest both
in Christian art and in the life and
worship of the Eastern Orthodox
churches. Philip has done an enormous amount to deepen our en-
NEWS
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LETTER FROM
THE DEAN
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NEW CANONS
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SYNOD
5
ST LAMBERT
7
MICHAEL BARTLETT
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BENSON
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TRURO CATHEDRAL
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MUSIC
Canon Philip helps to finish the cathedral icon:
The Virgin of Tenderness of Vladimir
gagement with the artistic community of Cornwall and beyond, and to
help us to begin to see the Cathedral
as a work of art in itself, with which
other art within it needs to engage.
His arranging of regular exhibitions
of contemporary art, often involving
some creative act of worship, has
opened up a new dimension in our
spiritual reflection and our appreciaContd on page 6
LUTHERAN WORSHIP
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CORNWALL
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REMEMBERS
KIRSTEN ‘ORDINAND’
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THE OLD CATHEDRAL 17
SCHOOL
DEMENTIA
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FRIENDS OF TRURO
CATHEDRAL
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MOTHERS’ UNION
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CORNISH SAINTS
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SUMMER FUN
25
WHAT’S ON
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ORGANORAK
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NEWS - in brief
Philip and Fran
On Sunday 22nd June, Fran and I will make our more formal farewells at Truro Cathedral, however we thought
some of you might like our future contact details and so
here they are:
Canon Philip and Mrs Frances Lambert
Church House
Gavalochori
Chania
73008 Crete, Greece
Telephone: 00 30 2825 023270
Email: [email protected]
We have enjoyed ourselves immensely at Truro Cathedral
and have very much appreciated the love and support we
have received. We will miss so many of you and so It
would be lovely to see people and of course hopefully to
come and join us for worship at St Thomas Church, Kefalas. The church email is [email protected] and
the website for directions etc. is
http://www.theanglicanchurchincrete.co.uk/
Canon Philip Lambert
Royal Cornwall Show
The Cathedral is again exhibiting at the Royal Cornwall
Show this year (5-7 June). We’d love to see you at our
stand (306), so come and say hello.
Feeding the Homeless
A very big thank you to the anonymous person who
donated a box of 100 containers with lids to be used for
Takeaway meals for the Homeless. Much appreciated.
Help with Sunday Coffee
Audrey Henry is looking for some willing volunteers to
help with Sunday coffee. The frequency is up to you but
probably no more than once or twice a month.
Cornwall Heritage cards
If you spend more than 50 hours a year, volunteering at
the Cathedral, you can apply for a Cornwall Heritage card.
This gives you free entry to a number of heritage
attractions around Cornwall. See Anne Marie in the Front
Office for details.
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Rachel says farewell...
Living in Truro and working at it's Cathedral over
the past 9 months has been a wonderful and
memorable experience. It has been a privilege to
accompany the Cathedral Choir on the organ and
to work with and learn from its talented leaders,
Chris Gray and Luke Bond. I've enjoyed life as a Cathedral organist immensely and I'm thankful to
have had the chance to work with a choir of men
and boys who sing everyday, as this is not something one can do back home in Toronto. It has also
been a pleasure to get to know everyone in the
wider Cathedral community. I truly appreciate Cornish hospitality as I have been made very welcome
here. I've also had the chance to explore a bit of
the county and am in awe of the natural beauty. I
shall miss it a great deal in September when I am
moving to
London to be
organ scholar
at St. Paul's
Cathedral for
the academic
year. In the
future, I plan
on continuing
my career as
both a Cathedral organist,
either here or
abroad, and a
performer. I
look forward
to playing my
last recital at
the Cathedral on Friday, June 6, when I'll be playing music by Bach as well as some Canadian
pieces, including one I am passionate
about, Healey Willan's Introduction, Passacaglia
and Fugue. I'm also very excited to be performing
as part of ORGANIZED CRIME Duo at Truro Methodist Church on Thursday, June 12. This will be
our first show abroad and will probably be unlike
any organ recital anyone's seen here before. Of
course, I do plan on visiting next year, so this is not
goodbye forever.
From
Dean Roger..
This month we say goodbye to
Philip and Fran, who are venturing forth to pastures
new in Crete. First and foremost I need to say how
much we will miss them: a summary is inadequate for
certain tasks in hand, and to say in what ways we will
miss them both in a few words will not do justice to
the breadth and depth they have brought to Cathedral
life over the past eight years. In particular I will miss
Philip’s prayerful wisdom, borne of his deep
commitment to the Eastern tradition, a tradition that I
am rapidly learning is both profoundly spiritual and
spontaneously natural; and I will miss Fran’s
effervescent care and concern for people. These
characteristics find common ground in their rich and
rewarding hospitality. They have given themselves fully
to this Cathedral community, and for this, and so
much else, we must be greatly thankful.
And yet, as they say, all good things come to an end.
To say ‘that’s life’ to such a comment can be
dismissive and cursory, but there is a spiritual truth
contained within what can be heard as a casual
statement. For our lives are constantly criss-crossed by
the tension that arises between our desire to be
committed to a particular group of people or
community, and our curious natures that provoke us
to seek fresh adventures elsewhere.
This is particularly the case with those of us called to
be priests: we are called by God to devote ourselves to
a particular ministry at a particular time in our lives,
and I know of very few priests who do not take that
commitment very seriously. But priests are open to the
possibility of being called to explore their vocation in
another community somewhere else, and that means
uprooting yourself, and your family, of course, from
where you happen to be and moving to somewhere
new, which means establishing new relationships in a
new context.
This doesn’t happen in a logical or mechanical way, of
course. Some priests can stay many years in one place,
having as fulfilling a ministry as the more peripatetic of
us. I know of one priest, who had spent forty years in
one parish, being asked by his bishop just before his
retirement, how he had ‘stuck it out’ in the same place
all that time; ‘what you must understand, bishop,’ came
the reply, ‘is that in that time I have had three different
congregations.’
Which leads me onto the second point. It is not just
the clergy who stay and then go. Congregations
change as well. I have occasionally been back to
parishes I have served in (to open the summer fete or
something), and have found that the make-up of the
community there has totally changed. Of course,
there are one or two stalwarts who have been there
since Noah landed the ark, but it is surprising (or is
it?) just how quickly people come and go. And, I
have to say, that it is quite salutary just how many
people don’t know you when you return somewhere
where you had been the vicar.
That is, I have to say, right and proper: people and
places move on; they have to, otherwise they will get
stuck in a time warp. It also means that, when new
people join a church, hopefully new ideas in how to
develop the Church’s life and ministry, will come in
their wake. (I say, hopefully, but I am the first to
admit that people join churches for all sorts of
reasons, not all of them positive!)
This, I believe, tells us something very profound
about the nature of our churches and their
communities. Firstly, they provide stability and an
abiding presence. Our medieval churches have been
dotting our landscape for coming up to a thousand
years, and even after only a hundred years it is
impossible to think of the Truro skyline without the
Cathedral’s magisterial presence dominating it. To be
aware of the abiding hope that these buildings point
to is part of their function and their being. God’s
constancy is something we mustn’t underestimate.
But equally, our churches are not changeless
institutions, stuck in a (mostly mythological) past
where the congregation is holding on to past truths
like grim death. People come and people go, and they
bring with them the newness and freshness of their
personal insights, as, indeed, they take with them the
experiences they have learned in the churches they
are leaving, to share that experience in the new
situation they find themselves in. I am sure that the
good people of north-west Crete will benefit from
the ministry that Fran and Philip have exercised in
Truro, just as much as we will benefit from the new
ministry offered by Philip’s successor.
The genius is, I suppose, having the ability to keep
things in balance. Leaving somewhere where you
have had a good time can be very painful; all too
often the temptation is to stay until you drop because
you enjoy the place and the people so much. But
equally you know that there is a bigger world out
there and that your curiosity is goading you on to
explore it in more detail. Part of being human is
sacrificing comfort and taking risks, and although
none of us has the sufficient genius to get that
balance totally right, yet there is sufficient about us to
know when it is time to move on or to stay put.
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New Canons for
Truro Cathedral
Immediately after the Office of Evensong on Sunday 18
May, five new Non-Residentiary Canons were installed
as Canons of Truro Cathedral and members of the College of Canons.
ABOUT THE NEW CANONS:
Revd Geoffrey Bennett
Rural Dean of Carnmarth South and Vicar of Budock. He
occupies the Stall of St Necton.
Revd Andrew Gough
Priest in Charge of Halsetown and Priest in Charge of St
Ives. He occupies the Stall of St Ia.
Christopher Batt
Chaplain to the Markets, Agricultural Chaplain and Rural
Chaplain; Assistant Co-ordinator for the Farming Community
Network and Chairman of the Cornwall Emergency Feed
Fund. He occupies the Stall of St James the Less.
Esther Pollard
Diocesan Secretary. She occupies the Stall of St Matthew.
Dr Jonathan Rowe
Director of Accompanied Ministry Development. He occupies the Stall of St Peter.
For his sermon, Bishop Tim took as his text Jesus'
words: "Abide in me as I abide in you", taken from John
15.4. He described the new canons as five very different
people who, apart from their humanity, had little in
common and were very different characters who had
lived very different lives. “Yet we can rejoice at the
possibilities this brings,” he said, “the opportunities for
engaging in new and challenging conversations.”
Bishop Tim pointed out that the word ‘abide’ is not
often used in everyday conversation but does go some
way to explaining the role of the new canons. “They
have all been around a bit!” he said. “So they have all
experienced
life’s ups and
downs, and have
stuck to their
tasks such that
they can share
that experience
with us.
“They are five
people who have
Pictured with Bishop Tim (from left) are: Dr
some underJonathan Rowe, Esther Pollard, Revd Andrew
Gough, Revd Geoffrey Bennett and Christostanding of this
pher Batt. (Photo: Paul Richards)
place and what is
going on in the
outside world too,” he added. “They are examples to
us this evening of what it means to abide. Through their
adherence to the Christian faith they have discovered
the reality of the Gospel and can help us to mediate it
in the world and our lives; to bring integrity into our
discipleship. To stick with it. To abide.”
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Truro Cathedral
Company of
Bellringers
Hello everyone again, just an update on
the tower situation at this time.
Well the scaffolding firm said it will take
them up to eight weeks to erect the
scaffold and they have now been at it
for around six weeks. They are up to
louvre height and are now high enough
to start wrapping the scaffolding right
around the tower. This is looking good
we hope for us to start ringing the bells
again soon.
In the meantime we have been continuing to ring at other towers for our practice night on Tuesday evenings. Towers
visited include St Clements, Probus, St
Erme and this week we will be at St Austell.
We thank them all for accommodating
us while our own bells are out of commission.
Also in the near future we are hoping to
teach some new recruits. In connection
with our Cathedral Education Department, we are to be in contact with some
of the schools in Truro to see if any of
the children would be interested in
learning bellringing. This we need to do
and encourage, to be sure of the next
generation continuing this ancient art.
Of course if there are any of you out
there who would also like to try their
hand at ringing then we would be only
too pleased to see and hear from you.
So here’s hoping that the bells will be
back in action soon and we can all get
back to our regular Sunday routine.
Best wishes to all
John Davis
Cathedral Ringing Master
Cathedral Services in
the Cornish Language
Synod votes for women
bishops
Revd Jane Kneebone writes…
From the end of July, we shall be including occasional
services in Cornish as part of the round of worship in
the Cathedral, particularly on the feast days of some
of our Cornish Saints. Although services in Cornish
have taken place in the Cathedral before, this will be
first time, as far as we know, that special saints’ days
will have been marked with the Eucharist in Cornish.
The first such service will be held on the Feast of St
Samson, Monday 28 July – a said Eucharist at 1 pm;
and on Wednesday 1 October, there will be a solemn
Sung Eucharist at 5.30 pm on the Feast of St German.
At this service there will be hymns sung in Cornish to
well-known tunes, and the choir will sing the Mass
setting in Latin – there will be no English spoken at all.
This seems particularly fitting when we remember that
before the advent of the Prayer Book in English, all
church services in Cornwall were conducted in Latin,
with probably the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer said in
Cornish. In the 1549 Prayer Book Rebellion, it was the
cessation of services in Latin that the Cornish were
protesting about!
We hope that our venture will attract speakers and
non-speakers of Cornish alike. If you don’t speak the
language, don’t worry – the service book will be reproduced in both Cornish and English, so you will easily be able to follow the service.
I have been involved in leading services in Cornish for
some time now, and I find every time that they are
very prayerful and uplifting. It may well be that these
special Cathedral services will offer other people a
similar experience, such that they can encounter God
through liturgy in a new way.
HIGH SPOT of Diocesan Synod on Saturday 10
May was undoubtedly the debate culminating in
an overwhelming vote in favour of the Consecration of Women in the Episcopate, writes
Feast of St Samson

Monday 28 July – a said Eucharist
at 1 pm
Feast of St German

Wednesday 1 October, a Solemn Sung
Eucharist at 5.30 pm
All welcome
David Watson, Diocesan Communications Officer.
By way of an introduction, the Dean of Truro, Roger
Bush, outlined the chronological background to the
debate and pointed out that the latest proposal
was radically different from the original, rejected by
General Synod 18 months ago. “It is based on simplicity and a desire to move forward together,” he
said, “taking into account the views of all and
bound by trust and not legislation.”
Speeches from the floor were heartfelt and measured, with the majority in support of the motion –
citing a number of female Cornish saints; the past
20 years of joy and benefits gained following the
ordination of women as priests; and the need to be
less introspective and to take on board the views of
the wider community. “This is all about simplicity,
reciprocity and mutuality,” said one delegate. “It
also seeks to meet the needs of the minority of opponents too,” remarked another.
Speakers against the proposals acknowledged that
the deferral of 18 months had been a useful period
for reflection and that removal of legislative measures was a positive step. However, in their opinion,
there remained deep theological reasons why the
consecration of women bishops was unacceptable,
and adoption of the proposals would shut doors to
closer collaboration with Orthodox and Roman
Catholic ecumenical partners.
Summing up, the Dean thanked all the speakers
and said: “It has been a good debate that reflects
where we are in this matter and a chance to clear
away mutual suspicion.”
The final voting was: house of Bishops 2 For, 0
Against; House of Clergy 26 For, 1 Against; House
of Laity 37 For, 2 Against. There were no Abstentions.
5
Cont’d from front cover
tion of Pearson’s masterpiece, as have his
training events for the Cathedral guides and
stewards, and his Kaleidoscope course which
has deepened our knowledge of the world of
the senses and how God often works through
those senses. And his knowledge of things
ecclesiastically Eastern has greatly enriched
our theological reflection
and liturgical
practice,
whether in
commissioning icons or in
organising a
trip to the
artwork of
Ravenna, or in
offering a
spiritual reflection at
Canon Philip with Nicholas Sagovsky during Morning
50th anniversary celebrations for Amnesty
Prayer. It is so
International
good to know
that this engagement with the East will continue in Philip’s new work in Crete, for the
benefit of Orthodox and Anglican alike.
Philip the psychological guru: – we have all
learnt much about
the delights of
Neuro Linguistic
Programming and
how it might help
in spiritual development, and while
we may not always
have understood
what Philip was
going on about,
we as a Chapter
With Phil Whiting at one of the many
have come to ad- art exhibitions Philip helped organise
mire the way in
which he has been able to approach a discussion or a decision from a fresh perspective informed by his psychological training and
knowledge. Many from within the Cathedral
community and beyond will be able to speak
6
of Philip as a wise and empathetic counsellor,
who has been able to fuse the riches of the
Christian tradition, the insights of psychological
theory and plain old common sense, often enriched, to the benefit of counsellor and client
alike, with a fine glass of Prosecco too, or sometimes a fine meal cooked and served with great
care and love.
But it is for
his humour that
I will most
miss Philip,
and not
just for
those
jokes in his
sermons
and his
larger repertoire at
parties.
Fran and Philip enjoying food and wine at the Rick
His is a
Stein fundraising meal
humour
that bubbles up in all circumstances, that helps
to put problems into perspective, and which is
able to transform the dullest of jobs into delight.
I could not have had a more supportive colleague and friend during my interesting two
years as Acting Dean, when Philip was always
there with an encouraging word, an offer of help,
and very often a witty remark to boot, for his is
not a superficial humour that is unaware of the
sometimes tragic reality of life, but one which
knows that all things come from God who wants
only the best for us in his divine comedy.
We wish Philip and Fran all blessings in the next
stage of their life’s adventure, as they move to
Crete, and we look forward to a future Chapter
outing there, just to check that they are keeping
well…
Canon Perran
St Lambert, Babushkas
and stones growing
leaves
In the spirit of if you have got it flaunt it,
here is a small article about my namesake.
If you go up into the sanctuary in Truro Cathedral
and turn left inside the altar rail you will see a series of statues. One of them is a finely attired
bishop, his name is St Lambert and his feast day is
17th September. On the eve of St Lambert’s day
16th September
2006 I became the
Canon Missioner
here at Truro Cathedral. One of my
responsibilities has
been the interpretation of Truro
Cathedral through
the guides, stewards, chaplains and
the education department.
So who was St
Lambert and why
is he there? The
St Lambert, Bishop of Liege and Martyr, first bit is easy as
from the Coptic parish in Lillois
any glance on the
internet will reveal
who he was and that he was a missionary bishop
and martyr in the Lowlands, meeting his death in
the 7th Century.
All good guides will be able to explain this to visitors as they also explain other parts of the building, such as the font or the windows. But what is
different about a Cathedral guide, steward, chaplain? What is different about our education department leading school visits or introducing undergraduate students to the building’s glories?
The answer is a question. We can find out a good
deal about St Lambert, but the Truro Cathedral
question is why is he there in the sanctuary? This
is true of many things, why are there what appears
to be “wings” in the vaulting over the quire and
over the baptistery? Why are there “leaves” growing out of some pillars and not others?
This question of why something is where it is in
the building often answers the question of what it
means.
Over the years in the various training events that
we have offered to the guides and stewards we
have emphasised that it is the building itself, its
shape and orientation (east/west) which interprets
the bits and pieces. Think of a Russian doll, the
large babushka holds more and more smaller babushka dolls. They all fit into the one big babushka
doll. The cathedral as a whole contains and shapes
everything else. So for example the pillars are
growing “leaves” the nearer you get to the focus
of the whole building, the east end, the place of
light, of life and hope where the sun rises. Or take
the “wings” in the vaulting of the quire and baptistery. They are in the places of spiritual focus , as if
they are angels wings fluttering in combined worship.
Look around and you will see from window patterns to floor patterns how the purpose and easterly direction of the building reveals the meaning
of the particular thing and where it is. Look at its
cruciform shape and ask what that is saying about
violence, death, martyrdom and also at the leaves
at the top of the nave beginning to burst out in
this shape of execution.
It is this distinctive way of understanding the central message of the whole building which we have
to offer. As we inhabit its space, pray and worship
in it so we see hear and feel different things that
we can use to understand the details and to pass
on. We live in a world where overall patterns that
shape life are often dismissed or simply not acknowledged for example patterns for understanding the world like religious faith or political ideas.
A lot of the time things are reduced to the smallest bits to see if something can be understood.
Instead church buildings like Truro Cathedral hold
many things together in a story of faith which
shapes its stones. It is that overall pattern and
shape that our guides welcomers and chaplains can
explain.
So we find St Lambert a martyr missionary tucked
into the sanctuary in the place of offering and connected to the resurrection scenes. What could it
mean, being there? I leave you to find out.
Leaving you is what we are doing this month, with
sadness as well as anticipation for the future on
Crete. I am very grateful to so many guides, chaplains and stewards who have opened the eyes of
our visitors and indeed my eyes to this place and
its wonders, the big picture and in the details.
You may be interested to know that my formal
licensing day on Crete will be:
17th September 2014 - St. Lambert’s Day!
7
Address given by Canon Philip
Lambert at the service giving
thanks for the ministry of Prebendary Michael Bartlett, priest vicar
of Truro Cathedral. 30th May 2014
“Michael, how did you become a priest?”
He replied, “Well I bankrupted our family firm of outfitters in Wimborne and thought what else can I do?”
He accompanied this revelation with a chuckle and I am
sure you can imagine him now, the timbre of his voice,
the laugh, the ready joke, and the twinkling eyes.
In fact he did well in the family business but the call to
priesthood, having served in Wimborne Minster in many
ways and especially as choir man and boy was too strong
and after a period of non-stipendiary priesthood he sold
up the business and moved with his family to Boscoppa
Cornwall and then 18 months later to be rector of St
Endellion, Port Isaac and St. Kew. There he remained for
the next 15 years as rector until he was 71.
He was the archetypal Church of England parish priest at
home with all whether in the church or in the pub, his
4th congregation he would call it when he was rector of
the St. Endellion group of churches.
He was the kind of priest who loitered with intent, provoking all kinds of answers to his question, “How are
you dear boy?” You knew you could entrust him with
your answers as well. He would listen, he would encourage, and he would not trample all over your spiritual and
emotional flowers.
Maybe as a man with a gift for flowers and gardening he
knew how important it was to treat each person in a
particular way, planting this one there, watering this one
more, supporting another. It reminds me of the passage
from Isaiah speaking about the Lord’s anointed, “a
bruised reed he will not break”.
Michael loved music; it was a fundamental part of his
priesthood and being. When I first wrote those last lines
they suddenly appeared in capitals without any help from
me! Was that Michael prompting something? Just like he
supported the St Endellion Music Festival?
As he once said about his picture of heaven, “A heavenly
choir perpetually singing. Heaven must have a choir and
it is perfect” But he was no pious escapee quite the reverse. Yes he prayed profoundly and yes too he could
crack a good joke. He was earthed like any good lightening conductor, firmly attached to the spire and to the
ground, linking the heavens to the soil.
When he retired he came to worship here, serve as a
chaplain, assisted in mentoring new chaplains (I knew I
could always trust him to do this. Clergy on placement
here would say how much they enjoyed working with
him). So many of you stewards, chaplains, welcomers,
Cathedral guides say the same- and how you miss him as
part of your team.
Fortunately for us at Truro he agreed to become a
priest vicar. He loved singing here and adored the choir.
He would wear his prebend’s furry hood for Evensong.
The choirboys soon had a nickname for him, Canon
Road Kill.
8
We heard it before Michael did and we were a bit reticent to tell him. We needn’t have worried; he found it
very funny and then began to use it to describe himself!
Michael was a priest to his fingertips. This also meant the
events of his life would influence, mould his prayer and
priesthood, as a potter moulds a pot. To be a lightening
conductor for heaven means bearing much of the charge
as it is earthed. To earth heaven as a priest he also did it
through the prayer of his heart mind and body in desolation and doubt as well as joy. We all know he had a totally unexpected bout of depression and this would
cause him great questioning. Yet out of this thunderbolt
by safely allowing it to earth he gained insights about
himself which without words affected for good his own
prayer and care for others.
Then when Parkinson’s was diagnosed, yes it shocked
him, but somehow by the grace of God he used it, lived
with it. He knew his hand was shaking and he would do
two things, he would make a joke, and he would also
either hide it or hold it when taking services so as not to
distract people worshipping. Yes Michael brought these
things to earth in himself. He was properly so heavenly
minded to be earthly good as a lover of the soil, the soil
of human beings, the soil of the garden.
Canon Road Kill, Prebendary Michael Bartlett we are
very grateful to you that because of your love for Christ
you became not a distraction but a lightening conductor
of our faith so that we could see in trouble and joy that
faith earthed in your particular life.
We the church are also grateful to your family who have
made so many sacrifices for you to be able to minister to
us, to be what you wanted to be, to care in the way you
wanted to care.
Now as Fr Harry Williams said, “Laughter is the language
of heaven”. Well Michael you are ready for it, don’t rest
in peace, but rest with that big rugby frame of yours
chuckling with the angels.
May this vision of St Brigid be your reality now.
I would like to have the men of Heaven in my own house:
With vats of good cheer laid out for them.
I would like to have the three Marys, their fame is so great.
I would like people from every corner of Heaven.
I would like them to be cheerful in their drinking,
I would like to have Jesus too here amongst them.
I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings,
I would like to be watching Heaven's family, drinking it through
all eternity.
Attributed to St. Brigid
Risen Christ,
you made the hearts of your disciples burn
as you walked with them along the road.
We ask that you so inspire us with the fire of your love
that we may joyfully walk the path of life with you
and all those who are encouraged to seek you.
Your face Lord, do we seek:
our God for ever and ever.
Amen
Victoria Field, former artist in residence, reports on the further evolution
of her latest play Benson.
A couple of years ago I moved from Cornwall to
Canterbury to be nearer my relatives. I grew up in
East Kent but haven’t lived here since leaving
school over three decades ago. Inevitably, I began
worshipping regularly at Canterbury Cathedral
where Archbishop Edward White Benson lies in a
magnificent tomb in St Augustine’s Chapel under
the North West Tower. It seems I’m destined to
follow him around – he died suddenly of a heart
attack in 1896 in Hawarden Church (on his knees,
saying confession during the Sunday Service) in
North Wales
– I lived for a
while not far
away in
Chester during the
1980s.
Creative
writing is a
Six of seven members of the cast of Benson in
Canterbury: rear, l-r, Dominic Power (Benson), way of conEmily Husk (Eve), Emma Spurgin-Hussey (Mrs
necting the
Bassett), front, l-r, T.J. Holmes (Mason), Ben
inner life with
Esdale (Martin) and Kate Lamerton
(Mary). They are posing with a newly-unveiled the outer
statue of Dave Lee, comedian and pantomime
world. On
dame.
the surface,
my life couldn’t be more different from that of a
Victorian Bishop, but many elements of his biography spoke to my own concerns. These include the
role of fathers - human and divine, relationships including friendships, marriage and love affairs,
power - within families, society and the church,
and the drive to create – in Benson’s case the
magnificence of Truro Cathedral. His faith was
severely tested by the death of his eldest son, and
in my work as a poetry therapist, finding ways in
which we can adjust to loss is a perennial task.
Poems are not capacious enough for so many
themes, so I had to write a play. I began a couple
of scenes in 2008 when I was an Associate Artist
at Hall for Cornwall, then shelved them until a
Hawthornden Fellowship gave me time to complete a first draft in 2012, and then gave it an outing in Truro last February. A play is a bit like a
machine with many moving parts and the version
that was performed in the Chapter House was
definitely creaky in places! The warm feedback,
though, gave me encouragement to continue
working on the piece. It was clear that the issues
in the drama resonated with the audience.
Canterbury is blessed with a new state-of-the-art
theatre, and a vibrant New Writing programme.
The Marlowe Theatre and Canterbury Cathedral
jointly dominate the city’s skyline. With funding
from Arts Council England, I had an opportunity to
work on the script with a dramaturg and to present Benson again as a work in progress this May.
The cast is smaller (we said goodbye to John
Loughborough Pearson and Arthur Benson), there
is more fiction, more tension, and a happier ending. I was delighted four Cornish actors came to
perform.
Canterbury, and especially its Festival, has a long
tradition of cathedral drama – T.S.Eliot’s Murder in
the Cathedral was first staged here in 1935 and
writers from Dorothy L. Sayers, to John Masefield
to Laurie Lee have written for the Canterbury Festival. Earlier this year, Christopher Marlowe’s A
Massacre at Paris was performed in the cathedral
crypt, right next to the Huguenot Chapel which
was given by Elizabeth I to refugees fleeing persecution, and still hosts a weekly service in French.
It was a memorable experience to see the play in
that setting.
As part of last month’s presentation, we also held
a fascinating symposium on the Sacred and Stage,
at which Professors Ken Pickering and Paul Allain
and scholar, Jason Burg, talked about the relationship between theatre and cathedrals.
My hope is that Benson will eventually make it to a
full production. Meanwhile, though, the process of
developing the play has given me new and deeper
respect for him and his achievements. And my
love of cathedrals continues to grow. I’m always
delighted to be in touch with anyone with similar
interests.
Victoria Field was writer-in-residence at Truro Cathedral in 2006. Her latest poetry collection is The Lost
Boys (2013, Waterloo Press). She blogs at
www.poetrytherapynews.com
9
From Christopher Gray, Director of Music
Summer Concert
The Cathedral Choir’s summer concert on Saturday 21st at 5.00pm (note start time) which will
take the audience on an involved journey. The
first half looks at World War I from different perspectives: three Rupert Brooke poems are set in
Alan Gray’s mini song cycle 1914. The songs capture the spirit of adventure at the start of the
War, when people were grateful for the opportunity to serve their country. The famous Binyon
poem For the fallen was penned in North Cornwall and dates from around the same time as the
Brooke. It puts across the bravery and nobleness
of the young men who fell “with their faces to
the foe” and it includes the famous stanza “We
shall grow not old as they that are left grow old”.
Hubert Parry was too old to fight, but he never
came to terms with losing so many of his pupils
from his time as head of the Royal College of
Music. His anthem “My soul, there is a country far
beyond the stars” is perhaps a more philosophi-
10
cal attempt to come to terms with the war between his
beloved homeland and the country of his musical idols.
Contemporary composer Francis Pott has no connection
with Truro but was so moved by the death of former
Truro Cathedral Chorister, Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid,
killed whilst defusing a bomb in Afghanistan in 2009, that
he set a World War I poem called “Lament” by Wilfrid
Wilson Gibson. This hauntingly beautiful piece has a special resonance here and is also included in the programme.
The second half will feature a complete performance of
the dazzling Missa Brevis by Hungarian composer Zoltán
Kodály, composed during World War II. The ecstasy in
the music comes partly from the exceptionally high writing for all voices, not least the boy trebles who have to
ascend to a top C twice.
Tickets for the summer concert (21st June) are available for
TCM members from Lindy Skitch at the reduced price of
£10 (students £5, under-18s free)
with reserved priority seating.
Please concert her on 01872 245010 or
[email protected] or here at the Cathedral Office
(14 St Mary’s St, Truro, TR1 2AF) to book.
Otherwise Tickets are available from Hall For
Cornwall Box Office, 01872 262466,
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk, or on the door
A post-concert supper will be served by the Cathedral
Restaurant after the Concert (see menu below)
End of year service
We finish our academic year on Sunday 13th July.
Please do join us for Evensong at 4.00pm when
our leaving boys and Choral Scholars will receive
their formal valediction.
Festival on Nine Lessons and Carols
I have the very exciting news that our ‘Festival of
Nine Lessons and Carols’ on 23rd December this
year is going to be recorded live (visual and audio) for release as a DVD. You might like to join
us to be part of this very special project which
will capture and preserve one of our most beautiful traditions. Alternatively, if you would rather
not have the (inevitable but hopefully small) intrusion of cameras and microphones, you may
wish to plan to come to the same service on 24 th
December instead this year.
Latest Recording for our new CD
The Cathedral Choir has just recorded its latest
CD. The music charts a journey through World
War I and includes all six of Parry’s Songs of
Farewell (1915-18), Alan Gray’s mini song cycle
1914 (1915), the Short Requiem by Walford Davies (1915), Stanford’s anthem For lo, I raise up
(1914) and Vaughan Williams’ masterpiece Lord,
thou has been our refuge (1921). The sessions
were wonderful, and there is something magical
about the connection the Choir has with this music. I hope it will come over on the recorded
sound – if anyone can capture it, it’s Regent Records! The CD is scheduled for release in October/November.
JOIN TRURO CATHEDRAL MUSIC TODAY
LUTHERAN VESPERS
The second special event in June is a reconstruction of
Lutheran Vespers from Bach’s time at St Thomas’s
Church in Leipzig. This takes place on Sunday 29 th
June at 5.00pm (note start time). As it is a service,
there is no charge for admission (though, as ever,
contributions to the collection will help to offset the
considerable costs involved). The music will include
two cantatas by Bach, BWV117 and BWV192. The second of these is based on the hymn tune “Nun danket
alle Gott” (“Now thank we all our God”) which we still
use today. The
Vespers reconstruction will be
a loose one,
partly because
there is surprisingly
little
known
about
the exact format
of this service,
for which Bach
composed
so
many cantatas,
and partly because we have
chosen to make
various
decisions that suit
our own needs
(there is no historical justification, for instance, in having two different cantatas in the same service, as we
are doing). We will sing the cantatas in their original
German language, but most of the rest of the service
will be in English, with the congregation joining in
where possible. The Magnificat will be chanted by the
choir, the Creed will be sung, various organ chorale
preludes by Bach will be played in their proper contexts, and we will sing the anthem “Jauchzet dem Herren” by Schütz.
The Cathedral Choir will be joined by an orchestra
which will include some of Cornwall’s top instrumentalists. All clergy, congregation and musicians will be
in the Nave, where the acoustic is best for this kind of
music.
PICK UP A LEAFLET IN THE
CATHEDRAL TODAY
Please don’t miss what I hope will be a powerful act of
worship and a fascinating piece of historical reenactment.
11
Christopher Gray, Director of Muisc, looks
forward to some music commemorations
The Dean of Truro, The Very Rev’d Roger Bush,
outlines Truro Cathedral’s commemoration of
World War One.
August 4th this year sees the 100th anniversary of
the outbreak of the First World War. Those who
went to war in that hot summer had no idea, of
course, just what a cataclysmic event it would
turn out to be. Over the next four years there
will be many commemorative events marking significant dates and battles, but this November,
Truro Cathedral will be holding a series of talks,
displays and concerts that focus on many aspects
of the War and its significance: this series will include involving schools in telling the story of the
War from local standpoints, the showing of films
which have a First World War theme, the recitation of War poetry, and lectures by people with
distinguished careers in theology, history and
public affairs. We hope to show that the War had
many faces, and that engagement with the War is
something that still resonates with many people
today. I hope you will find something of interest
in what follows. The War did leave lasting consequences, and we hope that what the Cathedral is
offering will explore something of the horror, the
courage and the determination of people not to
be overcome by despair that the War consistently evokes in our imagination. More information in next Newsletter.
12
The Cathedral will soon be unveiling major plans for a
festival to commemorate and reflect on the outbreak
of World War One, 100 hundred years ago.
We are calling the week-long commemoration
‘Cornwall Remembers’ and it will run from Monday 3rd
to Sunday 9th November and will include two performances of Benjamin Britten’s devastating War Requiem (at 7.30pm on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th). The
forces for the War Requiem are vast, and we will bring
together an orchestra of more than 80 players, as well
as Three Spires Singers, Truro Cathedral Choir and
three internationally-renowned soloists, including
Mark Padmore.
In the piece Britten sets poems by Wilfred Owen
which are interspersed with words from the Requiem
mass. Tickets are available from the Hall for Cornwall
(01872 262466) or www.hallforcornwall.org.uk
The rest of the week will include daily Evensongs
which will reflect on aspects of the War and a lecturerecital on Ivor Gurney and his music. Do keep a look
out for more information in the coming months.
Highlights from the programme include:
LECTURES
A stellar line up with a range of speakers including a politician, a historian and a couple
of theologians. Heading the list is Michael
Portillo former Defence Secretary and now
media star. Dr Catriona Pennell is a historian
based at Exeter University who is interested
in the social and cultural impact of war, especially how it impinges on experience and
memory. Professor John Wolfe is the Open
University’s Professor of Religious History.
His lecture will look at the interface between
‘religion’ and ‘security’ alongside new research on ideas of martyrdom and sacrificial
death. Dr Paul S. Fiddes has the title of Professor of Systematic Theology in the University of Oxford,
FILMS
We are going to show three films in the
cathedral:
 All Quiet on the Western Front (P.G.)
 Gallipoli Film (P.G.)
 Regeneration Film (cert 15)
EXHIBITIONS
During 1-15 August Phil Whiting’s ‘Opening
the Gates of Hell’ (see page 11) will explore
where the idea of Total War took us in the
20th C and is followed in November by Roy
Ray’s ‘No Man’s Land’.
OTHER MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS
These include Bach’s B Minor mass performed by the St Endellion Festival Orchestra
and Chorus on the actual 100th anniversary of
the outbreak of the First World War, 4th August. The Royal British Legion are commemorating the anniversary on the 6th September
with a concert called ‘Honour over Glory’ featuring HMS Drake Royal Naval Volunteer
Band, Caroline Childe (soprano), Cameron
Rolls (tenor) and the Three Belles. A lecture /
recital featuring the work of Ivor Guerney
takes place on 5th November.
Cornwall’s Schools Remember:
Personal stories and reflections on WW1
Kirsten Gordon, Education Officer, looks
forward to an exciting collaboration
From the end of July until November this year there
will be an exhibition of Secondary School students’
work on display in the Cathedral. This work has been
produced by students from a number of Cornish
Secondary Schools, and is the result of their
investigations into their own family and local area
history.
Schools were approached in the Summer of 2013 and
invited to take part in the Cathedral’s 2014 WW1
commemorative activities. The aim right from the
beginning was to try to uncover some of the personal
stories of those who fought in the First World War.
We hoped that asking students to research these
stories would encourage them to reflect on the real
human cost of war, as it can sometimes all too easily
be thought of in terms of numbers and statistics,
rather than the individual lives interrupted and lost.
Above all, we do not want the experience and stories
that are uncovered to be forgotten once this
particular exhibition is over. So, students are being
given the opportunity to record their observations as
video clips, which can be added to a collection of
films on a ‘Cornwall Remembers’ website. The
collection will include a series of short films showing
students relating their discoveries and reactions, even
following some students as they attempt to find the
final resting places of relatives lost in the Great War.
Some of these films will be available to view in the
Cathedral alongside the main exhibition.
Students from the University of Exeter’s Cornwall
Campus have also been following the stories of
soldiers - some named on the Cathedral’s Roll of
Honour – and their research will be incorporated into
this project as an exhibition piece, a short film for our
collection, and an online exhibition.
We hope that encouraging Cornwall’s young people
to share their reflections in this way further highlights
the importance of continuing to commemorate and
remember those who fought and fell, and who are no
longer here to speak with their own voices.
13
Life and times of an
Ordinand!
Catching up with Kirsten Norfolk,
former Worship Administrator and
now trainee Ordinand
I look out at the sea of expectant faces. My hands
are shaking, and my cassock-alb suddenly feels very
tight; I take a deep breath…it is actually happening, I
am stood in a pulpit about to deliver my first ever
sermon!
There have been many moments like this at Theological College; moments that have challenged me,
forcing me to push myself further and further outside
my comfort zone. As we approach Pentecost, I reflect on the power of the Holy Spirit, how I have
been given the strength and courage to do things that
a couple of years I never
thought possible; that
every day I am being
‘sent out’ to experience
something new. This is
what makes Theological
College so exciting;
every week is different.
One Friday I remember
being in chapel for
7.00am, preparing to
participate in a 7.30am
Solemn Eucharist; by
6.00pm that same evening, I was in the centre
of Oxford feeding the
homeless. Last week I
Kirsten Norfolk enjoying the Oxfordshire countryside
was in my wellies stood
in the middle of a field
talking to farmers as part of a rural ministry course;
next month I will be spending four weeks in Camberwell South East London, experiencing inner city ministry, which will include taking a group of teenagers
to a theme park (prayers please!) There is never a
dull moment!
“Holy Hogwarts” otherwise known as Ripon College
Cuddesdon, is a wonderful community, situated on
top of a hill in the picturesque village of Cuddesdon
in Oxfordshire. The College has a beautiful new
chapel, which we worship in every morning and each
evening we head down to the Parish Church for Evening Prayer. In many ways, it feels like I have stepped
back in time; communal living, tea and cake at 4.00pm
and every time I hear a bell ringing, I know I should
be eating or praying! However, despite its traditional
appearance, the College is a vibrant and growing
14
The new Chapel at Ripon College Cuddesdon
community, with a mix of worship styles from BCP
Evensong to a worship band led Creative Eucharist.
My first year at Cuddesdon has been a roller
coaster of emotions and experiences and I know
there is plenty more to come! As we celebrate
Pentecost, it is a time to reflect on how the Holy
Spirit has moved and is moving in our lives and
how as Disciples, we respond to being ‘sent out’
to proclaim the Gospel afresh.
Truro Cathedral Fundraising
Calendar 2015 NOW ON SALE
Visit the Cathedral Shop for all your gifts and presents. Great range of Wedding and Christening
cards and presents.
Latest addition to our sales line are these poppy
inspired cups, mugs, teapots and jewellery.
Sunday 13 July
Sunday 17 August
Sunday 14 September
15
Helping the really
poor for £75
There is a box in St. Mary’s Aisle marked
“Stamps”, which was made by Mr Richard
Hichens when Polwhele House School collected
them for Albania. Now sometimes stamps are
found inside or may have been left at the Cathedral Office on weekdays. What happens to them?
For twelve years stamps raised funds for Friends
of Albania. They included one abandoned collection, which funded the renovation of a mountain
village health clinic. FoA closed in 2011. Now the
stamp proceeds and associated donations go to
Albania Community Assist, a charity registered in
Tirana under the umbrella of International Community Assist in Wiltshire. Our contribution is
earmarked for a specific project. This provides
locally made treadle sewing machines to women
living at a level probably incomprehensible to
most British people. Albania has a very skeleton
‘benefit’ system and limited ‘free’ health care for
which bribes are often demanded. If destitute
widows, victims of crime or abandoned wives
need to feed their family there are no Food
Banks. They try the town refuse tip or dustbins. I
have personally witnessed this activity.
£300 from the 2013 proceeds of stamps, worldwide plus some small donations were sent to the
ACA office. Four women have now received their
machines and training so they can earn a livelihood.
Bukurije lives Lezha, in a
town north of Tirana
known for the burial site
of Albania’s National
Hero, Skanderbeg who
resisted the Ottoman invasion 400 years ago. Her
parents both died in 2012,
her husband in 2013,
leaving her with an eight-
16
month old baby girl and no income. She was
distraught. ACA have now provided her with
one of our machines and a place on a free local training course. . She can become either a
factory out-worker or make saleable articles.
Valentina and Dashuri live in a rural area in
the district of Librazhd (Librash). They are under police protection owing to aggressive exhusbands. They have young children and can
only work as part-time cleaners for often as
little as 50p an hour. ACA has helped them
overcome depression and assisted with debt
reduction. Now they each have a sewing machine and are receiving instruction.
Aferdita is a Roma woman living in Kuçova
(Koochova) an industrial town in Central Albania. Her husband is disabled and confined to a
wheelchair. She has several children and her
old mother-in-law lives in. Until she met ACA
she was a street beggar or scavenged drink
cans on rubbish dumps (worth 1p each) to buy
food. She was among the best students on an
ACA training course and now has her own machine, which she uses to make clothes for selling on a street stall.
These ladies and others we hope to help in
future are not exceptional in Albania but represent a large section of the population whose
lives are very different from some of the British
‘faux’ poor, equipped with mobile phones,
televisions, alcohol, tobacco and indoor sanitation.
Stamps (with some exclusions) and donations
continue to be welcome. Despite my poor
health the project will continue. After all we
have the wonderful NHS.
Contact details:
Primrose Peacock
[email protected]
01872 276362
Gary Wyatt from Koha Arcitects takes a
closer look at the plans for the restoration
of the Old Cathedral School.
The Old Cathedral School is being restored and refurbished to provide new creative arts facilities for
cathedral and community use.
The design has been granted full planning and listed
building consent and ecclesiastical approvals. Trial
repairs to the external fabric including leaded-light
windows and stonework are due to start on site
very soon. The next stage will be completing the
working drawings, making a Building Regulations application and then tendering the main contract.
Work is due to begin this summer.
A Glass screen in the south-west archway to provide a light, welcoming entry area with an improved connection to the Cathedral Green.
Work will be completed to restore he original
School Hall to become a Concert Hall / multipurpose space.
A double height space in the entry area overlooked by a glazed bay window in the library.
Conference and Business suites at ground floor
level.
An Internet library at first floor and a series of
music practice spaces/ art studios available for
the public.
The refurbishment of the second floor (originally
the Laboratory) for music / art with a glazed roof
light over (as per the original Pearson Design).
17
Untrashed Cornwall
– the rubbish super group!
Trashed film to be shown in Cathedral
on 6th June
A local group has recently been formed to try
to address the growing problem of waste in
Cornwall. Motivated to take action after having viewed the documentary Trashed, narrated
and directed by award winning actor, Jeremy
Irons, a group of concerned individuals met
together to take action against the rising tide
of unrecyclable and potentially toxic waste.
The group, Untrashed Cornwall, was so
moved by the
documentary
which highlights the issues associated
with toxins
leaching out
from rubbish
dumps, carcinogens in the
emissions from
incinerators
and the soupy
mush of plastics found in deep oceans that they decided to
try to address the problem in Cornwall. Early
action has seen members experiment in trying
to shop for groceries with minimum packaging
and preparing two meals per week consisting
solely of local produce. The aim is to involve
local retailers in Untrashed Cornwall, in particular local supermarkets, and discuss the issues associated with plastic packaging to see
how pressure can be put on manufacturers to
stop using non-recyclable products. Other
planned activities include a litter pick and talks
to further understand the various types of
plastics and how to avoid the most damaging
ones.
18
The group has plans for more showings of
Trashed which takes the viewer on a journey
around the world, from a beach in Lebanon
through the waters of the Ciliwung River in
Indonesia, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
and an incinerator in Iceland – all of which
have contributed to health problems of the
local, and not so local population. Each year,
we now throw away fifty-eight billion disposable cups, billions of plastic bags, 200 billion
litres of water bottles, billions of tons of
household waste, toxic waste and e-waste –
this is not a problem that we can continue to
ignore or hope someone else will sort out. It is
affecting our health, that of our children and
the plants and animals we rely on for food.
Trashed will
be showing
at the Cathedral on
6th June at
7pm and at
the Falmouth Poly
on 19th June.
Tickets are
priced at
£2.00 for the
Cathedral
and £4.00 at
the Poly,
with a £1
donation to
the Poly refurbishment fund. Previous showings have been a sell-out, so early purchase of
tickets is essential – from the Cathedral Office,
14 St Mary’s Street or email [email protected] for further information.
‘We hope the film will demonstrate that by
changing the way we live our lives, we can
contribute to our own survival and well-being
and ultimately that of the planet.’ Jeremy Irons
There is a Caption Competition on the Untrashed Cornwall Facebook page,
The best caption posted, under the photo wins
£25 cash to spend on a plastic free shopping
trip with an Untrashed Cornwall Steering
Group Member, closing date June 5th, winner
announced at Cathedral Film night June 6th.
Carolyn Hendra reports on a recent meeting
she and Charles Butchart attended on behalf
of the cathedral.
Back in March, the Chapter of Truro Cathedral received an invitation from to be part of what was
described as an exciting national movement to
improve the lives of people living with dementia
and their carers - the aim being to work towards
making Truro a Dementia Friendly City.
Charles Butchart and I, as members of the Cathedral pastoral care team, were asked if we would
represent the Cathedral at the launch event. We
were delighted to accept this invitation as we realise only too clearly the problems that arise when
dementia begins to change lives for individuals
and their families.
Dementia is one of the biggest problems we have
in our lives today – there are now more people
living with dementia than with cancer. Dementia
leads to isolation and loneliness. We all forget
things – the obvious one of going upstairs to get
something and then having no idea why we came
up there. Forgetting someone’s name or where
we put the car-key. I know that if I don’t put
something down in my diary, I will never remember it. If I forget where I put my diary – well, you
get the picture!
Dementia is slightly more than being forgetful.
Loss of memory becomes more of a problem
when there is no-one around to remind us or tell
us what day it is and where we are supposed to
be or what we are supposed to be doing.
Dementia – a scary word. But it wouldn’t be if we
understood more about it. It is the Alzheimer’s
Society Initiative to encourage us all to learn more
about it and to become a Dementia Friend.
We watched a very moving video showing Dr Jennifer Bute, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, explain how she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s three years ago and has devoted her
time since then, to altering how people view dementia. She passionately believes that more can
be done to improve the future for people living
with dementia.
Did you know that singing is good for the brain?
Well Charles and I joined in singing action songs
showing only too clearly that our co-ordination
was not that brilliant, though we remembered the
words of the nursery rhymes exceedingly well.
Mary Jones is the leader for Truro Alzheimer’s
‘Singing for the Brain’, holding sessions in Truro
for those who live with dementia, along with their
carers. She proved to us that such sessions bring
about a lot of laughter and enable those who take
part to reminisce and lose their inhibitions.
The keynote speaker was Ian Sherriff, the academic lead for dementia at Plymouth University
and the chair of the Prime Minister’s Rural Dementia Friendly Group. He blinded us with facts
and figures.
Charles and I came away realising that people living with dementia have so much to offer – we
should not be afraid to talk to them and include
them in every way we can. They need our support
and friendship to keep them from giving up those
things that we take for-granted.
We reported back to the pastoral care group and
shared what we had heard. The Chapter are now
considering how we as a Cathedral community
can move this forward. Perhaps we can all start by
raising our own awareness, befriending and supporting those whom we know, are struggling a
little with their memory!
More information about Truro Dementia Action Alliance can be found at::
 www.dementiaaction.org.uk
 Email: [email protected]
 City Hall Foyer
The Alzheimer's Society have a very informative website (www.alzheimers.org.uk) with
lots of information and articles
The local Cornwall office can be contacted by
phone on 01872 277963 or by email :
[email protected]
19
www.friendsoftrurocathedral.org.uk
REGULAR EVENTS
COFFEE MORNINGS – Held on the second
Wednesday of the month in the Pearson Room
(entrance opposite the gates to the Cathedral
Car Park) from 10 -12. We serve tea and coffee
with tasty biscuits, there is a Bring and Buy Stall, a
Bookstall and a Raffle. A great opportunity to
meet up with old friends or make new ones. Pop
in and see for yourselves. Coming dates
Wednesday 11th June
Wednesday 9th July
Wednesday 13 August
EVENTS 2014
ANNUAL BOAT TRIP
TUESDAY 1ST JULY
This popular event is happening again, leaving
Truro boat quay at 6.30pm, with hot pasties to
keep us going as we head down-river. There is a
bar on board, and time at St Mawes for further
refreshments, hot or cold, before we had back to
Truro to arrive at about 10pm. If you haven’t
tried this trip before, this is the year! Everyone
has a great time, even if the weather is its usual
risky self – bring a scarf and something
waterproof, and look forward to the magical view
of the floodlit cathedral, as we glide back up the
estuary. Price £15.
SUMMER TEAS – SATURDAY 14 JUNE
and SATURDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
Roberta and Mark Evans have kindly invited us to
tea on two afternoons this summer, from 35pm, at £5 per head. Come either day (or
both), and enjoy relaxing in their beautiful garden,
with its stunning view over the city. There will
probably be lots of people there that you know,
20
and if not, you will make new friends. Thank you
Roberta and Mark, and we are full of hope that
the sun will shine!
TRIP TO THE MINACK THEATRE –
TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER
We are off to the matinee performance of
Charles Dickens’ GREAT EXPECTATIONS,
performed by Theatre in the Square. We will
travel by car, leaving the Cathedral car park at
11.00am, to give you time for a picnic or lunch
in the Minack cafe, before the performance at
2pm. As always, we shall be very grateful for
offers of spaces in your car; and if you need
transport, we will hope to find a space for you.
Price £12.
VERY IMPORTANT –
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A FRIEND
TO COME TO THESE EVENTS. WE
HOPE THAT YOU MIGHT WISH TO
JOIN US AS A RESULT OF ENJOYING
YOURSELF SO MUCH!
HOW TO CONTACT US
THE FRIENDS’ OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER
IS 01872 274986
There is a 24 hour answering machine
THE FRIENDS’ OFFICE IS AT 21 OLD BRIDGE
STREET (opposite the entrance to the Cathedral
Car Park)
The Office is open on Wednesday (10am to 12 noon)
For all enquiries please either call at the Office
ENQUIRIES on Wednesday between 10am and 12 noon or
telephone 01872 274986
TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED BY:1.
Calling at the Friends Office (see details above)
2.
By telephoning the Friends’ Office and leaving your
contact number.
3.
By completing a Ticket Request Form available on the
Friends’ Board in the North Transept.
4.
By email – [email protected]
Cathedral & St Mary’s
Mothers’ Union
Pam Macleod, Branch Leader looks forward to a busy summer
We are about to hold our first evening meeting
and are hoping that we can attract some of the
younger mums who form part of the wider Cathedral community. We’re meeting in Vertigo Café
Bar which is a bit different from our usual meeting
venue in the Pearson Room and should be an attraction in itself, being lively and unconventional.
Will we get 3 new people, or 30? We’ll let you
know.
STOP PRESS: It was a great meeting. 18 people altogether of which 5 were new to
Mothers’ Union. There was a very friendly relaxed
atmosphere, everyone talking to each other, making new friends and finding out what we’re about.
The overall response was that we need to have
evening meetings more often – perhaps twice a
year – and that we should put as much effort as
possible into attracting new people to come along.
Everyone spoke highly of the venue and the welcome we received from the staff; the tasty nibbles
went very well with glasses of wine or soft drinks
and the room we used was cheerful and comfortable. We would certainly go there again.
The weather is finally getting a bit warmer and less
windy and accordingly, our next meeting is our
annual outing on Thursday June19th when we’re
going down to Glendurgan, close to the Helford.
Nearly midsummer by then so it should be a lovely
day, or is that tempting fate? After visiting the gardens we are going back to Mawnan Smith to have
tea with their Mothers’ Union branch which is led
by Mary Cockeram, our Archdeaconry Representative. They came and had a tour of the Cathedral
and then tea with us, 2 years ago, so we are returning the compliment and it should be fun.
In July we have another Quiet Afternoon up at Epiphany House, this year led by Canon Lynda Barley.
We’ve done this for several years now and are usually
able to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of both House
and garden. Following a reflective couple of hours we
have a Communion Service in the Chapel – a lovely
experience – then finish off with a cup of tea together. These Quiet Afternoons give us a bit of
breathing space in the midst of busy schedules, a
peaceful interlude in which to gather our thoughts
and focus our minds on what is really important.
They are immensely valuable.
August is Family Fun Day in the Cathedral, of which
more in the next newsletter. We are already gearing
up for it. If you haven’t experienced this in previous
years you have missed a treat. Come along on August 21st and find out what it is all about.
We welcome newcomers at any of our meetings so
do please contact us if you’re interested in joining us.
We would be delighted to hear from you.
Finally, with sadness, we record the recent deaths of
three of our members, Margaret Hodgson, Deirdre
Dare and Jean Wright. We thank them for the
warmth of their friendship, their smiling faces and
their clear Christian faith. We miss you all.
NEXT MEETING:
Thursday 19th June at 2pm
Visit to Glendurgan Gardens and Tea
with Mawnan Smith MU
Contact Pam MacLeod, Branch Leader
(01872 272335) for details
All welcome
21
Other June Concerts
Verdi’s Requiem
Femmes Vocales Vienna
Concert
Conducted by Veronika Schmid
performed by Truro Choral Society
Saturday 7th June at 7.30pm
Originally conceived by Verdi to be a collaborative work with
other Italian composers after Rossini’s
death in 1868, the Requiem was finally
composed by Verdi alone following the
death of the Italian writer and humanist
Alessandro Manzoni. With the choir now
numbering almost 170, the audience will
be effortlessly taken through the terrifying Dies Irae and joyful Sanctus in a
wonderful celebration of Verdi’s great
work. Soloists include Claire Seaton
(soprano), Susanna Spicer (mezzo-soprano), Mark Chaundy
(tenor) and Adam Marsden (bass).
Tickets from the Hall For Cornwall Box Office: 01872 262466
or www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
Handel’s Messiah (as orchestrated by
Mozart)
performed by St Mary’s Singers and Orchestra
Monday 30th June 2014 - 1pm
‘Femmes Vocales Vienna’ hails from Vienna University
which has a thriving music department with many performing groups. This includes two orchestras and
eight choirs, consisting of 700 singers made up of
both students and alumni. The University has over
7,000 senior students, mainly women, who see retirement as an opportunity to widen their interests and
knowledge. As a result there are a large number of
singers making up the two senior women’s choruses
who have joined together for a concert tour of Cornwall this June.
In addition to Austria’s strong tradition of mixed choir
and men’s choir repertoire, many famous composers
wrote music for women’s voices which is rarely sung
today. The University’s women’s choirs were thus
formed in 1996 to focus on this much forgotten music.
Saturday 14th June at 7.30pm
In the 50 years that separated the first performance of Handel's Messiah and Mozart's transcription of it, an enormous
change had occurred both in musical style and the use of
different instruments. Mozart retained Handel's gorgeous
melodies, but added parts for clarinets, horns, flutes, oboes,
trombones and bassoons. He cut two arias and one chorus
and re-assigned soloists to different parts, also changed the
tempi and harmonic structure of certain arias. The resulting
oratorio is 30 minutes shorter than the original and excitingly
different. Come and hear it and see what you think of it. Tickets from the Hall For Cornwall Box Office: 01872 262466 or
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
Handel’s Israel in Egypt
performed by the Three Spires Singers and
Orchestra
th
Saturday 5 July at 7.30pm
Christopher Gray, Three Spires Director of Music, writes,
“Handel’s Israel in Egypt is perhaps most famous for its vari-
ous plagues – including flies, locusts, and frogs – all perfect
excuses for some wonderful choral and orchestral special
effects. As well as wanting to share the sheer rumbustious
invention in Handel’s amazing musical response to the colourful text, one of the reasons I’ve chosen this particular
work is that there is a great deal of virtuosic writing to challenge and delight the choir, who will be joined by a team of
soloists, all specialists in this kind of music.”
Tickets from the Hall For Cornwall Box Office: 01872 262466
or www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
22
The choir’s repertoire is chosen to suit the more mature voice with its warm and rich sound. This is especially true in the alto sections, producing an effect
which is difficult to obtain with younger voices. The
choir sings a cappella repertoire in three or four parts,
ranging from Renaissance to Modern times in addition
to symphonic repertoire. There is also a strong emphasis on the performance of traditional Austrian folk
music and operettas.
The choir will perform a selection of music including
sacred works by Saint-Saens, Delibes and Mendelssohn and traditional Austrian folksongs and music
from the Viennese Operettas.
Thirty-five Cornish Quilting Groups and individuals are busy stitching away hoping to complete
their designs for an exhibition starting on 30
June.
The exhibition which is called ‘Saints of Cornish
Churches’ will run for two weeks in the cathedral
from 30 June to 14 July.
The original idea
sprang from an
avid quilter, Mary
Miller, who had a
number of meetings with cathedral staff to help
identify a suitable theme for
the exhibition.
Eventually the
theme of Cornish
Saints emerged
and the work
could begin. Together with
A sample of what will be on show at the
quilting friends
Quilters exhibition in July
Helen Edmond,
Jo Morgan and Di Wells news was spread among
the quilting community in Cornwall and an overwhelmingly positive response meant that the project could go ahead. Information about the size
and display of the quilts and its theme were disseminated and quilters from all over the county
started visiting local churches seeking inspiration
and ideas for their chosen designs.
Mary Miller said, “The design has been probably
one of the biggest headaches for the makers. Research into their chosen Saint sometimes uncovered a myriad of information, imagery and ideas.
For others, there was such a dearth of information
– so that it was difficult to know where to begin!”
Cornish Saints from across the county will be represented in the exhibition and the finishing
stitches are now being applied to more than thirty
colourful quilts that will adorn the cathedral later
this summer.
Exhibition is free but with the opportunity to donate.
Open Monday—Saturday 10-5pm and 12-4pm on
Sundays
The Benedictine Way
A study week in September at Durham Cathedral
and St Chad’s College, Durham
with transport direct by train from Truro.
Enjoy an autumn,
spiritually refreshing break in a beautiful,
ancient university and cathedral city.
A small group from Truro Cathedral will be going
to enjoy the Durham Benedictine tradition of
morning and evening prayer with time in-between
for cathedral tours and exploring the city.
Full board available at St Chad's College opposite
the Cathedral.
Further details were published in the February/March
Cathedral News.
This is a final reminder that places are still available
but booking is advised before the summer!
Booking forms and further information are available
in the Cathedral or from the Cathedral office.
23
Piano Concert
This year Cornwall’s Miracle celebrates 35
years of producing inventive and enjoyable
theatre with a new production of Shakespeare’s
The Tempest, touring this summer.
In true Miracle style, Shakespeare’s text has been respectfully shaken and stirred. Audiences can expect
the unexpected when they take a trip across unchartered waters and find themselves washed up on an
enchanted island. Here they will discover a magical
world filled with sweet air beating with young love,
ringing with old jealousies and the cries of enemies - all
stirred up by a grumpy conjurer…
“Shakespeare wrote plays to entertain people and to
be enjoyed by a wide cross-section of the population,”
says director Bill Scott. “We share those aims completely! The Tempest was his last play: concise, rich in
poetry and packed with comedy every bit as funny as
Father Ted or Faulty Towers.”
Talented collaborators from Miracle’s past and present
are reuniting to guarantee this show will be a musical
and visual treat. Jim Carey has produced an original
live music score for the show and designers Alan and
Jude Munden will create a magical world that can fit
inside a Transit van.
A streamlined cast of six actors will be playing all the
characters - irrespective of gender or species! Two
new performers, Simon Norbury and Lisa Howard,
join miracle regulars Ben Dyson, Cat Lake and Ciaran
Clarke, with the part of Miranda being played by Hannah Stephens, who starts work with the company the
day after her degree course finishes.
Miracle’s outdoor productions have become a ‘must
do’ summer activity with family and friends gathering
their chairs, blankets and picnics and heading off to
enjoy Miracle’s relaxed open air shows staged within
stunning locations.
“The joy of open-air performance is that every night is different and it really is an etiquette-free zone: you can sit
where you want, eat what you want, wear whatever you
like” says Bill “Plus, each setting is transformed as night
falls; the actors can never be sure what to expect and must
be ready to respond to a dramatic moonrise, a sudden
shower or a wild animal trying to get in on the act. For
players and audience this is a genuinely unique and shared
experience.”
Wednesday 30 July at 7.30pm on the Cathedral Green
TICKETS: From Hall for Cornwall, 01872 262466 or
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
24
We are pleased to announce that the Latvian virtuoso
pianist Reinis Zarins will give the next recital on our
new Yamaha concert grand on Saturday July 26th 2014.
Mr Zarins is a national celebrity in Latvia where he performs frequently in solo and concerto recitals, always
broadcast on television or radio. He has twice won the
country’s prestigious Musician of the Year Award (2011
and 2013). His studies began at the age of seven in Latvia, and were completed in Yale University Music
School and the Royal Academy of Music. Mr Zarins is
well known in Europe and the East Coast of the United
States, performing often in The Wigmore Hall, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall and
The Weill Recital Hall in New York’s Carnegie complex.
His firm belief in music as a means of communication
has led to projects with artists and choreographers. He
has championed contemporary Latvian composers. In
this recital, however, Mr Zarins focuses on the classicalromantic repertoire for what promises to be a profoundly memorable evening.
Bach’s electrifying Chaconne for solo violin, in Busoni’s
majestic transcription for piano, sits alongside a handful
of intimate miniatures which Brahms composed in the
last years of his life. In the second part of the evening,
Franz Liszt’s flamboyant arrangement of well-known
Schubert songs such as Der Wanderer, Die Forelle (The
Trout) and Gretchen am Spinnrade will lead into Liszt’s
own legendary Sonata in b minor, described as “arguably
one of the greatest piano works of the 19th century”.
www.reiniszarins.com
25
JUNE
JULY
Sunday 1
4pm
The Mayor of Truro’s Civic Service
Weds 2
Tuesday 3
5.30pm
Solemn First Evensong of Petroc of Cornwall
Weds 4
5.30pm
Solemn Eucharist of Petroc of Cornwall
Thurs 3 5.30pm
Friday 4 1.10pm
Solemn Eucharist of Thomas the Apostle
Cameron Luke (Cheltenham) free lunchtime organ recital
Friday 6
Friday 6
1.10pm
7pm
Sat 5
12-2pm
Messy Table Fun for families and children Free
Sat 5
7.30pm
Saturday 7
Noon-
Rachel Mahon (Truro Cathedral) free lunchtime organ recital
Showing of the award winning environmental film ‘Trashed’ narrated
by Jeremy Irons. Tickets £2 can be bought in advance from the Cathedral Office or on the door.
Messy Table Fun for families and children Until 2pm
Handel’s Israel in Egypt performed by Three Spires Singers and
Orchestra. Written a few years before Messiah this sumptuous
oratorio highlights Handel’s vivacious musical palette. Tickets from
Hall For Cornwall, 01872 262466,
Saturday 7
Saturday 7
5.30pm
7.30pm
First Evening Prayer of Pentecost
Verdi’s Requiem performed by Truro Choral Society Composed 140
years ago in memory Alessandro Manzoni, an Italian poet and novelist
who Verdi greatly admired. Tickets £15 from Hall For Cornwall, 01872
262466, www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
Weds 9
10am
Friends' Coffee Morning in the Pearson Room (10-12 Noon) All
welcome
Fri 11
1.10pm
Mark Swinton (St Mary’s, Warwick) lunchtime organ recital
Sat 12
All day
Truro Carnival
Sunday
13
From noon Sunday Carvery Lunch in the Cathedral Restaurant. Enjoy a one
course (£8.50) or two course (£10.50) delicious meal. Must pre-book
by calling 01872 245011
Sun 13
4pm
Evensong with Valediction of Choristers and Scholars
Sunday
13
8pm
Open to Question- An informal opportunity to reflect on issues of
Faith with Rev Canon Dr Stephen Dawes in the Pearson Room.
Sunday 8
10am
Solemn Eucharist for the Feast of Pentecost
Sunday 8
4pm
Solemn Evensong for the Feast of Pentecost
Sunday 8
8pm
Open to Question- An informal opportunity to reflect on issues of
Faith with Rev Canon Dr Stephen Dawes in the Pearson Room.
Tuesday 10
5.30pm
Solemn First Evensong of Barnabas the Apostle
Weds 11
10am
Weds 11
Friday 13
5.30pm
1.10pm
Friends' Coffee Morning in the Pearson Room (10-12 Noon) All welcome
Solemn Eucharist of Barnabas the Apostle
Robin Jackson and Maureen McAllister (International Organ duo) free
lunchtime organ recital
Saturday 14
7.30pm
5.30pm
Tuesday 10-5pm
15
Solemn First Evensong of Thomas the Apostle
Cornwall’s Schools Remember: Personal stories and reflections on
the First World War A major exhibition seeing the centenary through
the eyes of pupils from schools in Cornwall. Free, 10 – 5pm daily
(Sunday 12-4pm) Until 21 November
Handel's Messiah as orchestrated by Mozart performed by St Mary's
Singers and Orchestra. Rarely heard performance of Mozart's transcription of Handel's Messiah. Tickets from Hall For Cornwall,
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk 01872 262466.
Thurs17 2pm
Mothers’ Union Quiet Day at Epiphany House
Solemn Eucharist for Trinity Sunday
Summer Fun at Truro Cathedral Click here for details
Sunday 15
10am
Fri 18
1.10pm
Carl Jackson (Hampstead Palace) lunchtime organ recital
Sunday 15
Sunday 15
Sat 19
11-2pm
Messy Table Fun for families and children Free
Sat 19
1pm
Four Tunes Saxophone Quartet informal concert, free with collection
Sun 20
11.30am
Fairtrade Table after Morning Eucharist in North Transept
Sunday 15
11.30am Fairtrade Table after Morning Eucharist in North Transept
Noon
Father’s Day Carvery in the Cathedral Restaurant Enjoy a one course
(£8.50) or two course (£10.50) delicious meal to celebrate Father’s
Day. Must pre-book by calling 01872
245011 [email protected]
4pm
Solemn Evensong for Trinity Sunday
Weds 18
5.30pm
Solemn First Evensong of Corpus Christi
Sun 20
Noon
Thursday 19
1pm
Bristol University Madrigal Ensemble informal concert,
Sing and Discover Choir informal lunchtime Concert, free with collection
Thurs 19
2pm
Mothers’ Union outing to Glendurgan Gardens
Mon 21 5.30pm
Solemn First Evensong of Mary Magdalene
Solemn Eucharist of Corpus Christi
Sarah Svendsen (Yale, New Haven, USA) free lunchtime organ recital
Messy Table Fun for families and children until 1.30pm
Tues 22 5.30pm
Solemn Eucharist of Mary Magdalene
Thurs 24 5.30pm
First Evening Prayer of James the Apostle
Friday 25 1.10pm
Jeffrey Makinson (Manchester Cathedral) free lunchtime organ
recital
Fri 25
5.30pm
Solemn Eucharist of James the Apostle
Sat 26
1pm
Cornwall Community Choir informal concert, free with collection
Sat 26
7.30pm
Reinis Zariņš Piano Concert Latvian Musician of the Year Award in
2011 and 2013, Tickets Hall For Cornwall, www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
or 01872 262466 See website for details www.reiniszarins.com
Sun 27
4pm
Solemn First Evensong of Samson, Bishop, Missionary
Thurs19
Friday 20
Saturday 21
Saturday 21
5.30pm
1.10pm
11am –
Sunday 22
10am
For the Fallen: A concert performed by Truro Cathedral Choir
Tickets from the Hall For Cornwall Box Office: 01872 262466 or
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk A post-concert supper will be served in the
Cathedral Restaurant see menu for details
Sunday Eucharist and Farewell to the Canon Missioner
Monday 23
5.30pm
Solemn First Evensong of the Birth of John the Baptist
Tuesday 24
5.30pm
Solemn Eucharist of the Birth of John the Baptist
Friday 27
1.10pm
Roger Judd (Hereford) free lunchtime organ recital
Friday 27
7.30pm
Ordination of Deacons
Saturday 28
Saturday 28
10.30am Ordination of Priests
2pm
Order of St John Service
Saturday 28
Saturday 28
5pm
5.30pm
Full peal attempt
First Evening Prayer of Peter and Paul, Apostles
Sunday 29
10am
Solemn Eucharist of Peter and Paul, Apostles
Sunday 29
5pm
Monday 30
Monday 30
5pm
Lutheran Vespers with Truro Cathedral Choir and orchestra
A loose reconstruction of the service of Vespers from Bach’s time at St
Thomas’s Church, Leipzig. Music to include Cantata 117 and Cantata
192
10-5pm Saints of Cornish Churches: An exhibition organised by Cornwall’s
Quilters. 35 original designs inspired by the stories of Cornish Saints
and the Parish Churches of Cornwall. Free with collection. For more
information contact Jo Morgan 01872 279063 (until 14 July) Open 10 5 (Mon-Sat) 12-4 (Sun) Free with opportunity to donate to offset costs.
1pm
Mon 28 1pm
Eucharist in Cornish in St Mary’s Aisle
Mon 28 5.30pm
Solemn Eucharist of Samson, Bishop, Missionary
Wed 30 7.30pm
The Tempest: Shaken and Stirred Miracle Theatre uniquely brings to
life Shakespeare’s great masterpiece of forgiveness, generosity and
enlightenment. Join Prospero, Ariel and Miranda on the enchanted
island (Cathedral Green) for this tale of shipwrecks, magic and love.
This is an outdoor performance, please dress warmly, no chairs
available
Tickets from Hall for Cornwall www.hallforcornwall.co.uk, 01872
262466
Femmes Vocales Vienna informal concert free, with collection
If you would like to receive information about events at Truro Cathedral
please email [email protected]
or let Anne Marie know your address and she’ll put you on the Events mailing list.
Organorak
VIVE TRELAWNÉ AND CARRY ON
WESTMINSTER
ORGANORAK TRIES TO KEEP CALM
I am writing this column on what used to be the
‘Whitsun’ bank holiday and we’ve not even reached
Ascension yet, so please excuse any temporal
confusion. Easter, however, happened at the right time
(with a decent sunrise this year, the ‘blue spot’ duly
making an appearance). Bishop Tim had great fun with
water and wax; several service sheets almost dissolved
and some of us didn’t have enough candle left to
relight for a third time – all that before breakfast!
There have been some vintage recitals too. Ben
Comeau, (the second person to perform on the new
piano, after the memorable Cristina ‘the Lioness’ Ortiz),
produced a cheeky ‘Simpsons’ improvisation on the
organ as well as a totally stunning ‘Firebird’
transcription, which would be a best seller, if recorded.
Claire Alsop, who job-shares with her husband at St
Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, made a welcome return with
magnificent Liszt ‘BACH’ and Stanford Sonata. Last
year’s Organ Scholar, Harry Meehan marked the
anniversary of the ‘Dambusters’ raid with the Eric
Coates March. A further example of precision bombing
occurred shortly afterwards on the way to the pub,
when a seagull shed its entire payload on Organorak,
(I am told it is like a blessing – it isn’t).
Stuff totally upstaged by his final item, an
improvisation on demure Greensleeves followed by
totally in – your – face ‘Trelawney’ – magnifique!
Other unexpected delights included Portuguese choir
Capella Duriensis with a Bach Motet and Cardoso
Magnificat, a splendid ‘informal evensong’ from
participants in the Cornwall Singing Break weekend,
Cornwall Returners’ Orchestra in a bucolic VW folksong
suite, an all – VW Eucharist with the added bonus of
Luke ‘larking’ about during Communion and a rare
chance to hear the entire Brown family performing
together (Ian, Sarah, Jess and Robin singing, Fred on
the organ) in St Mary’s Singers’ Bach St Matthew (not
to mention the magnificent Evangelist of Nick Hawker).
But what joys there are to come! Mozart’s Messiah
(with the famous ‘The French Horn Shall Sound’),
Handel’s ‘Israel in Egypt’ with authentic boils, frogs and
hailstone effects, Bach Vespers (described as a ‘loose
reconstruction’) and diverse lunchtime delights from
Vienna Ladies, ‘4 Tunes’ saxophones, Nordic Light from
Sweden, plus a welcome return for organ maestro
Nathan Laube in August – not to be missed.
Late extra – ‘Architecture is frozen music’ says Goethe,
so I’m allowed to write about it as the new edition of
Pevsner’s ‘Cornwall is now out’ – in 1951 he was less
than enthusiastic about Truro Cathedral but the new
editor, Peter Beacham, has rectified that. Annoyingly
we were not chosen as the venue for the official
launch, (it’s at some old house), but he will be giving a
talk at Waterstones on the 18 June – tickets from their
shop.
....AND FINALLY A CAPTION COMPETITION
The Wednesday lunchtime series is now underway at
Truro Methodist Church, with Philip Davey continuing
this year’s trend of Big French Stuff, including the
surprise league leader – always thought ‘Carry on de
Westminster’ was one of thosebawdy comedies with
Sid James and Barbara Windsor, whereas it is actually
based on a phone call on a bad cross – channel line
between Henry Willis II and Louis Vierne. A concert not
to be missed at TMC is the duo ‘ORGANIZED CRIME’,
(including our Organ Scholar, Rachel) on the 12 June at
7.30pm – I promise, you will not be disappointed!
Frédéric Blanc’s recital at the Cathedral (appropriately
screened in monochrome) was a feast of Big French
INFORMATION
For more information visit our website www.trurocathedral.org.uk
or contact the Cathedral Office,
14 St Mary’s Street, Truro, TR1 2AF (Open Monday to Friday 9am –5pm)
where possible by email to [email protected] by Friday 11th July