At the end of 2013, we bade a fond farewell to David Stanton after 8 years as Canon Precentor at the Cathedral, as he was installed as Canon Treasurer and Almoner at Westminster Abbey. His role there is one of oversight of the financial affairs of the Abbey and its fabric, as well as playing a major role in its religious and ceremonial life. Speaking about his appointment before his departure to London, David said he was “particularly looking forward to overseeing policy for finance and fabric and working with talented colleagues in sustaining and further developing the life and mission of the Abbey.”

In his sermon welcoming David to his new appointment, the Dean of Westminster, the Very Revd Dr John Hall, mused on a 13th century dispute between the Bishop of Worcester and the Abbot of Westminster over who had jurisdiction over Malvern Priory, leading to the imprisonment of the proposed new Prior of Malvern at Westminster when he was sent there to be confirmed.

“The dispute dragged on and finally involved both the King and the Pope. The Bishop of Worcester lost the case and agreed not to exercise visitational rights over the Great Malvern priory but in compensation received the grant of a manor at Knightwick. There is no dispute between the Diocese of Worcester and Westminster Abbey in our own day and we are glad to see the Dean and Chapter, and other friends from Worcester, as they graciously deliver their Canon Precentor, David Stanton, who with Sarah and their daughters Charlotte and Olivia we are delighted to welcome into our collegiate fellowship, and certainly not to imprisonment.”

The Dean said of Canon David’s departure from the Cathedral: “The Diocese of Worcester and the Cathedral community are immensely grateful to Canon David Stanton for his ministry as Precentor and Pastor for the past eight years. There are many who are indebted to him for his careful preparation of acts of worship and for his pastoral care.”

You can read more about his successor as Canon Precentor, Dr Michael Brierley, later in this issue.

David Stanton departs for Westminster

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Our annual photographic competition (this year will be the third) has given a lot of pleasure all round. To those organising and judging it we get excited to see the entries; the feedback from visitors who viewed the

photographic exhibition at the end of October was that it was inspirational and they admire the talent of the photographers capturing this lovely place; and the photographers themselves enjoyed the competition immensely.

For the second year the winning photos were published in the Worcester News and the best photos can be seen on our website. The competition web page continues to be one of the most frequently visited. Our aim is that the photographs from the competition inspire visitors to explore the Cathedral, to see it through new eyes and see aspects of the building that they may not have noticed before and to take photographs and enter the next competition, which this year’s will be launched at Easter time.

We plan to have an additional category for Cathedral staff, who to date have not been allowed to enter, but who we hope will be able to add a different dimension to the photo entries and give us something unusual. For a full list of winners and commended entries, visit www.worcestercathedral.co.uk

‘Aspects of Worcester Cathedral’Photographic Competition

Under 16’s 1 st Prize:‘Angel Dust’ - Wilf George

Over 16’s 1 st Prize:‘The Prayer’ - John Fox

February

Monday 10 - Friday 28 February‘Seeing and Mapping our World’Exhibition of photographs of rare and antiquarian maps from the Cathedral LibraryDean’s Chapel

Friday 14 – Friday 28 FebruaryLove Worcester Heritage Festival

Friday 14 – Sunday 23 FebruaryLove Themed Self Guided tour of the CathedralFree historical tour

Friday 14 February, 7pmRenewal of Marriage Vows ServiceLady Chapel

Saturday 15 February, 10am - 5pmLiving History FayreSocieties and groups in the Cloister

Monday 17 – Saturday 22 FebruarySafari BackpackTrailFor young people to explore the Cathedral. Available from the shop £5 + refundable deposit

Monday 17 February – Monday 10 MarchExhibition ‘Worcestershire Winter Games’ - An Olympic LegacyNorth Cloister

Friday 28 February, 5.30pmSung Eucharist for St Oswald

March

Saturday 1 March, 1.10pm-1.50pmFree lunchtime recital by University of Gloucestershire and Community Choirs

Wednesday 5 March, 7.30pmAsh Wednesday Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes

Monday 10 March - Wednesday 23 AprilExhibition ‘Stations of the Cross’ by Patrice Moor Dean’s Chapel

Saturday 15 March, 7.30pmSpring Into Action Concert for Clic SargentTickets £6 - £12 fromWorcester Live Box Office 01905 611427

Saturday 22 March, 5.30pmInstallation of New Canon Precentor at Evensong

Tuesday 25-March, 1.10pm-1.50pmFree lunchtime recital by Hilliard-Darby High School Choir

Wednesday 26 March, 7.30pmRoyal Grammar School concert Tickets: 01905 613391

Saturday 29 March, 7.30pmWFCS Concert - Verdi RequiemTickets £7 - £25 from Worcester Live Box Office 01905 611427

April

Friday 4 - Wednesday 23 AprilSculpture ‘Christ Proferring the Cross’Chapel of Prayer

Saturday 5 April, 11.30amQatia Day Service

Sunday 6 April, 6.30pmArvo Pärt: ‘Passio’Tickets £12 available from 07549 634068

Monday 7 - Monday 28 April‘Experience Easter’Free family trail around the East End of Cathedral

Wednesday 9 April, 2.30pmNational Youth Choir – Junior and Senior Girls’ Choirs Concert – programme TBC

Saturday 12 - Tuesday 29 April‘I am alive for ever’ Triptych by Nigel GroomChapel of Prayer

Saturday 12 April, 1.10pm-1.50pmFree lunchtime recital by Trumbull High School Choir from Connecticut, USA

Thursday 24 April – Thursday 8 MayExhibition ‘A Celebration of Nature’Chapter House

Sunday 27 April, 2.15pmScouts St George’s Day Parade

Lent Lectures

Wednesday 12 MarchWednesday 19 MarchWednesday 26 MarchWednesday 2 AprilWednesday 9 April7.30pm, The Guesten, 15 College Green

Easter Services

Sunday 13 April, Palm Sunday10.30am, The Liturgy of Palm Sunday

Monday 14 April11am, Chrism Eucharist7.30pm, Compline with address

Tuesday 15 April7.30pm, Compline with address

Wednesday 16 April7.30pm, Compline with address

Thursday 17 April, Maundy Thursday7.30pm, The Liturgy of Maundy Thursday

Friday 18 April, Good Friday10am, Blessing of the Ecumenical Walk of Witness

12noon, Service of the Word1.45pm, The Liturgy of Good Friday

Saturday 19 April, Easter Eve8.30pm, The Easter Liturgy

Sunday 20 April, Easter Sunday10.30am, The Cathedral Eucharist

4pm, Evensong

6.30pm, Music and Readings for Easter Day

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