Cornerstone%20spring%202015

FRIENDS of ARUNDEL CATHEDRAL

CORNERSTONE Spring 2015

Dear Friends RICHARD MOTH, BISHOP ELECT OF ARUNDEL AND BRIGHTON As we greet him, the Friends know that we are not welcoming a stranger into his new See: Bishop Richard has had many connections, all enjoyable let us hope, with the Diocese and its three counties.

For us, he presided over the Pontifical Vespers sung in the Cathedral last year as part of the Friends’ Summer Celebration, and then joined us in the Collector Earl’s Garden in the Castle, where he proved himself an engaging and amusing companion. He kindly - and in the middle of a very full schedule - presided, again, and preached, at our Advent Vespers just a few months ago and had an opportunity to meet many of the civic leaders who now customarily attend that Service.

There is more. He knows all the bridlepaths in our countryside,: he has ridden in the Downs for many years. And he knows the nooks and crannies of the human heart, too: he is a deeply spiritual person, slipping away to Pluscarden, when he can, to recharge his batteries. But he does so with generous intent - you have only to hear the testimony of those who were part of a very moving all-night vigil which he led in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, last year, quietly inspiring, gently discerning, to appreciate that.

From his days at Wonersh , and as Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Southwark, before his appointment to the Bishopric of the Forces, he already knows many of our priests well. Those who have worked with him (clergy and lay people) will tell you that he is an accomplished administrator - watching his ability to multi- task, one might almost say ‘deft’. Those who have walked with him across the hills will tell you of the energy he puts into everything he does.

He has an infectious gift for friendship.

The Friends of Arundel Cathedral have a special care for the fabric of the Cathedral and its life as the mother church of A&B. The Cathedral parish is a thriving community. But it is the presence of a Bishop which transforms the Cathedral itself from a beautiful sermon preached in stone into the beating heart of our diocese.

Cardinal Cormac once recounted how, when he was named as bishop of these parts, a Curial official whose sister was a nun in Sussex told him he was an ‘uomo fortunato’. It seems to me that with Bishop Richard’s new appointment it is us who are the fortunate ones!

Patrick Burgess Chairman, The Friends of Arundel Cathedral

BISHOP RICHARD Photo copyright Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk

BIRDS’ EYE VIEWS This issue of Cornerstone is very much Canon Tim’s – the main text being his report on the Cathedral’s recent activities, and the photographs being his own.

Your editor, whose photography you usually see in the newsletter, found himself somewhat daunted by the ascent to the Cathedral roof, and only too happy to have use of images taken by our intrepid Canon. The interior attic view, opposite, gives a glimpse of the brickwork which, rather surprisingly, forms the main structure; the substantial Bath stone interior and exterior facings and pillars give the impression of a building entirely of stone, but this is in fact misleading.

Close-up views show some of the Cathedral’s details virtually invisible from the ground: the fine metal-work of the fleche (cover), replaced only a few years ago, replicating the original timber and lead structure; and the decorative cross with its neatly-fitted lightning-conductor (back cover). Local historians may know whether the Cathedral has ever experienced a lightning strike. Victorian builders often included a glass sphere at the top of a conductor, which shattered in the case of a strike, to indicate that inspection for further damage might be required; but there is no evidence of such a fixture here.

For those brave enough to make the climb the Cathedral roof affords spectacular views down to the Castle, across the town and beyond (pages 6 and 7). Duke Henry was clearly determined that his church should stand out as a visible flagship for the re-established Catholic Church in England, and his choice of a tall building on a prime site provides an unparalleled vantage point. He would surely have been gratified to know that his Arundel church would become the Cathedral for a Diocese stretching from Farnham to Rye, now celebrating its Golden Jubilee.

Oliver Hawkins Editor

View from the Cathedral roof looking northeast; the Collector Earl’s Garden to the left, St Nicholas church to the right (the photo was taken when repairs were being made to the tower), and the Castle behind.

ARUNDEL CATHEDRAL REPORT – SPRING 2015 With the good news of the appointment of our new Bishop, Arundel Cathedral continues to progress. Since the last report, TV cameras have come and gone, plumbing has continued to fail and contracts for major works have been signed.

The live BBC production of Midnight Mass was a great success, after the months of planning and negotiation. Through a variety of publicity, the whole town and beyond knew something was happening in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and on the whole the town was very happy to welcome the television crews and the many visitors who appeared on the scene. The parish got used to the extra lighting rigs around the building, and some were rather sad to see them go as they brought to life to the architecture in ways not seen before. The TV crews were very amenable and some stayed on for a few extra days for the holiday – it was good to welcome them to subsequent Christmas Masses.

I was grateful to three of the Seminarians for their help; Tom Kent, Peter Murphy and our own Tristan Cranfield (who also brought with him two American Seminarians). They all worked happily with the home team in preparing and serving the Mass. The Cathedral has received an amazing amount of feedback since the production in the form of letters and emails from across the country, from Ireland and one from Holland, all except one was very positive, which isn’t bad going.

CATHEDRAL WORKS Talking of the BBC lighting brings us to the signing of contracts one of which is about the sanctuary lighting. As outlined in my previous report, the Cathedral has been awarded a grant of £200,000 from the First World War Centenary Fund which will go a good way to re-leading the south facing windows. Contracts have now been signed and this work will begin on 15 June (after Corpus Christi) and last a few months. It is regrettable that this work will occur during the Jubilee Celebrations of the Diocese, but in order to get the grant the work must start within a calendar year of the award. The architect has worked hard with the contractors to minimise disruption to the Cathedral life, although it will mean for a

period weekday Masses will be held at the St Philip Howard shrine.

The work on the windows was planned in the budget for the next couple of years, so the money we have saved through this award has enabled us to plan work on relighting the sanctuary. Contracts have been signed and the work began on Monday 23 February. The contractors are aware of the 28 May Jubilee celebrations and the planned installation of our new Bishop. When the scheme is finished the sanctuary will be much better lit, with longer lasting and environmentally friendly lamps, and the fine architecture will be shown to best advantage.

Just prior to the lighting work starting, contractors re-varnished the wood floors in the Lady and Blessed Sacrament Chapels. The exceptional quality of this work and the new hangings behind the altars in these places has transformed these chapels and we are working on ways to open up the Lady Chapel for private prayer in the near future, in similar way to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel but keeping our mind on the need for security.

The new gold vestments worked well on the BBC Midnight Mass and as mentioned previously, Mrs Anne Marie Brown (who made the new side chapel hangings) has made a matching gold frontal for the rear gradine and a new tabernacle veil; these should be delivered for Easter. At the request of the Diocesan MC, Fr Jonathan How, she has kept enough spare gold material to create a matching mitre – and we are now in a position to give her the measurements!

Around the Cathedral the new sign boards have stood up well to the winter weather, and the one for St Edmund’s Cemetery at Houghton has now been installed. Planning permission has now been granted for the new gates for the Cathedral, replicating the original Victorian ones, and these should be completed in time to have them blessed on the 28 May. The Cathedral Centre continues to have good numbers of bookings and the building has been aided by recently installed sound systems in both upper and lower halls.

CATHEDRAL HOUSE Within Cathedral House, renovations have not been going quite as planned.

Following leaks from a first floor bathroom and subsequent problem with mould, the Chapter Room having been dried out over the last year has now been replastered and then repainted. The decorators found other areas of damp and have treated the walls prior to painting. The house hot-water boiler has now

been replaced but this showed up other dramatic deficiencies in the plumbing that eventually led to the reconstruction of Fr. Stan’s bathroom. Whilst doing this, the plumber found the waste pipe from the second floor bathroom was leaking (on his head!) and so this had to be attended to as well. At the same time, the house hot water pumping equipment then failed and had to be replaced. Oh the joys of living in ageing Victorian premises!

CORPUS CHRISTI Plans for Corpus Christi and the Carpet of Flowers on 3/4 June are rapidly going ahead; the theme of the carpet will naturally focus on the diocesan Golden Jubilee. Designed

by Oliver Hawkins, it awaits the attentions of the group quantifying the flowers needed for the display, ably led by Mary Bagg, Mary Harding and Margaret Myerscough. The same group has been asked to prepare the flowers for the sanctuary at the Amex Stadium for the Diocesan Jubilee celebrations at Falmer on 5 July.

JUBILEE DISPLAYS The Cathedral is working with the diocese to produce displays of both photographs and artefacts illustrating the history of the diocese from 1965. Display boards will be produced for the Cathedral which can then be easily moved to the Amex football ground in July. We are also working on a range of products that can be sold in commemoration of the Jubilee.

We are delighted with the timing of Bishop Richard’s installation; just in time for our Corpus Christi celebrations, and in good time for the great diocesan celebrations in July. We are greatly appreciative, too, of the guiding hand of Archbishop Peter, our Diocesan Administrator during the inter-regnum.

Hoping to see many of you in Arundel for Corpus Christi, and many more in Brighton for our Diocesan Jubilee.

With my best wishes Canon Tim Madeley Cathedral Dean

The Friends of Arundel Cathedral registered as a company Limited by guarantee and not having a share capital (No 3792834) Registered Charity No 1078149 The Friends’ Office, Cathedral House, Parsons Hill Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9AY Telephone: 01903 884567 Email: aruncathfriends@btconnect.com