Manchester Cathedral Summer
2014
Celebrate a summer of diverse cultural events At Manchester’s spiritual home
Contents 3 Introduction 4
Raising the roof
6
Artists’ impressions
8
Summer tours, talks and walks
10
Dig the City
12
Chapter and Verse
13
Cathedral music
14 Services 16
Contact details and bookings
1421–22 CATHEDRAL TIMELINE
The parish church becomes a Collegiate Foundation, granted a charter by Henry V and dedicated to St Mary, St Denys and St George.
3
Introduction Manchester Cathedral has been centre stage in its city’s history for nearly 600 years. In 1421 Henry V signed a royal charter granting permission for a collegiate church to be built. In 1847 a new Manchester diocese was created and the church became a Cathedral. This Grade I listed masterpiece has not only provided a stage on which the city’s compelling history has been played out but also provided some of the leading actors for this narrative. Century after century the stone walls have survived wars and bombings, Henry VIII’s reformation and Elizabeth I’s spymaster, witnessed the birth of the world’s anti-slavery movement and lived the Industrial Revolution first hand. Its thrilling beauty and majesty have inspired Damon Albarn to produce an opera and Elbow to lift the roof. Musicians and artists, writers and poets continue to find expression in this sacred space. But this is not a museum - this is a working church and it is teeming with life. There are bee hives on the roof and a captain in the bell tower, choristers running to practice and roadies unloading vans. Vergers scoot about on cleaning machines and delegates debate. We invite businesses to dinner and those who need shelter, inside. This is an invitation to join us. We don’t mind if you have lived here all your life or just got off a flight. The doors are open 7 days a week and the admission is free. This is Manchester’s Cathedral. Not to be missed.
1545–47 Henry VIII undertakes an inventory of all the goods in the ancient churches. The College is dissolved and the Chantries discontinued.
Raising the roof at Manchester Cathedral DHP presents Beth Orton ‘Central Reservation Revisited’ Wed 2 July 7pm
Beth Orton’s album Central Reservation was re-issued with an extra CD of bonus material on 30 June 2014. It includes unreleased demos and live tracks. Manchester Cathedral is one of only three venues where she will perform the album with a full band. For ticket availability and prices please visit www.alt-tickets.co.uk
Peal Attempt by the Manchester Cathedral bell ringers Sat 5 July The art of campanology is alive and 10am–2pm well in Manchester Cathedral with Free its great team of bell ringers attempting a full peal. This is a test of both mental and physical ability with around four hours of consistent ringing.
1553 The College is re-established by Mary I, under the same terms as the first Charter.
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The ‘Bright Eyes’ man is back to his best according to a recent review of the new album, Upside Down Mountain by NME. For ticket availability and prices please visit www.alt-tickets.co.uk
DHP presents Conor Oberst Tue 8 July 7pm
Football and religion A talk of two halves Fri 11 July 2pm £5.00
Fill in the hours between World Cup matches with a fascinating insight into the historic links between the church and the city’s famous football clubs, Manchester City and Manchester United. This event also features an escorted visit to the National Football Museum, 2 minutes away. Refreshments included at half time.
DHP presents The Afghan Whigs Thu 17 July 7pm
SJM presents Ani DiFranco Sat 20 September 7pm
A much anticipated event for the faithful as the band release their first new album in 16 years. For ticket availability and prices please visit www.alt-tickets.co.uk
After 20 years in the music business Ani DiFranco still identifies herself as a folksinger with ample room for soul, funk, jazz and a marching band or two. For ticket availability and prices please visit www.alt-tickets.co.uk
1578-1595 The Church receives its Third Charter from Elizabeth I. The College is renamed Christ’s College. Dr John Dee, Alchemist and sometime spy for Elizabeth I is appointed Warden.
Artists’ impressions at Manchester Cathedral The Blanket by Cristina Rodrigues Thu 3 July to Sun 21 September 10am to 5pm Meet the Artist Sun 20 & Sun 27 July 2pm Free
This piece was produced by the artist and curator Cristina Rodrigues in collaboration with women from the Idanha-a-Nova community in Portugal. The Adufe is a percussion instrument traditionally played by women. Their weekly rehearsals are an opportunity to play themes that have been passed from generation to generation through oral lore. The Blanket is a coverlet of painted Adufes which resemble the squares in a crochet quilt. This exhibition examines women’s role in the community as educators and transmitters of oral traditions linked to music, craftsmanship and art.
Icons by Monica Thornton Fri 1 to Wed 27 August The word icon (eikon) in Greek simply means Chapter House ‘image’. Many will immediately think of icons 10am to 4pm, Mon–Sat used on a computer screen, tablet or phone; you press on it and a whole new connection 1pm to 4pm, Sun is made and a world of information opened up. Free Religious icons work in the same way. They can either be regarded as a picture telling a story or ‘a holy doorway’ into another world. Monica Thornton is an iconographer presenting her collection for the first time at Manchester Cathedral.
1617 Humphrey Booth of Salford pays for a gallery in the south aisle. The Booth Centre supporting those in need has a close affiliation with the Cathedral to this day.
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Matchbox City Sat 23 August to Thu 4 September Free
Manchester has strong historic links with the Booth Centre charity. This project, led by Connecting Threads, working with clients from the Booth Centre, uses a series of sculptural installations across the city to explore ideas about the current housing crisis.
Asia Triennial Harmonious Society Sat 27 September to Sun 23 November Free Major exhibition of new commissions and UK premieres across the city
ZHENG Guogu (Yangjiang) Zheng Guogu presents a new work consisting of 12 freestanding lightboxes, each representing one of the 12 apostles. The work explores the fine line between faith and science, looking at connections within the brain and the connections between the twelve apostles.
LI Wei (Beijing) Responding to the impressive architecture of Manchester Cathedral and the idea of the building as a reflective space, Li Wei will be producing a double-sided mirror sculpture, resembling a traditional full-length dressing mirror with intricate decoration. The frame will be decorated all over by images of animals, some real and some half-human-half-animal hybrid creatures, providing a literal reflection on humanity and human instinct and behaviours.
1636–49 Charles I grants a Fourth Charter but in the Civil War the church is ransacked.
Summer Tours, Talks &Walks 2014
July Football and Religion: a tour of two halves Fri 11 July 2pm/£5
Talk at the Cathedral followed by visit to the National Football Museum.
Alongside our daily taster tours we have an exciting new programme of tours for Summer 2014. Join our friendly and knowledgeable guides to find out how and why Manchester Cathedral has been at the centre of the city’s social, historical and political history for nearly 600 years. There are also mini dramas and a chance to meet some of the characters, dead and alive, who bring this ‘ancient house of the soul’ to life.
Interpretive tour of the Cathedral’s stunning collection of stained-glass windows.
Meet at the south porch entrance opposite ProperTea unless otherwise stated. Private group tours and educational visits are also available. Please visit the website for more information. Places are limited; please book to guarantee your place by calling 0161 833 2220.
Manchester Cathedral Decoded Sat 26 July 12pm/£5
A history etched in stained glass Sat 19 July 12pm/£5
Crack the codes and uncover the symbols, mysteries, fables and legends secreted within the Cathedral fabric.
Chapter and Verse: poetry trail part 1 Sat 26 July 2pm/£5
Resident Poet Rachel Mann leads a tour of the Cathedral interpreted through poetry. Local poets will read their own work, inspired by the building’s history and heritage.
1787 Thomas Clarkson delivers the world’s first anti-slavery speech.
1847 The Diocese of Manchester is created and the church becomes the Cathedral church.
A close look at the impact of some of the great Lancashire families on Manchester Cathedral and the city.
August Dr Dee and the Code Crackers Workshop Sat 2 August 12pm – 4pm/Free
Follow in the secret footsteps of John Dee - find out more about the man himself and have a go at making and breaking codes. Suitable for children up to 12 years of age.
Beekeeping at Manchester Cathedral Fri 8 August 2pm/£5
Manchester Cathedral has 4 hives and 250,000 bees on its roof! Find out about our Heavenly Honey and the art of beekeeping from the resident Canon Apiarist Adrian Rhodes.
The Verger’s Tale Sat 9 August 3pm/£5
A stroll around the Cathedral Quarter Tue 12 August 11am/£5
A stroll around the Cathedral Quarter Tue 26 August 11am/£5
Chapter and Verse: poetry trail part 2 Sat 16 August 2pm/£5
Joshua Brookes and the Missing Grooms Sat 30 August 12pm, 1pm, 2pm/£5
Walking tour taking in the Cathedral, Chetham’s and Exchange Square.
Resident Poet Rachel Mann leads the second tour of the trail.
A stroll around the Cathedral Quarter Tue 19 August 11am/£5
Walking tour taking in the Cathedral, Chetham’s and Exchange Square.
Madonna at the Cathedral Sat 23 August 12pm/£5
A look at the depictions of Mary including the famous Lancashire Madonna.
The Verger’s Tale Sat 23 August 3pm/£5
A romp through 600 years of Cathedral history as seen by Martin, verger of some 20 years.
History through the eyes of Martin, verger of some 20 years.
Lancashire Benefactors Mon 11 August 11am/£5
1904–36
Library Annex is built. Refectory and Choir School are built. The Derby Chapel is given over to the Manchester Regiment.
Walking tour taking in the Cathedral, Chetham’s and Exchange Square.
Drama: from the Voices from the Past collection of plays.
September From Henry V to the Fun Lovin’ Criminals: a backstage tour Sat 13 September 2pm/Free
Heritage Open Days event. An amazing opportunity to see the ORIGINAL Henry V Charter of 1421 and some fascinating archive material.
Manchester Theological Society Lecture by Sam Wells Tue 23 September 7pm/ Free
Sam Wells is Vicar of St. Martin’s in the Fields, London, and Visiting Professor of Christian Ethics at King’s College, London. He has published 17 books on ethics, more general works of theology, collections of sermons and devotional works.
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Lancashire Benefactors Mon 28 July 11am/£5
Dig the City Dig The City Sat 2 to Sun 10 August 11am–7pm Free
Dr Dee Decoding the Cathedral Sat 2 August 12–4pm Free
Join Manchester Cathedral and Central Library in the Cathedral’s grounds and dig up some history. Crack the codes and find out more about Elizabeth I’s spymaster and the original 007. Suitable for families and children up to 12.
1940 A blitz during the Second World War destroys most of the north-east of the Cathedral and causes extensive damage to the rest of the building. Post-war restoration takes almost 20 years.
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The Flora & Fauna Cathedral Trail Sat 2 to Sun 10 August Daily Free
A unique self guided trail interpreting the significance of the Cathedral’s architecture, history and character through flowers and plants.
Family fun at the Creation Station Mon 4 August & Tues 5 August 11am–12pm & 2pm–3pm Free
Join in our family workshops or come along throughout the festival for other fun family activities. There are 30 spaces available per session, on a first-come first-served basis.
Picnic on the lawn with ProperTea Daily Prices vary according to menu
The Cathedral tea shop, ProperTea, will provide you with a picnic basket and a blanket for you to enjoy cream teas or a leisurely lunch on the lawn in the delightful surroundings of the Cathedral quarter.
1976–95 The West Windows are replaced in stained glass by the artist Antony Hollaway.
1996 An IRA bomb explodes close to the Cathedral and causes further damage.
Chapter &Verse We like a bit of drama at Manchester Cathedral. So much so that we commissioned a set of scripts resulting in a series of mini dramas which bring to life some of the more defining moments in the Cathedral’s history over the last 600 years
Joshua Brookes and the Missing Grooms (Drama)
The Cathedral Poetry Trail Part 1
The legendary chaplain Joshua Brookes found himself in the middle of the mass explosion in population during the Industrial Revolution. There was a huge demand for marriages on the only church for miles around. How did he cope with this intriguing dilemma in the city’s history?
Resident poet Rachel Mann leads this brand new tour with recitals from local poets who have been inspired by this incredible building.
Sat 30 August Performances at 12pm, 1pm & 2pm £5
Sat 26 July 2pm £5
The Cathedral Poetry Trail Part 2 Sat 16 August 2pm £5
The Alchemist’s Daughter (Drama)
Sat 20 September Performances at 11am, 12pm & 1pm £5 Dr Dee is the infamous Alchemist in question. His story is expressed through his daughter. Was he a much misunderstood renaissance man or a charlatan who deserved his unpopularity and fallen reputation?
Rachel Mann, alongside a second group of local poets, explores in verse more of the beauty, history and legends of this medieval corner of the city.
2001 The Cathedral Visitor Centre was opened in 2001 by HM Queen Elizabeth II.
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Cathedral Music
Evensong in September at Manchester Cathedral
From September Free
If you are around the Cathedral Quarter and hear angelic voices filling the air, step inside. The Cathedral Choir, directed by Christopher Stokes, is back in September and can be heard rehearsing most Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4.15–5.15pm and Saturdays from 4.40–5.20pm. All welcome to attend the service at 5.30pm. The wonderful Cathedral Voluntary Choir sing Evensong every Sunday at 5.30pm.
Manchester Cathedral into the future 2014-2017 Thanks to a generous donation by the Stoller Charitable Trust, funds have been secured for a stunning new organ which will be in place by 2017. Watch out for a series of themed ‘Piped Down’ events as we say a fond farewell to an instrument which has served the Cathedral well for decades.
2004 The Healing Window by Linda Walton is installed. The gift of Dr Anthony Enoch.
Services
Everyone, regardless of whether they are a person of faith or not, is welcome to come inside and visit the Cathedral. Many people pop in to light a candle or to the Lady Chapel which is reserved for quiet prayer or for those seeking a moment’s peace away from city life. Manchester Cathedral also hosts a wide variety of other special services. These encompass the whole range of life’s experiences, in celebration at life’s joyous moments or to support those who are suffering or in grief.
2013 Cathedral closes for new underfloor heating system and ‘Pop-Up’ Cathedral opens. November 2013 Cathedral re-opens with the inauguration ceremony of the new Bishop of Manchester, David Walker.
Sat 12 July 2.30pm
Sparkle at the Cathedral Sun 13 July 10.30am
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Saying Goodbye Service
The Saying Goodbye Services are the first national set of remembrance services for people who have lost a child at any stage of pregnancy, at birth or in infancy.
Manchester Cathedral welcomes visitors to the Sparkle 10 celebrations and invites all to come along to our 10.30am service.
WW1 Commemoration Service Sun 3 August 3pm All welcome
The service brings together cadets, serving soldiers, reservists and the public in an act of commemoration as we remember the beginning of the most devastating loss of life in history. The Bishop of Manchester will preside, supported by The Lord-Lieutenant, leaders of other faiths and the Cathedral team.
2014 Funds are secured for new ÂŁ2.6m organ thanks to donation by the Stoller Charitable Trust.
2021 Manchester Cathedral celebrates 600 year anniversary of the Henry V Charter.
Further information
How to find us Manchester Cathedral is located on Victoria Street in the heart of the medieval quarter just behind Marks and Spencer and Harvey Nichols. Ample parking is available at the adjacent NCP car park. Manchester Cathedral, Victoria Street, M3 1SX Pop over to Manchester Cathedral’s fantastic ProperTea café where you can enjoy Afternoon Tea or a chilled glass of wine and find a quiet corner to unwind. There is also a brilliant little book and gift shop, St Denys, where you can also get a close up of the medieval bridge at Hanging Ditch.
Contact & booking details For all the most up-to-date news visit www.manchestercathedral.org It costs around £2,800 each day to run the Cathedral. We would be delighted if you would consider leaving a voluntary donation of £1 per person. We are fortunate to have the long standing support of the Friends of Manchester Cathedral and our brilliant team of volunteers. They will be happy to assist with any queries during your visit.
The General Office can be contacted for bookings or queries Monday–Friday between the hours of 8.30am–4.30pm on 0161 833 2220
Summer opening hours Monday to Saturday 8.30am–6.30pm Sunday 8.30am–7pm These times may vary during special events. General admission is free.
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Manchester Cathedral Follow us on Twitter: @ManCathedral Please check Manchester Cathedral’s website for confirmation of daily and special service times. Designed by Transmission www.transmissioncreative.co.uk