Welcome to the March edition of the Cathedral Update.
These few weeks, as the light increases both in the morning and evening and the snowdrops and crocuses appear on the cathedral lawn, are one of my favourite times of the year. After a long, damp and dark winter they bring a sense of hope for the arrival of spring and of all the new life and joy that it affords.
And that hope and joy can be found in the usual blend of faith and cultural events on offer at Bradford Cathedral over the next month.
Lent commences next Wednesday and, in the services on that day, we will be reminded of our mortality by the imposition of ashes in the sign of a cross on people’s foreheads. “From dust you came and to dust you will return”. But this reminder is couched within the context of the whole Easter narrative and the good news that this brings. This realistic hope, a hope that recognises all our individual and collective realities – both good and bad – forms the basis for our Lent course “Living Hope” which will be running on Wednesday evenings during this season.
To prepare ourselves for the journey of Lent we are delighted that Bishop Toby will be joining and guiding us for a day of retreat – a time to gather ourselves from our daily busyness and begin to reflect on what that living hope might look like in our lives. More details about the Lent course, the retreat and all the other events that take us through the Lent season are available on a dedicated page on our website.
The cathedral continues its spring theme of “Creativity Under Pressure” and our Wednesday@One Organ concerts reflect this with the series of music in times of war. Catch our own Revd Pete performing at one of these concerts on 5th March before he leaves later in the Spring for pastures new.”
I am always struck in talking to visitors what a very rich tapestry the building presents of the life of Bradford and people’s journeys of and responses to faith over many hundreds of years. One aspect of this is the wonderful range of stained glass window that we have. One artist whose windows feature is William Morris and we will be conducting tours later in the month highlighting these windows and celebrating the life of this remarkable man.
Whatever the reason for your visit – for worship, for music or for reflection we hope you are able to find evidence of Living Hope during your time with us.
The Revd Duncan Milwain
Assistant Curate