Welcome!
From The Very Revd Jonathan Greener, Dean of Exeter
What a chump! Leaving my umbrella behind in Westminster Abbey. I always forget something, so at 6.15am when I opened the back door of the Deanery to discover it was raining, I took the sensible decision not to bother with a coat – reckoning it’s cheaper to lose a brolly than a coat. 40+ years ago, in my first term at university, I managed to lose four umbrellas in the space of four weeks, and then resolved to do without and get wet – to teach myself a lesson. But the lesson didn’t work, and there’s a dishearteningly long record of property and wardrobe abandoned on trains up and down the land. Though I’m not the only one – poor old Chris Palmer left his coat on the train on the way up. I’m told GWR Lost and Found are on the lookout.
We were in London for the consecration of James Grier as Bishop of Plymouth. A lovely occasion, and the Chapter of the receiving Cathedral (in this case Exeter – which, because James is one of our own, happens to be both the sending and receiving Cathedral) are given seats of honour, and lunch afterwards with the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. A great treat, and fascinating just 10 days after the event to hear some of the below stairs story of the State Funeral. As I’m sure you can imagine, any concerns about seating and security at our Exeter service soon paled into insignificance.
A highlight for us as a Chapter was to gather in front of the tomb of St Edward the Confessor, who founded Exeter Cathedral in 1050 – some 15 years before the Abbey. We prayed our prayer for Founders and Benefactors, and were pleased to snap a photo to service our various social media accounts. And it was good to catch up with some old friends: the Bishop of London, formerly Crediton, was full of beans, and the Archbishop, who was trained together with me, since he was installed as Dean of Liverpool on the same day that I became Dean of Wakefield. Our paths have taken somewhat different directions since.
It was over lunch that I remembered the umbrella – forgotten in the Lady Chapel where we had robed for the service. So I dashed back into the Abbey en route for my early train – I was cutting it fine, so great was my desire to get back to the fresh air and wide open spaces of the South West. Inside the church, I was overwhelmed by how many visitors there were. The Dean had told me that over the summer foreign visitor numbers had picked up, and I imagine that hosting the Funeral has accelerated the return to pre-pandemic statistics. It must be a mighty relief for the Abbey Team, seeing how drastically they have been hit numerically and financially over the past couple of years. Entering surreptitiously through a side door, I spotted a steward and enquired about my umbrella. His radio summoned a supervisor, who wasn’t sure of its whereabouts, but suggested I might wend my way through the crowd back to the Lady Chapel, while he made other enquiries. Compliant as ever, I thrust myself into the midst of the United Nations throng, and elbowed my way to the far east end of the church. And just as I reached the Lady Chapel steps, which were as busy as Sandy Park on match day, I espied another steward holding out an umbrella in my direction: “I believe this is yours,” she said.
It felt miraculous. Here evidently was St Edward at work. Interestingly, when we had been beside the tomb earlier, our Canon Precentor had asked about Edward’s miracles – a pre-requisite for anyone becoming a saint. Well, back here in front of the tomb, I was bowled over. For even if there had previously been any question as to his supernatural prowess, it was abundantly clear that my reunification with my umbrella could be attributed only to the direct intervention of our late King. Normally on such occasions I invoke the aid of St Anthony of Padua, patron saint of lost items – having been assured by an artist friend of mine about the efficacy of such petition. On one occasion she painted and presented our church in London with an icon of St Anthony, who had safely restored her lost spectacles on a mountain top in Crete courtesy of a lonely goatherd. But no need to disturb Anthony on this occasion, for Edward our founder was already on the case.
By the way, and most importantly, it was a super, rather intimate service – the first such consecration at the Abbey since 2016 – more usual is St Paul’s, or Southwark Cathedral. Because the Abbey is a Royal Peculiar under direct authority from the Sovereign, it happens by special invitation of the Dean. It was good that so many had travelled all the way from Exeter to surround James with our love and prayers. We now much look forward to installing him in the Cathedral this coming Sunday at 3pm – all welcome – and to enjoying and supporting his new ministry in Plymouth.
And finally… if it’s jokes, tragedy, horror, history, music, candles, and wine you’re after, not to mention the party bag, you need to book one of our Cathedral Night Tours, which start again on 20 October. For ‘Well Met by Candlelight’ which recounts the story of Cathedral characters in the 14th century, we have recruited some stunning new actors and musicians, including, I’m told, a lutenist. Tickets for this irresistible evening of pleasure are sure to sell out in a flash. Book yours (and for your friends) here.
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From the Library…
On Show at RAMM
The Cathedral Library has one of the country’s largest and most important collections of historic medical books, some given to the Cathedral by previous prebendaries, including Robert Burscough (1651-1709) and Humfrey Smith (1655-1709), and some by local physicians. The largest bequest of medical books came from Thomas Glass (1709-1786), a founding physician at the Devon and Exeter Hospital in Southernhay (later relocated to Wonford as the RD&E). In his will, Glass stipulated that the Cathedral should “permit any Physician being an Inhabitant of the City of Exeter to have recourse to [the books] at proper times in the Library.”
Today, the Cathedral Library has about 3,000 medical books, from a 14th century medical text by John of Gaddesdon to an early 20th century work on dermatology, and we continue to support medical training through our partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School. Medical students can choose to study a module in Medical Humanities at the Cathedral Library as part of their degree – an opportunity to reflect on past medical theory and practice and what it may mean for their future roles as medical practitioners.
This autumn, we are delighted to be supporting A Picture of Health, a new free exhibition at Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) which runs until 22 January 2023. Portraits of early physicians and surgeons, medical instruments, books, manuscripts and other objects tell the story of Exeter’s health and wellbeing history from the 18th century to the present day. The Cathedral’s loan to the RAMM includes Infancy: a poem by Hugh Downman (1740-1809), a local physician, poet and priest who emphasised the importance of good healthcare at the start of life: on “the management of these first years depends the future man.” The exhibition also features the Cathedral’s copy of the History of the Cholera in Exeter in 1832 by local physician, Thomas Shapter (1809-1902) – one of the most comprehensive accounts of the spread and subsequent devastation wreaked by cholera in the 19th century.
Evidently, the Cathedral’s medical books have been well-read over the years – Thomas Glass would be pleased indeed! – and those loaned to the RAMM required a little ‘medical attention’ before they could be displayed. Local book conservator, James Cassels, worked on the books to ensure they were in a suitable condition to make the short journey from the Cathedral to Queen Street.
Visit the RAMM website more information about the exhibition.
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NEWS
Voices of Cambridge Ensemble Visiting Choir
In addition to Exeter Cathedral's own choirs, the Cathedral is also regularly joined by visiting choirs from across the globe. On Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October, VOCE (Voices of Cambridge Ensemble) will be singing the four services at Exeter Cathedral. Read more >
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WHAT'S ON
Unravelling
Ilya Fisher's Unravelling is on display at Exeter Cathedral until Sunday 30 October. The exhibition features a series of art works looking at the climate crisis and the human response to it. Unravelling is included in the Cathedral's standard admission price.
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WHAT'S ON
Reconstructing Duccio
Lesley Kerman's reconstruction of the reverse of Duccio’s Maestá is now on display at Exeter Cathedral until Thursday 27 October. The original painting was carried in a procession through the streets of Siena to the Cathedral at midday on the 9 June 1311. On the front of the altarpiece were painted the Virgin and Saints and on the reverse the twenty six Scenes of the Passion. Reconstructing Duccio is included in the Cathedral's standard admission price.
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WHAT'S ON
‘Well Met by Candlelight’ – A Candlelight Tour of Exeter Cathedral
Experience Exeter Cathedral at night on an ‘after hours’ tour. Enjoy a welcome drink and meet characters from the past who emerge from the shadows to tell their stories. Hear the music and experience the flickering candlelight on these medieval walls. This special tour runs from 20 October to 21 December.
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WHAT'S ON
Isca Ensemble South West Concert
The popular Isca Ensemble under its Musical Director Roger Hendy return to Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 29 October to present another special full orchestral programme featuring the renowned Polish pianist Lucas Krupinski.
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WHAT'S ON
Exeter Philharmonic Choir: Autumn Concert
‘GLORIA’, the first concert of Exeter Philharmonic Choir’s 2022/23 season, celebrates the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. Accompanied by the brilliant sound of Onyx Brass, they will explore the rich repertoire of music for brass, organ and percussion.
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WHAT'S ON
Handel’s Messiah with the Exeter Cathedral Choir
On Sunday 4 December, the Exeter Cathedral Choir will be teaming up with early-music specialists Devon Baroque for a seasonal performance of Handel’s Messiah. Book before 31 October to receive a 10% discount.
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OPPORTUNITIES
We’re Hiring
Exeter Cathedral is currently seeking a Canon’s Virger who will be greatly involved in all aspects of the Cathedral’s daily services and operations.
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SERVICES
Holy Ground: An Exploration of Trust & Truth in a Secular Context
All are welcome to join us for Holy Ground on Sunday at 6:30pm. We will be joined by Prof. Penny Endersby, Chief Executive of the Met Office. She will be exploring trust and truth in a secular world. How do we know whom to trust on topics such as COVID, Climate Change and the Salisbury poisonings? How do we decide what's trustworthy? What does this tell us about trust and truth in faith?
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REFLECTION
A Grand Tour
By The Rev’d Preb Julian Ould
Jane and I have just returned from a ten-day holiday. Jane had expressed a wish to visit Durham and the surrounding area. Durham is a long way away and so it seemed sensible to break our journey and we settled on Lincoln for a couple of nights. Having made this decision, then surely we would need to do something similar on the way home and so we booked a night at Lichfield and then Bath, before returning to Exeter. Read more >
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INFORMATION
Tune into our live streaming services
We are continuing our online worship, available both live and on-demand on our Facebook page.
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EXETER CATHEDRAL A-Z
H: IHS
Carved in stone, painted on glass, woven in textiles & inscribed on metal, IHS is an abbreviation from Latin transcription of Greek ΙΗΣΥΣ (Jesus). Here is an 18th century inscription on a paten.
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