Welcome!
From The Very Revd Jonathan Greener, Dean of Exeter
Win was 92 when I arrived at St Matthew’s as the newly ordained curate. She had been a member of the Parochial Church Council for just over 70 years, but she did admit to having missed a meeting – though just the one, during the Blitz, when it had been impossible to get home in time. It didn’t take long for her to take me to task: “You’ve been here over a fortnight, and you haven’t been to visit me yet. That’s what curates are for!” I think I tend to agree with her, and certainly I was more punctual in my visiting over the next three years.
In 1993 we opened our brand new church building, and one visitor was Princess Diana. Win was thrilled to meet her: “This is the best day of my life,” she confided. Early on in my training it helped me understand the significance of the representative role. In simple terms, with a mayoral visit, metaphorically they bring the whole of the town or city along; when a royal visits, the whole nation pitches up for tea. With the death of our late Queen, we’ve been able to see how this works, not just theoretically, but emotionally. So when Win met Diana, not only was she in the presence of a superstar, but for that moment in time, her beloved St Matthew’s was highlighted in technicolour on the national map.
Clergy also have a representative role of sorts. Again, I learned that at St Matthew’s when dear Nomby, from Zimbabwe, told me that talking to me was like talking to God. I’m always keen to point out this had nothing to do with my overarching manner – it was simply that she would say things to me that she wanted to say to God. My job was nothing more than to enable the conversation to take place.
It was also my role as curate that enabled me to convene the cockroach working party. My flat at the top of a tower block on the New Kent Road had fabulous views over London. But its downside was the heating system, with its common boiler for all 4,000 flats on the Heygate Estate. And pipes running through every property. The perfect breeding ground and transport network for cockroaches. They were everywhere. In the ice cubes in the freezer. In my trouser turn-ups when I went to visit a smart relation north of the river. Cowering underneath an avocado when a friend came to supper. One evening I came in, turned on the light, and within two minutes killed over 500 of the little beasts on the kitchen worktop. Where’s St Francis when you need him? What I learned was that as a curate I could convene a meeting and the key players would turn up: Public Health from Southwark Council, the local GP, the Chair of the Tenants’ Association, and a cockroach expert from University College, London. Plus lots of local residents who’d had enough of cockroaches in their beds or their children’s mouths and ears. Together with Rentokil we managed to plan Operation Obliteration for all 4,000 homes, and in due course we were delighted to consign the plague of cockroaches to the history books.
The Church has a history of responding to crises and making a difference. We’ve played a major part in developing both education and healthcare in this country. Church-goers are often willing volunteers in the community: the last statistics I can lay my hands on (admittedly pre-pandemic) suggest 115 million Christian volunteer hours each year. So how to help at the moment, when the country is facing such major energy and financial challenges?
I’m grateful to a recent correspondent who expressed concern about the Cathedral’s upbeat approach, when so many people in this country are staring potential disaster in the face. And I’d love us to do something to help. But I’m not yet sure what we can usefully do. What the Cathedral can always offer is a convening power (on a bigger stage than a newly ordained curate), and a large space in the centre of the city. Again, that’s been our recent experience, when people convened here from all over Devon to remember and give thanks for our beloved Elizabeth II. However, we don’t enjoy the same deep roots as a parish church: you know my relentless refrain that we’re here for everyone in Devon, which I believe with a passion, though it doesn’t give you quite the same local insights or influence that you have when you’re the curate out visiting Win and her chums every fortnight. What is certainly true: we are open to suggestions, and will feed these into the wide-ranging discussions we are already having here at the Cathedral.
And finally… if you have visited us in the last couple of days, you will not have failed to notice the immense preparations underway for tonight’s Grand Nave Dinner. A large number of people have worked phenomenally long and hard to ensure the Dinner’s success, stepping into the very big shoes vacated by Judith Kauntze. We are immensely grateful to Jill Taylor for drawing together so many disparate threads, and to so many who have gone above and beyond; and very much hope that tonight will not only raise much needed funds for our exciting development project, but will also play a part in trumpeting the good news of the project right across the county.
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From the Archives…
Edward the Confessor & Leofric
This document is a grant of lands at Dawlish made by King Edward the Confessor to his chaplain, Leofric, in 1044. The two men were likely close contemporaries in age (born around 1003-5) who had met in France when both were living in exile there.
During the reigns of the Scandinavian kings of England – Sweyn, Cnut and Harald – between 1013 and 1040, Edward lived mostly in exile at the royal courts in Normandy with relations of his mother, Emma (or Ælfgifu) of Normandy. Leofric himself may have gone into exile in France at a similar time, and was educated as a clerk in Lotharingia. It is not certain exactly when the two had met, but by around 1039 Leofric had joined Edward’s household as his chaplain. In 1041, Edward was invited by his half-brother King Harthacanute to return to England, and Leofric came with him. In 1044 Edward rewarded Leofric with lands at Dawlish, and in 1046 he made him Bishop of Crediton. In 1050 Edward himself, accompanied by his Queen, Edith, installed him as the first Bishop of Exeter.
Edward died in 1066, and Leofric six years later, in 1072. Edward was made a saint in 1163 and his feast day is commemorated on 13th October, the dates of two translations of his body into chapels in Westminster Abbey in 1163 and 1269.
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NEWS
Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market Dates Confirmed
We're thrilled to announce that this year's Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market will run from Friday 18 November, to Sunday 18 December. With more than 100 festive chalets, there’ll be something for everyone including delicious global street food, unique local gifts and live entertainment. Photo by Tim Pestridge.
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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
‘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
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
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
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 currently has many exciting employment opportunities available including Canon’s Virger, Learning Officer and Creative Producer.
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REFLECTION
Broken Promises
By Canon Chris Palmer
13 October was the feast day of St Edward the Confessor, who founded Exeter Cathedral in 1050. This homily was preached at the Sung Eucharist on that day. The Gospel reading referred to is Luke 14.27-33. Every promise is a hostage to fortune. We make promises to love, repay, or work for someone, only to find that we can’t keep our promises. 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
J: Jurassic Coast
Exeter Cathedral is built mainly of local stone, including from the JURASSIC COAST: honey-toned sandstone (Salcombe Regis); white chalk (Beer); fossil-rich dark limestone (Purbeck).
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