Deeply moving on Tuesday. We were joined for Evensong by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Exeter, the Polish Consul General and other guests who had come to Exeter for the Polish flag raising ceremony.
During the Second World War, the Polish 307 Squadron from the City of Lvov, now Lviv in Ukraine, were stationed here in Exeter. In May 1942, which is of course when the bomb fell on the Cathedral, this heavily outnumbered squadron prevented four enemy bombers from releasing their full load of bombs on the city below. Thus they saved the city from potential destruction and prevented greater loss of life. On 15 November that year, 80 years ago, as a long-term sign of friendship, the squadron presented the city with a Polish flag during a ceremony outside the West Front of the Cathedral. I had the privilege of blessing this flag (or more accurately its modern successor) on Tuesday morning before it was raised again at the Guildhall.
In a week when we remember all those who gave up their lives for our freedoms, this was a chance to focus particularly on the 58 members of 307 Squadron who were killed during the war, giving thanks for their sacrifice, and praying that we may create the sort of world that will give meaning and purpose to their deaths. Particularly poignant this year with their Ukraine connection. At the end of Evensong, wreaths were laid at the 307 Squadron Memorial in St James’ Chapel.
Every year our Remembrance ceremonies mark the start of a slightly crazy season for the Cathedral. Today, though, 18 November 2022, ascends new heights of craziness. For today, the Cathedral Christmas Market opens, and today also contractors move on site to start building our new cloister.
The 2022 Market is bigger, and we hope better, than ever before. With over a hundred stalls, and two exciting new bar operators. With the Cathedral Christmas Shop, and lots of West Country-based businesses, offering local gifts, food and drink. With the amazingly popular global Street Food Village: in just 50 yards, you can be transported from Devon to France or Morocco or even India and Nepal. Clearly a one-stop shop for your Christmas needs and parties too. And for next year’s birthday presents as well. Apparently footfall has recovered really well in the High Street here in Exeter, so we are expecting the Market to prove equally popular. And we do hope that you will take time out from your shopping expedition to visit us inside the Cathedral – do remember that entry is free for the duration of the Market and through to the beginning of February. In fact, if you haven’t had the chance to visit for a while, this is an excellent time to do so. Why not bring your family and friends as well?
Praise God, the new cloister also starts today: we are expecting the build to last till at least the end of 2023. There was a cloister in the same position until the English Civil War – taken down under Oliver Cromwell. We’re using the original foundations for the new build. That’s why the archaeological investigations outside the Chapter House were so important. To check that the ancient foundations are in a fit condition to be built upon. And the news was all good.
Major new additions like this don’t happen very often to cathedrals. For us in Exeter this is the first big building project since the Pearson building was completed in the late 19th century. It’s the first real addition to the cathedral itself since the construction of the Speke and Oldham chapels, some 500 years ago
There are a number of reasons for building this cloister. It will serve as a corridor to join up a number of buildings, permitting a covered and accessible journey from the Cathedral to the 13th century Chapter House next door and on to the 19th century Pearson building in the corner – where the café used to be, and where our new shop will be. It will provide a decent reception area for stand-alone events, but also for interval drinks for concerts and so on, when it can if needs be operate in conjunction with the Chapter House. It will also provide a gallery space for exhibitions and interpretation. It will provide a great backdrop for events in the cloister garden: plays or concerts. It will guide our visitors into the new shop and then, by way of the fantastic but rarely seen 19th century Pearson staircase, will lead them upstairs to a new Treasures Gallery. There will of course be a lift for those who cannot use the stairs. And perhaps most exciting of all, it will give access to a new set of loos on the south side of the Chapter House, finally making the miserable facilities downstairs redundant.
It is such a relief for the project to start, having been so long in the planning, and very exciting to be putting up a building that will be here for at least the next 500 years. A number of people are keen to be part of the long-term future of Exeter Cathedral. One way of doing this is by sponsoring a stone in the new cloister – full details are on the Cathedral website. It’s a great way to help preserve this most important part of Devon’s heritage for future generations, just as previous generations have for us.
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From the Archives…
Wills in the Cathedral Archives
Although by their nature they are records relating to a death, wills and probate inventories provide fascinating information about the lives of the people who made them: their property and possessions, and their connections to family, friends and communities.
The Cathedral Archives has wills from five different members of the Collecote family, who lived in and around Exeter in the 13th and 14th centuries. This is the will and probate inventory of Lucy de Collecote, a wealthy widow from the parish of St Mary Steps, Exeter, who died in 1324. It provides hugely detailed information about her house, property, possessions, family members and interests. We learn about her daughter Joan (beneficiary of fine clothes, brassware, textiles and property) and her son Henry. He was to receive brassware and textiles, including “two cloths namely the second best and second worst”. Her sister Mariot was to receive many fine clothes, while her other sister, Christine, would receive a single cameline surcoat.
Devon wills from before 1858 are actually quite rare. The Devon Probate Registry in Bedford Circus, Exeter - which held the wills and administrations proved in Devon over hundreds of years up to 1857 – was destroyed during the Exeter Blitz of 1942. More than 5000 Devon wills are believed to have been lost, and only those that had stayed in private hands or were preserved in archival collections survive. There are more than 50 wills in the Cathedral Archives. They mostly relate either to clergy closely connected to the Cathedral – including some Deans – or from people whose property passed to the Cathedral. Nearly two thirds of these wills are medieval, from the period 1258-1524. The majority of the rest of the wills are from the 1600s, with just a small number from later centuries.
This month’s Library & Archives In Focus: Wonderful Wills takes place in the nave, 11am-1pm on Thursday 24 November.
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NEWS
Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market Opened Today
The Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market opened today. With more than a hundred traders there is a wide range of unique gift ideas, crafts, food and drink. This year’s offerings include original art and homeware from Alison Miles Pottery, Claire Vaughan Designs, CraftExe, Fanciflair, Jonkers, Silkwood Traders, SOZO and Trinity Marine.
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NEWS
Exeter Cathedral Begins First Major New Building Project in 135 Years
Exeter Cathedral is embarking on its most significant building project since 1887, in the first phase of an ambitious new development project. Work began today in the cathedral’s Cloister Garden, where a specialist building team will be recreating a new Cloister Gallery. Image by Acanthus Clews Architects & Marvin Chic
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NEWS
Exeter Cathedral
Chorister Discusses the Joys of Singing
Exeter Cathedral Chorister, Kiah, discussed the joys of singing at the Cathedral in the latest issue of Exeter Living magazine as well as her future ambitions, inspirations and Beyoncé. READ MORE >
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WHAT’S ON
Devon Philharmonic Orchestra: Autumn Concert
Devon Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing at Exeter Cathedral tomorrow at 7:30pm featuring conductor Leo Geyer and leader Clare Smith.
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WHAT’S ON
Library & Archives In Focus: Wonderful Wills
Visit Exeter Cathedral on Thursday 24 November between 11am-1pm to explore some of the wills and inventories from the Cathedral Archives.You may be surprised at the worth of Dean Harward’s Georgian cheese toaster.
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WHAT’S ON
Advent Course: “We
believe... ?”
Join Revd Dr Christopher Bryan's Advent Course at Exeter Cathedral for an exploration of the Creeds in the light of Scripture. The course will take place on Thursdays from 24 November to 15 December.
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WHAT'S ON
Teachers Rock – A Night of Mystical Music in the Nave
Teachers Rock will be performing at Exeter Cathedral on 24 and 25 November, bringing together their South West choir of educators plus youth choirs from across the region for a night of inspirational contemporary choral singing.
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SERVICES
Advent & Christmas at Exeter Cathedral
We'd love for you to join us for our Advent and Christmas Services at Exeter Cathedral starting with Christingle on Saturday 26 November and an Advent Procession with carols by the Cathedral Choir on Sunday 27 November.
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REVIEW
Book Review
Kazuo Ishiguro
Klara and the Sun
Review by Dr Mike D Williams
Winner of the Nobel prize in Literature and the Brooker Prize, Kazuo Ishiguro’s latest book, published in paperback this year, is a deep and thoughtful reflection on what it means to be human, have emotions and love others. Set at some time in the future when artificial intelligence is developed to the extent that robots can act as an ‘Artificial Friend’ (AF) to humans.
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REFLECTION
“Become More Like Children”
By Canon Cate Edmonds
I have to say it gives me great joy when I walk through the Cathedral during the day to see visitors with small children walking or sometimes running around the nave. I am particularly taken when I see the smallest ones toddling their early steps on our uneven floor.
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THE A-Z
O: Ox
Roof bosses near the High Altar and in the Lady Chapel depict the 4 Evangelists’ symbols. This is St Luke’s OX above the High Altar. The symbols are also found in other carvings & stained glass.
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