FLOWER LADIES TAKE OVER CATHEDRAL
Chelmsford Cathedral will be crowded with 10,000 blooms this week as part of the Festival of Flowers, "Ode to Joy" running from Friday, Oct 9 to Mon, Oct12th. The Cathedral will be open each day from 10am (12 noon on Sunday) to 5pm with displays by 100 exhibitors from more than 40 flower clubs throughout Essex.
The Festival will also include a programme of music and refreshments served in the Chapter House. A formal launch of the event will take place on Thursday evening (6.30pm) with a reception given by the sponsors, LloydsTSB. A formal dinner among the flower displays with Giles Coode-Adams, President of the Royal Horticultural Society, as guest speaker, takes place on Friday (all tickets sold). Members of the public may purchase tickets for the Festival of Flowers at the south door at £7 ( (£6.50 concessions) daily from Friday at 10.am. All are welcome.
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR WORSHIP
During the Festival there will be services in the Mildmay Chapel of the Cathedral (enter by south-east) door and the Jacob Room in the Chapter House will be open for private prayer throughout the period. A Festival Eucharist takes place on Sunday at 10am, when the address will be given by the Dean, the Very Revd Peter Judd. The Dean will also offer a meditative guide on the theme of the Festival, the stations of the Resurrection, from 3pm to 4pm and there will be Choral Evensong as usual at 6pm.
HUNDREDS ATTEND MIRACLE PLAY
The Cathedral staged the miracle play, "The Nativity" by Tony Harrison last weekend (Oct 1-3rd) the first time such a play has been performed for 450 years. The producer was Alison Woollard with special music composed by retired Chelmsford music teacher, Eric Withams. A thousand people attended the four performances.
MENCAP CELEBRATE TEN YEARS
Hundreds of people packed the Cathedral on Sunday afternoon (Oct 4) for the annual MENCAP service introduced by Liz Mullen, of Garrison Radio. The Lord Lieutenant of Essex, the Lord Petre, received cheers from the children to mark the tenth anniversary service entitled, "One more Step". Schools and clubs involved included, Thriftwood, School, Galleywood; Dance 21 club and clubs from Clacton, Basildon and Thurrock. The Vice-dean, the Revd Canon Walter King led the prayers and the service was arranged by Peter Turrall, President of Chelmsford MENCAP. Civic leaders included the Mayor and Mayoress of Chelmsford, Cllr and Mrs Tony Sach.
ENDS