CATHEDRALS PLEDGE TO STUDY TOGETHER
Following the first ever ecumenical study afternoon on Saturday (Nov 15) at the Chapter House, Chelmsford, the two cathedrals in Essex - in Chelmsford and Brentwood (with co-terminous boundaries) - pledged to continue working together on ecumenical matters, in particular the place of the Blessed Virgin Mary in religious life and as a symbol of Christian unity.
The speakers, the Revd Canon Martin Warner, Canon Treasurer of St Paul's Cathedral and the Revd Monsignor Andrew Faley, Assistant General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, urged Christians to work on the Agreed Statement of 2005 by the two churches of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission with the title, "Mary, Grace and Hope in Jesus Christ,"
"It was a good statement that inspired us to set up this joint study day and give it this title. As we sing Mary's Song, day by day, it will be good to spend some time on Mary the person, who first sang the song and lived it," said the co-chairman, the Very Revd Peter Judd, Dean of Chelmsford supported by his colleague, the Right Revd Thomas McMahon, RC Bishop of Brentwood.
Later the participants from both diocese attended Vespers sung in Chelmsford Cathedral at which Bishop Thomas gave the blessing. Congratulations were offered to Canon Warner on his appointment as the new Suffragan Bishop of Whitby, N.Yorks.
LECTURES ON OTHER FAITHS
The second public Keene Lecture at the Cathedral by Dr Nicholas Adams, Acting Director of the Cambridge Inter-faith Project takes place on Wednesday (Nov 18) and the third, on Wed, Nov 25, both at 8pm. Free admission: retiring collection.
EXCHANGING BLOWS …IN MUSIC
The concert on Friday (Nov 20) at the Cathedral will be given by three artists, "Exchanging Blows"(clarinet, saxophone and piano) at 12.30. All welcome.
ROUSING WELCOME FOR NEW VICE DEAN
Spontaneous applause greeted the announcement at services on Sunday (Nov 15) on the appointment of the Revd Canon Ivor Moody, University chaplain at ARU as the new Vice Dean to take over from Canon Walter King on his retirement in January. (SEE PRESS RELEASE SENT OUT ON NOV 12).
ENDS