News

Dear friends

Next year, in 2025, Stavanger Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Norway, celebrates its 900th anniversary. In preparation for this milestone, the ancient building was closed to enable comprehensive restoration inside and out.  Now after four years of work, the ancient cathedral, cleaned, restored and furnished with new facilities and access provision has been re-opened to great celebration

Winchester Cathedral is linked with Stavanger Cathedral as ‘partner in mission’.  The relationship between our cathedrals goes back right to the beginning, when Bishop Reinald was sent to be Bishop there in about 1100.  As Reinald set out on his sea journey, he carried with him a holy relic in the form of part of an arm bone of our own St Swithun.  Although the whereabouts of the relic is now unknown, the historic link between our two cathedrals is alive and well.

It was a great pleasure for me to be there, along with Robin and Sheila, and Terry Redstone for both the re-opening Eucharist and the first concert that began a week of celebratory activities and events. The warmth of welcome that we received just added to the joy of the occasion. Oivind, Acting Dean during much of the restoration work wrote to me this week:

‘Stavanger Cathedral reminds us that we are part of something much greater than ourselves, both in time and space. Your presence during these important days for us highlights these. Thank you so much, and thank you for the strong bonds of friendship with Winchester over many years.

I am sure that we would echo these sentiments ourselves, about Winchester Cathedral; that it reminds us we are part of ‘something greater than ourselves, both in time and space’ and that relationships can remind us of who we are.  Winchester Cathedral is in historic relationships with five partners in mission, as commemorated in the beautiful etched window by Tracey Sheppard at the entrance to the Epiphany Chapel; Stavanger Cathedral, Norway; The Benedictine Abbey of Fleury, France;  Namirembe Cathedral Uganda; Newcastle Cathedral and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Yangon, Myanmar. Some of you will have visited these places and some of you will have got to know them well. These relationships enable us to experience the Christian Church as it is beyond ourselves, a worldwide fellowship encompassing every race and language, with a myriad of difference expressions each reflecting context and custom.  We all have something to offer and something to learn.  We are united in Christ.

Amongst all that was familiar in the worship of Stavanger Cathedral and all that was different, in the joy of celebration of the Eucharist in the Cathedral both old and new, we knew that we were part of something greater than ourselves, in time and space, part of a world-wide and eternal company of disciples – including Bishop Reinald and St Swithun!

I recorded a short video from Stavanger, in the newly reopened cathedral, which you can view below.

Next weekend we look forward to welcoming the musicians back for the new Choral year, including new members of the choirs and probationers, the Interim Director of Music, Andrew Lucas, and the new sub-organist, Oliver Morrell.  I know that you will offer them all a warm welcome.

I will close with this prayer (slightly adapted) by Thomas Ken 1637 – 1711 former Prebendary of Winchester Cathedral and Bishop of Bath and Wells, appropriate for every church and cathedral,

O God, make the door of this church wide enough

to receive all who need human love and fellowship,

but narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife.

Make is threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children

nor to straying feet, but strong enough

to turn back the tempters power.

God make the door of this church

a gateway to your eternal kingdom.

Amen

With blessings and best wishes,

The Very Revd Catherine Ogle

Dean of Winchester