In John’s Gospel, the disciples join Jesus through a sort of domino effect. Jesus finds Philip and Philip then finds Nathanael to tell him who he has met. When Nathanael questions whether Jesus can really be that special, Philip’s reply is, ‘Come and See!’ Come, see and learn for yourself who Jesus is.
Those who know the cathedral will know that it too is built for a journey to the cross of Jesus. From the great west doors there is a direct route down the nave, up through the choir screen, then up to the presbytery and high altar.
It’s a dramatic processional route that perhaps only those involved with leading liturgy are familiar with. Others tend to sit in one place during worship or wander around the outside of the building to peer into its nooks and crannies.
The important thing, though, is that the dynamics of its architecture continue to draw visitors to the heart of the building and an encounter with Christ crucified on the altar screen, while also giving visitors space and reason to move around and explore more widely, as their interest draws them.
We need people in the cathedral whose mission is to help people to discover this sacred space, people who can work at the busy intersection of many interests and passions, allowing visitors freely to question, wonder and learn (remembering that disciple means ‘learner’). We trust that their desires will draw them closer to the heart of the faith represented in stone, wood and glass – the worship of God revealed in Jesus Christ.
I am writing this because we need new volunteer Cathedral Guides to undertake this highly skilled mission. There is rigorous training, and a high degree of commitment necessary, but those who are finally accepted join a Guild full of interesting, motivated people who continue to help each other to grow in knowledge and understanding, and who offer friendship and support to each other through thick and thin. If you would like to come and see what it means to be a guide, please do contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Sarah Williams: sarah.williams@winchester-cathedral.org.uk.
It’s been very pleasing to see guides coming to workshops, led by the Cathedral Curator Eleanor Swire and academic staff from the University of Winchester, about Contested Heritage. Behind the headline-grabbing headlines about toppling statues lies some very important issues about history and how it is written to emphasise some people and values while excluding others.
These workshops have shown that we need to enrich the stories and symbols of past events, usually to complement rather than contradict the traditions handed on to us. Sometimes the conversations have been challenging, but it has been worth being challenged so that we slowly grow in the ability to offer our guests a wider and genuinely sympathetic welcome, more pliable to their perspectives and more willing to journey beyond our comfort zones.
The cross of Jesus resonates with this struggle to learn deeply. Big questions always involve the death of old understandings and periods when we are discomforted by the claims of truth. The first disciples who followed Jesus – the way, the truth and the life – experienced this, and all seekers after truth at the greatest breadth and depth will still find this today.
