Companions
From Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
Contents |
Companions' AGM, Service and Dinner
Sunday 18th May - meet in the Loaves and Fishes at 3.45pm.
The Dean Comments
2008 – A Year of Celebration Next year is an important one for the Diocese and the Cathedral. One hundred and fifty years ago, 1858, Queen Victoria issued the letters patent enabling the new Diocese of Wellington to be constituted. As our Bishop writes in his introduction to the “Sesqui Centennial Calendar”, ‘we provide a rich tapestry of worship and pastoral support, evangelism, education and spiritual renewal with an inspiring Cathedral, 62 parishes, 100 churches big and small, 13 church-related schools, City Missions and social service providers, 180 licensed active clergy, 250 licensed lay ministers and many more faithful, active lay people.’
The story of the Diocese is being told in a delightful collection of photos, stories and prayers put together in the form of a desk calendar (held in a CD size case). Each of the seven archdeaconries features for a month over the year, telling its story and drawing attention to pilgrimages on offer in the particular area.
As Anglicans in the Diocese of Wellington we will gather on Waitangi Day (which next year is also Ash Wednesday) for worship at Rangiatea, Otaki. Throughout the year events and pilgrimage will help us celebrate the past and look forward to the future. The year will end with a splendid service on All Saints’ Day, 1st November, in the Cathedral.
The Calendar’s are available in the Cathedral from choir member Megan Nelson, and from local parishes.
A few days later, on 14 May 1964, the servers, each carrying those symbols of worship, and crucifer, with the Bishop and his chaplains, moved up Molesworth Street to stand in the Bishop Holland porch. Bishop Baines knocked at the wooden door, the sound reverberating through the interior of the Cathedral. The Dean gave leave to enter and proceed with the dedication. The altar table was bare, so the first task was to spread the fair linen cloth, position the candlesticks and light them – all under the glare of television and movie camera teams and in the presence of the Governor General. Perhaps the most dramatic moment occurred when a young man stood before the congregation and challenged the people to continue with the construction ‘until all be thoroughly finished’.
David Luke: Calendar extract November 08.
Frank Nelson, Dean
Of Interest
- October 2007: A Golden Wedding Anniversary
Richard and Helen Prothero celebrated their Golden Jubilee with family and friends. The Cathedral Voices presented the Prothero’s with a musical memory of their time and commitment to Cathedral life on Wednesday 17 October 2007, a night to remember with smiles.
- 20 November 2007: Diamond Jubilee
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Phillip. You may be interested to know that their Highnesses are to take time away from the watching crowds to celebrate their Anniversary in Malta, where their married life began.
- 2 December 2007: Darkness to Light
Companions Soiree begins at 7pm in the Loaves and Fishes. All Cathedral Companions and friends are welcome to this annual event, for the price of a Gold Coin donation. You are invited to enjoy mulled or chilled wine at $3 a glass (fruit juice and water is free) with hot mince pies and conversation being the gift for the start of the season. We look forward to seeing many of you for this happy event. At 8.30pm we will all move to the Cathedral for the wonderful and moving Darkness to Light Service that marks the start of Advent 2007.
Two Special Events for Companions in 2008
- 2 February 2008: the Companions Garden Party, which is held to mark the start of the Cathedral’s 2008 Patronal Festival that weekend. Our Garden Party will be held “Wet or Fine”. The charge will be $12:00 per person and complimentary fruit juice with wine $3:00 per glass. There will be entertainment to please the ear.
- 18 May 2008: the 18th Annual General Meeting of the Cathedral Companions of St Paul. You are requested to be seated for the AGM at 3:45pm sharp, in the Loaves and Fishes. Then following the AGM we will attend Evensong in the Cathedral. Dinner will be at 6:45pm following Evensong, with drinks and conversation to be followed by a generous repast and a speaker to cheer your mid autumn woes. Perhaps many of you are unaware that this Sunday is Cathedral Companions Festival Sunday and friends are most welcome to attend too.
Starting Young
These two prove that an early start on Bible Study pays dividends in the form of Eternal Life! Picture taken in the Friendship Centre, used as a crèche on Sunday mornings.
Other News
- The Royal School of Church Music will be holding a Hymn Festival at the Cathedral at 2pm on Sunday 18 November 2007.
- Don’t forget to buy your copies of the new Compact Disc by the Cathedral of St Paul’s Wellington Choir. It will make a marvellous gift for your family and friends and it will assist the Choir’s financial preparations for their overseas trip in 2008.
- Arts Encompassing will begin on 22 February 2008 at the Cathedral, watch out for more news and information about this wonderful event.
- The spoken of visit to Stansborough is postponed until 2009 – an event that your Committee look forward to sharing with you all.
- The Cathedral Vestry has invited Dean Emeritus Michael Brown to preach at the Patronal Festival on 3 February, when a new plaque will be unveiled.
- The Annual Festival of the Friends of St Paul’s in London, England.
It was nice to know that our relationship with this glorious Cathedral was reconfirmed with the presence at their Annual Festival of the Friends of St Paul of our Companions Secretary, Valerie Whisker and her husband Bryan, as well as their son Peter and his wife Susan. It was a very humbling event, memorable for the music and the grandeur of the surroundings. There was a special recital for the Duchess of Gloucester, Patron of the Friends of St Paul’s, by the Cathedral Choir under the Dome of St Paul’s. Should you wish to become a Friend of St Paul’s in London then do speak to our own Companions Secretary, Valerie Whisker.
A Diamond Jubilee
On the 18 September Philip and Jean Liner celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary with family and friends and a few special moments at St Paul’s Cathedral a weekend later. The celebrations were made especially memorable in that their son Adrian and their two grown up grand children, Barry and Vicky, had travelled from England to help celebrate this momentous event – 60 years of togetherness.
Long time Companions of the Cathedral and known for their never ending friendship with the Cathedral, Jean and Philip are also known to many Cathedral Companions for their steadfast support and cheerful, happy friendship with all Companions.
Jean had asked Michael Fulcher, Director of Musical at the Cathedral, whether it would be possible for the piece that she and Philip commissioned from Philip Walsh, for their Golden Wedding Anniversary to be played at the Service on the Sunday following their Diamond Anniversary. “Of course we can” said a smiling Michael. The Liners thoroughly enjoyed the memories that the music brought back to them as it was sung as the Introit by the Cathedral Choir.
They were taken aback when the anthem that night turned out to be a newly commissioned piece by Composer in Residence Andrew Baldwin. And who had commissioned the work this time? Not Philip and Jean, but Ian Raistrick, son of their best man, and a member of the Cathedral team of sides-people! Another moving moment happened when the Dean invited Jean and Philip to come forward for a special prayer of blessing and thanksgiving.
What a wonderful surprise and a delightful gift this new composition was for both of them.
