|
Viewpoint from Rev Liz Dawes 21/03/2025
 Rev Liz Dawes
Curate, Great Yarmouth Team Ministry
I have just come back from a week’s placement at Norwich Cathedral. It’s part of a curate’s training that we are given an insight into how our Cathedral church operates on a daily basis as it goes about its daily rhythm of prayer and worship as well as welcoming the many thousands of visitors who flock there from around the world each year. It has an added attraction until the autumn in that Paddington Bear has found a comfortable bench in the close for anyone who stops by for a photo
My days started early, at 7.30am as the Dean and Precentor and the cathedral canons, along with a few members of the public gather together, while the cathedral was still quite dark inside, to say Morning Prayer. This is followed by the first Holy Communion of the day, in one of the many chapels at the east end of the building
 The day quickly becomes busy with the education team setting up for school groups to come in; the chaplains and guides taking their places to greet the many visitors who enter – some to see the magnificent building, some to pray or seek out some pastoral help. The choristers rehearse every morning, filling the air with beautiful sound, ready for Evensong that evening
The busy refectory begins serving delicious coffee and cakes and the shop opens up its lovely array of gifts and mementoes. The day is punctuated by moments of prayer on the hour, given by one of the chaplains, and music fills the air as the organists rehearse or pupils from Norwich School come to give a recital
The day ends beautifully with Choral Evensong at 5.30pm, when we get to hear the Cathedral Choir, in one of its many forms, sing the office of Evening Prayer and finish the day with a beautiful anthem. They must be one of the best choirs in the country. If you’ve never been to Norwich Cathedral, do take the opportunity to go and see it. There’s no admission charge
Do also pop into our beautiful churches around Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, not least St. Nicholas’ Minster which is the largest church in the country and has the most stunning stained-glass windows. A visit to a church is more than just the appreciation of a historic building. It’s an opportunity to be still, reflect, pray and seek the presence of God
The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Yarmouth, and are intended to stimulate constructive and good-natured debate between website users
These views are personal ones and are intended to stimulate constructive debate. We welcome your thoughts and comments, posted at the bottom of the relevant article. We would ask you to abide by our forum rules and may delete any comments which do not
We welcome your thoughts and comments, posted below, upon the ideas expressed here
Click here to read our forum and comment posting guidelines
|
|
|
|
