21st September 2013
The day began with the AGM in the Education Room, followed by coffee in the Lady Chapel. At 11.00 all gathered in the stunning new nave for the Jubilee service. This had been arranged with the clergy and the Trust and embodied all our favourite hymns, and readings by our chairman David Quick and by Revd Dr Liz Smith representing the Methodist church. The choir sang beautifully throughout but was especially impressive in the psalm and the anthem ‘How lovely are thy dwellings’, by Brahms.
We were given a talk on the Trust by Richard Carr-Archer who outlined the origins and the people whose vision had formed the Trust. This was followed by the sermon from the Dean, who reminded us of the commitment of former Trustees in their vision to initiate and maintain the Trusts aims. He urged the Trustees to be bold and innovative for the future as the task of protecting our Christian heritage becomes ever more challenging.
After the service the Dean, The Very Rev Jonathan Greener gave us a fascinating and amusing talk on the renovations, with insights into opposition and locating the exact items he needed over the 9 years it had taken. The Cathedral has benefited by his patience as everything looked amazing, full of light and usable space.
Lunch followed in the Lady Chapel where we partook of a very generous buffet with more than we could eat, sitting in the rows of seats in the south aisle and chatting to our supporters who had come.
Those members who wished to visit the Chantry Chapel gathered by the South Door and proceeded on the long march to the chapel where we were met by Kate Taylor who has been a champion of the chapel for years. She told us of the history, being built in 1356 when the wooden bridge was replaced by stone. There are only 3 chantry chapels left in the country. Services are held there regularly and we were delighted to be able to descend to the crypt.
Intrepid Trust members then crossed the road to visit the Hepworth gallery, where we all finished the day with a well-earned cup of tea in the café. The Trust is extremely grateful to the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral and to Malcolm Warburton who organised the choir.
By Jane Hedley
YHCT Trustee