| News & Events |
Message from Lord Astor of Hever DL
Rochester Cathedral is a marvellous place – steeped in the history of Kent from Roman times to the present day. It serves not only the Medway towns but also the whole of North and West Kent and even some of suburban London. read more
Newsletter
For up-to-date news
Beacon August & September 2007
Beacon February 2010
Beacon April 2010
Beacon June 2010
Chairman on the move
For the past 11 years we have been privileged to have The Rt Hon The Lord Astor of Hever as Chairman of the Rochester Cathedral Trust. Lord Astor has been a tremendous support to the Cathedral and has exercised his role as Chairman with dignity and aplomb. Now that he has been appointed Under Secretary of State for Defence within the new Government, he is no longer constitutionally allowed to continue as a Trustee and so he will step down with effect from the next meeting.
We are extremely grateful to Lord Astor for his contribution to the Cathedral. His personal and professional support has been hugely appreciated, especially throughout the period of the recent fund raising campaign. We know that we will continue our friendship long into the future, and we wish him well as he takes up new and significant responsibilities in Government.
Watch this space for news on our new Chairman.
Rochester Cathedral Annual Golf Day - Hever Castle Golf Club
Our annual Golf Day will take place on Friday 3rd September 2010 at Hever Castle Golf Club and our Dean, The Very Rev'd Adrian Newman, and Trustee The Hon. Mrs Clare Denison-Pender will be pleased to welcome our teams.
Six have registered so far:
The Chart Players; Team “Le Brock”; Mark Beech; Gerald Lukehurst’s; Clarabells Knights and Dean’s Dynamo’s
It is not too late to register your team of 4 players for £275. Please contact 01634 810074 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Registration at 11.30 followed by a light lunch, 18 holes of Golf on this wonderful course and finishing with presentation and drinks. Prizes include £150 Nearest the Pin for both Ladies and Gentlemen plus a £500 Hole in One.
We are very grateful to Leeds Castle for their raffle contribution of a 1 year Family visit ticket for 5 people at Leeds Castle.
CLASSIC CINEMA IN THE CATHEDRAL
A 'Land Girl', an American GI, and a British soldier find themselves together in a small Kent town on the road to Canterbury. The town is being plagued by a mysterious "glue-man", who pours glue on the hair of girls dating soldiers after dark. The three attempt to track him down, and begin to have suspicions of the local magistrate, an eccentric figure with a strange, mystical vision of the history of England in general and Canterbury in particular.
Rochester Cathedral are pleased to present a showing of this classic film on Saturday 11th September at 7pm. Ticket price £10 (including drinks) £8 concession available from 01634 810074 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on the door.
We are delighted to have Nick Walker, film programmer, presenter and critic, to give us a scene setting introduction to this film. More information on www.theothercinema.info
Adidas Women's 5km Challenge - Hyde Park 5th September
We have 34 ladies registered to take part in the run this year and with all the friends and family that are coming along to support we will be such a big party in Hyde Park this year! 2010 sponsor forms are still available from the Development Office in Garth House on 01634 810074 or Click here for 2010 Sponsor form.
We have coaches booked to take the participants and supporters up to Hyde Park and have a bright Team T Shirt for all the runners.
Please let us know if you would like to join us, bring your picnic - we would love to see you.
The Very Rev'd Adrian Newman's End to End Bike Challenge July 2010
We have raised £10,632.30 so far (fantastic!) If you would like to contribute please go to www.justgiving.com/rochestercathedraltrust
An extended version of Adrian's blog is available on request, please contact Lynne on 01634 810074 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Day 12 - Sunday 1st August 2010 (Follow Adrian Newman on Facebook too)
Arrived JOG at 3.30pm, now in Thurso chilling out before driving home tomorrow. Wrote my entry in the book at JOG next to someone who had written "End to End in 11 days - never again" and felt exactly the same sentiment!
Day 11 - Saturday 31st July (Follow Adrian Newman on Facebook too)
No wireless again! Another long day and nearly a disaster towards the end when I arrived in Cromarty for the ferry to Nigg only to find the owners had sold it and the new one hadn’t arrived. Only way round was 60 mile detour and I’d already done 70 with a further 25 to go. Was saved by an unlikely Good Samaritan who ferried me across in his tiny boat bailing out water all the time. I could have hugged him!
Arrived tired and wet again – it’s rained every day bar one.
Tomorrow the forecast is bad again – driving rain and a head wind. I just want this to be over now – I have never done anything so physically and mentally challenging in my life.
Day 10 - Friday 30th July (Follow Adrian Newman on Facebook too)
Wasn't looking forward to today and felt very intimidated by the Cairngorms, but as often is the case the day turned out better than expected. Got up early and managed to get through my morning routine (to set up the bike, hydrate, eat a good breakfast, pack up stuff for the car, and stuff for my backpack - all of which takes AGES!) in order to be away for just after 7.30am. Good initial run to Cally Bridge, which is where you start to climb - for the next 60 miles. Met Jack at the Spitall of Glenshee and we shared the sandwiches he had brought, then he took his own bike off the rack and cycled 5-6 miles with me, which was great - ending up cycling the hill enormous up the Spitall, at which point he turned back and I carried on alone. Scenery was even more stunning than ever, with the run between Braemar and Balmoral some of the loveliest country I've ever seen.
Nodded respectfully at the Queen (the flag was flying at Balmoral) and then headed up towards Tomintoul for the most ENORMOUS hills after Cock Bridge. Just couldn't believe how steep and long they were! By the end of it my legs were complete jelly, but by that time it was only another 6 miles to Tomintoul and I gratefully sank into an amazing bath when I got to our B&B. This 100 miles was some of the toughest and yet most beautiful cycling I've ever experienced. Only 2 days to go now.
The end is in sight, and whatever the wind, weather and hills tomorrow I know that if I can just reach Dornoch then there will only be a single day left. I really appreciate all the messages of support from people - at the difficult times they are all that keeps you going.
Day 9 - Thursday 29th July
Still no wireless again and only a limited mobile signal! Today started with another 1000 foot climb but the views were amazing. Cycled through Edinburgh and across Forth Bridge and then up to tonight’s stop Auchterarder. Very tired and tomorrow threatens to be hardest yet – 45 miles from here I hit the Cairngorms and I’ve got another 60 miles cycling in territory the guide describes as VERY STRENUOUS. Not looking forward to it. May be an even shorter message tomorrow!
Please support me in my End to End Challenge www.justgiving.com/rochestercathedraltrust
Thank you so much!
AN
Day 8 - Wednesday 28th July (Follow Adrian Newman on Facebook too)
I’m using Jack's blackberry so will be slow and short! Really hard work these last few days, especially today. Climbed twice the height of Ben Nevis and cycled 100 miles today. Weather continues to be demoralising and probably came as close as possible to giving up earlier on today. Motto has had to be: that which does not destroy me strengthens me. Scenery of Lake District wonderful, and today I reached Scotland. Lots of hills and my route took me through isolated, desolate but beautiful country.
Kept going by wonderful text messages from friends. Legs tonight sore and stiff but I hope this may have been my lowest point and now I'm through it. We shall see! Last night we were in Grasmere where Jack met me. Tonight in Traquair. Sorry not a long write up but no wireless up here and this keypad is tiny!
Day 7 - Tuesday 27th July (Follow Adrian Newman on Facebook too)
No signal today but Adrian arrived safely in Grasmere in the Lake District.
DAY 6 – MONDAY 26 July (follow Adrian Newman on Facebook too)
Had a really difficult day today, rotten weather and everything got soaked. I took a wrong turn in torrential rain and did an extra 8 miles which I could have done without! I also had a bit of mechanical trouble with the bike, so all in all not a good day. One more day of carrying everything on my back. I am looking forward to Jack arriving tomorrow night. This is ten times harder than the London Marathon!
DAY 5 - SUNDAY 25th JULY (Follow Adrian on Facebook too)
Today was a long cycle, darting in and out between England and Wales all day and trying to hug the flatter land from the Black Mountains to just North of Oswestry. A crow could have flown this much straighter but I was happy to meander around the countryside looking for the level ground!
It was meant to be almost exactly 100 miles but 20 miles in to the ride I looked at the map and realised I could take a small detour which would save me 4 miles, so I did - making the day 96 miles in total.
Once again, the wind was against me for much of the day, restricting my speed and probably adding an extra hour's cycling to the day - which isn't much fun when your legs are aching and your backside is already saddle-sore.
But the flatter terrain was a Godsend and even if I was slow it was much more bearable than it has often been to date.
It's interesting - I had specifically chosen to cycle this on my own, and had been looking forward to some solitude. But I've found that it's a long and sometimes lonely day in the saddle, because rather than ambling along leaving your mind a certain latitude to mull over the meaning of life, you're constantly checking for potholes in the road, watching the traffic, avoiding lorries (lorry drivers have become the thing I would consign to Room 101), checking and re-checking your route (I decided against forking out £400 for a cycle GPS that would have told me exactly when to take a turn, opting for the slightly lower-tech solution of writing out basic directions and sellotaping them to my handlebars), and making sure you're properly hydrated and nourished. Oh yes, and every few minutes telling yourself not to be such a wimp because loads of people have done this and it's not really hurting you half as much as you think it is.
None of which leaves much time for appreciating the scenery or deep and meaningful private conversations with self.
So today it was lovely when an Irishman drew alongside on his bike and rode with me for about 10 miles or so. I enjoyed the company and regretted having to turn off on my route. Maybe if I did this again (ha ha - no chance) I would do it differently.........
Anyway, a long, tiring day but it was lovely to arrive at our B&B for tonight, directly opposite Whittington Castle. Home from home!
Tomorrow I set off unaided and unsupported for 48 hours. Another unexplored aspect of the odyssey so far.......
DAY 4 - SATURDAY 24TH JULY (Follow Adrian on Facebook too)
Today was the first of the longer rides, and it's been a mixed sort of a day. The first section, through the Somerset Levels, was great - as the name suggests, nice and level! Wedmore, Cheddar and Axbridge, picking up the A38 to Bristol (up a much bigger hill than I remember being here when we used to live down this way), left at Barrow Gurney and then the big hill up into Failand, leading into Bristol over the Clifton Suspension Bridge. This was a trip down memory lane, as we lived in Bristol for 8 years and knew the city, especially Clifton and Redland, well. Cycled past one of the places we used to live, and then past my old theological college, before heading out of the city up towards Cribbs Causeway and the last few miles to the Severn Bridge.
Then it was in to Wales, through Chepstow, and I met up for lunch with Gill at Tintern Abbey, the stunning ruined abbey on the banks of the River Wye - another place we both have fond memories of. 
The last stretch was the hardest for me - OK to Monmouth, following the river, but then my route took me cross country through the Welsh hills. They didn't look anything much on the map but that only goes to prove that maps can be highly misleading! My legs were already tired after 75 miles, but the last hour and a half was murder, up and down some pretty steep climbs. Decided that someone must have been out covering the roads in treacle, so slow was my pace by now. Had a funny moment (in retrospect) as I was heading for Grosmont, only for it to suddenly dawn on me what 'Grosmont' meant! Absolutely enormous mont more like.
But eventually arrived at the Lancaster Arms in Pandy, the only place I could find to stay for miles around because there is a big choral festival this weekend at Abbey Dore, which is where we are MEANT to be tonight! Involves a 10 mile detour that to be honest I could have done without.
Never mind. 4 days down, only another 8 to go. I could stop now and feel that I'd already done enough! But I'll just have to plough on.
There are moments when you can loook around and appreciate the sheer beauty and grandeur of the scenery you're travelling through, and then there are moments when all you can think about is how tired your body feels. I cannot believe how the winds seem to have been northerlies this week! The whole point of travelling in this direction - from Lands End to John O Groats - is to catch the prevailing south westerly breezes, but apart from the first day these seem to have perversely switched around and been in my face. Maybe tomorrow will bring a southerly wind............
DAY 3 - FRIDAY 23rd JULY 2010 (Follow Adrian Newman on Facebook too)
It wasn’t until half way through the night that my heart rate returned to normal after the exertions of the hills yesterday, so I didn’t sleep very well and I guess I was a bit anxious about how my body would cope with another ride today – especially when the B&B owner (who’s a cyclist) told me that the route I’d chosen today continued to be very hilly and difficult!
BUT...........it’s been a MUCH better day, and all I can say is that the hills of Devon and Somerset are not a patch on the hills of Cornwall! Yes, it was still hilly, but nothing even approaching the Himalayas of yesterday. And once I was up on the top of the moors the cycling even began to approach something vaguely resembling FLAT. Fantastic.
So I’ve managed today without too much trouble, and arrived in Bawdrip (at our friends’ house) at 2.45pm, much earlier than I had planned (Gill didn’t get there until half an hour later!)
The route has been through some of the loveliest countryside in Devon and Somerset, and the weather has been great – lots of sunshine but not too hot, and although the wind continued to be unpredictable it was pretty light so didn’t make too much difference even when it was in my face.
Actually met up with a couple of other cyclists today – I have passed absolutely nobody else in either direction cycling the route I took the first 2 days, which probably tells me something!
I’m struggling to eat as much as I’m meant to be eating – there are only so many calories you can pour into your body each day! So Gill now tells me that I’m starting to waste away.
But I’ve survived 3 days of the 12. I know that these were the ‘short’ days, when I was meant to be acclimatising my body to the ride, and tomorrow the mileage hikes up to 100, which is still more than I’ve ever cycled in one day. So, another new experience to look forward to...........
Sorry no pictures today – by the time I realised there was a lovely view I'd passed it!
AN
DAY 2 – 22nd July 2010 (Follow Adrian Newman on Facebook too)
Day Two not so positive! Tremendously hard day cycling along the north Cornish coast, almost constantly hilly and today with a wind that felt as if it was in my face every inch of the way.
Day dawned with rain in Mawgan Porth, set off up the horrible hill that leads out of MP and that set the tone for the day. The scenery continued beautiful and breathtaking but the hills got steeper and longer. Anything from 1 in 7 to 1 in 3 - if you want something to compare it with, the famous Porlock Hill is only 1 in 4. Add to that the wind against you, and after a while it became almost demoralising to see what the cycling terrain was for most of the day.
Along the way of course the views were amazing. Padstow is a lovely little town and I enjoyed taking the ferry from the harbour across to Rock. I met up with Gill for a coffee in Boscastle - and it's hard to imagine a more picture postcard English seaside village anywhere in the country. I had a reflective moment sitting on a rock at Crackington Haven, scene of some of our family holidays when I was growing up (and with strong memories of both my Dad and my sister Judy). And lunch by the river in Bude in the sunshine (which came out intermittently throughout the day) was another welcome respite from the hills.
But apart from that it was just relentless, and although today was only a mere 66 miles I feel like I've cycled twice that distance. My legs are like jelly and I'm apprehensive about how I will find tomorrow. But who knows what a good night's sleep will do? We've stopped overnight in Great Torrington, which has some pretty startling views of its own - very different from the coastline but equally beautiful.
AN
DAY 1 – 21st July 2010 (Follow Adrian Newman on Facebook too)
Signing in from a sunny Mawgan Porth on the beautiful north Cornwall coast. After so long thinking about and preparing for this trip it was great to get going at last.
Yesterday Gill and I drove down to Lands End and got there about 5pm. It's a fantastic place, if you ignore what the humans have done to it! Lovely evening mooching around the beautiful Sennen Cove and enjoying a bit of sunshine after a very wet journey.
Day One dawned sunny and bright, with a forecast for sunshine, showers, and most importantly a South West wind. Cyclists will understand the importance of this! Had a huge breakfast and suitably fortified with enough calories to feed an army we set off for Lands End just in time to catch the famous 'signpost' being fixed into the ground. Had photos taken underneath it and then began the End to End (a few photos attached) at 9.30am.
Absolutely fantastic first stretch to St Ives along some amazing coastline, dotted with the remains of disused tin mines. Fairly hilly but nothing too bad, and made good progress to a rather over-run St Ives, then picked up the coast road through Hayle, Portreath, Porthtowan (horrible horrible hill out of Porthtowan), Goonvrea and St Agnes to Perranporth where I stopped for lunch. Then on to Newquay, Porth and finally to my first destination Trevvarian, just outside Mawgan Porth.
The route was always going to be hilly, but I don't think I'd realised just how undulating the road was. Basically, it goes like this: every time you come into a coastal town or village the road swoops down an incredibly steep hill to the sea; and then you have to cycle up a monstrous hill to get out! The first time I looked up the hill I was about to climb I thought 'you cannot be serious', but it was. By the end of the ride I knew the score - enjoy the downhills because the road is going to get its own back (the problem is that you can't fully enjoy the downhills because they're so steep you're riding with brakes full on for most of the time!). So, by the time I reached Mawgan Porth, with the rain starting to fall, even though this first day was a mere 60 miles I knew I'd been on a ride.
But it's been a good day. Such incredibly beautiful scenery. Found myself freewheeling down a particularly wonderful stretch of road singing out loud at one point! And by virtue of a fairly short journey today it meant that I arrived in Mawgan Porth early in the afternoon, so after a shower Gill and I headed off for the beach and had a lovely couple of hours strolling around this idyllic place enjoying the sunshine that had now arrived.
AN
To sponsor Adrian on this ride please go to www.justgiving.com/rochestercathedraltrust
LAND'S END TO JOHN O'GROATS BIKE RIDE UPDATE - ROUTE PLAN
Adrian starts his End to End Challenge on Wednesday 21st July 2010.
Wed 21st Land's End to Mawgan Porth (gentle start but very hilly along the northern Cornwall coast)
Thu 22nd Mawgan Porth to Great Torrington (again, fairly short distances but people say to take these early days more slowly than you might want to)
Fri 23rd Great Torrington to Bawdrip (getting longer)
Sat 24th Bawdrip to Pandy (now the longer rides really begin)
Sun 25th Pandy to Whittington
Mon 26th Whittington to Burscough
Tue 27th Burscough to Grasmere
Wed 28th Grasmere to Traquair (over the border.......)
Thu 29th Traquair to Auchterarder
Fri 30th Auchterarder to Tomintoul (possibly the hardest day - very remote, very long climbing day)
Sat 31st Tomintoul to Dornoch
Sun 1st Dornoch to Thurso (stopping just short of John O'Groats so that I can guarantee arriving in the light the next day!)
Mon 2nd Thurso to John O'Groats (just a short hop - 20 miles - down the coast)
So, 12+ days, mileage should be about 1050 (we'll see how accurate the books are!). Weather forecast isn't brilliant but can't do anything about that and I'll just have to take what comes.
Start cycling on Wednesday. I have done over 1000 miles in training but still feel done in after I cycle for just 2 hours! I've also been eating like a horse - I'm told you burn between 5-7000 calories each day on a 100-mile ride, so I'm likely to get through about 75000 calories on this journey. Which is a lot of energy bars and a significant amount of pasta!
AN
LAND'S END TO JOHN O'GROATS BIKE RIDE
being undertaken by the Very Rev'd Adrian Newman, Dean of Rochester
When he takes to the roads on 20th July in 2010, The Very Rev’d Adrian Newman will become one of the first English Cathedral Deans to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
Why is he doing it?
As part of his Sabbatical during the Summer of 2010, the Dean will cycle a 1,000 mile route from Lands End to John O Groat’s, raising money to support the Cathedral’s music tradition. We hope that 1,000 people will sponsor him a penny a mile for 1,000 miles – this will only cost you £10 but will enable Adrian to hit his target of £10,000 in total. Click here for sponsor sheet.
“Thank you for taking the time to support me as I tackle this 1,000 mile Bike Ride. It’s not going to be easy but I couldn’t have a greater incentive than knowing that every penny that I raise will make a major contribution towards keeping the musical tradition at Rochester Cathedral alive. It would be great to think that the people of Medway and Kent will be supporting me all the way”.
Very Rev’d Adrian Newman, Dean of Rochester
For further information please contact the
Development Office on 01634 810074
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
SUMMER CHEESE & WINE EVENING - 28 JULY 7.15pm
We had a lovely evening on 28th July in the Marquee in Kings Orchard where we enjoyed the music of Balgores and Steve O'Kane. Our thanks to Helen Bannister for preparing a delicious Cheese & Paté buffet.
After expenses we raised almost £1,000 which is fantastic!
Our sincere thanks go to the performers and all the helpers, especially Betty Trollope and Jean Callebaut for arranging the raffle and our host John A Spence. Not forgetting the University of Greenwich for letting us use their Marquee.
Our generous raffle prize donors were:
Francis Iles Gallery, High Street Rochester
Topps Hairdressing, Maidstone Road, Rochester
Pips, High Street Rochester
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
STROOD ACADEMY SUPPORTS CHAIR PROJECT
On Friday 9 July, senior students from Strood Academy presented a cheque for £300 to Rev'd Dr Philip Hesketh for two new chairs at Rochester Cathedral.
The money, which has been raised through non-uniform days at the school, was presented at the 6th form assembly on behalf of the academy students. The Rev'd Dr Philip Hesketh said a few words before the cheque was presented. Mr M Hancock of Strood Academy said, “It was a privilege to make this contribution to our community, and we are pleased that funds raised have provided something that be used in our local community for many many years to come”.
WORKS IN PROGRESS (As at November 2009)
By Colin Tolhurst
You may be aware that there are a number of building projects taking place in the cathedral at the moment. The projects that will be undertaken over the next eight months or so are as follows:
- Installation of glazed entrances at the North and Great West doors;
- Refurbishment to the Checkers Yard toilet facilities;
- Installation of a disabled toilet in the old shop store;
- Repairs to Treasury Roof and other associated work in this area
The repairs to the Treasury Roof are not due to start until the other projects have finished. For the other projects I will give you a brief up date of where we’re at and an idea of the scheduling for the immediate future.
GLAZED ENTRANCES
North Door
The glass being used is a low reflecting glass manufactured in Germany. It is on it’s way to the UK and The London Glass Company expects to be in receipt of it by the time this goes to press. The installation of the porch is due to take place overnight and started on 24th November. The first phase of work should be completed by the end of November. All being well, we should be left with a glass shell at the North Door minus the roof and the doors themselves. As this is the disabled entrance there are due to be two openings in the porch, a push button entrance (general entrance) facing the fresco and a trade entrance in line with the current opening.
The glass for the roof will be bent to shape and will be fitted, along with the doors, at a later stage. The aim is that it will be complete and up and running by Christmas. Whilst we are waiting for the roof and doors, measures to make the door safe for use will be put into place. The opening facing the Fresco will be boarded up; a wooden temporary roof will be fitted along with a temporary light. Around the glass edges at the trade opening, pipe-insulating foam will be fixed using hazard tape to identify and reduce the risk of damage to personnel and the glass itself.
There will be limited access through the North Door during this time as the area will be cordoned off to the public. It is hoped, however, that where possible we will be able to achieve disabled access through the door. The aim is to move the desk and units closer to the Fresco during these works but we may have to move them back to their original location.
Great West Door
Work on the Great West Door is due to begin sometime in the New Year.
CHECKERS YARD TOILETS
Work started at the end of November. The toilets are due to be out of use for twelve weeks.
DISABLED TOILET
Work on clearing out the old shop store has started and test pits in the Garth have been dug. Services for the toilets will come from Garth House and the test pits are to establish the condition of the archaeology on the route for the proposed pipe work. Once the archaeologist is happy work will commence in digging the trench. At some point the South Door will need to be closed for a day or two. This will be done in consultation with the diary and at a time when it will cause minimum disruption.
SITE ACCOMMODATION
The hut in the Tea Rooms car park is nearly complete. Getting power and water to the hut is the next challenge!
DAME FELICITY LOTT MASTERCLASS, CONCERT AND DINNER
4th November 2009
The renowned English soprano, Dame Felicity Lott, performed a fabulousConcert and Master Class in aid of the Rochester Cathedral Music Endowment. She was accompanied by Eugene Asti, a most distinguished piano accompanists and musician of today.
The first half of the Concert was a Master Class with four students from schools within the Diocese (as below) , after which Dame Felicity concluded her performance with a recital.
A very special dinner was served in the Crypt after the Concert and Dame Felicity was our honoured guest.
Tabitha Reynolds, King's School Rochester; James Robinson, St Olaves Grammar; Dame Felicity Lott; James Liu, Dartford Boys Grammar; Olivia Capozzi, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School. (Photograph by Mick Gell)
Dame Felicity Lott (photograph by Mick Gell)
The Cathedral Crypt looked absolutely magical and our sincere thanks go to William Bartholomew Party Organising for their generous contribution.
The concert was held to raise funds for the Rochester Cathedral Music Endowment.
Rochester Cathedral is the second oldest foundation in the United Kingdom (only Canterbury is older) and one of the few cathedrals in the country trying to sustain a classic choral tradition without any form of historic music endowment. Most other cathedrals have significant historic resources to support their music tradition, we do not. Despite this, we run three choirs – boys, girls and a voluntary adult choir. The boys are drawn from Kings School, Rochester, the girls from a wider variety of local schools, and we are committed to paying educational bursaries to encourage young people’s involvement, contribution, and personal and musical development.
In 2007 we began the task of creating an Endowment to ensure the future and continuity of the musical tradition at Rochester Cathedral. Our intention over the next ten years is to create an endowment of £2m.
The choirs currently provide exceptional music at over 300 services each year; they are led by a Director of Music and an Assistant Director of Music and supported by a small administrative team and a significant number of volunteers.
If you would like further information on how to support Cathedral Music, please contact:
Development Office
Rochester Cathedral Trust
Garth House
The precinct
Rochester
ME1 1SX
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
01634 810074
REPORT BACK FROM ADIDAS WOMEN’S 5km CHALLENGE
"Team Rochester" met up at the Coach Park on Commercial Road and set off for Hyde Park on Sunday 6th September at 8.30am. We arrived with thousands of other ladies, all there to raise money for their charities.
We had 12 team members on the day.
Back row from left: Lynne Egide; Kay McDowell; Hannah Butler; Jan Butler; Kate Silver; Ann West.
Front row: Joan Todd; Win Lang; Eileen Coleman; Sylvia May; Lisa Parish; Anne Sears.
Congratulations to Lisa in coming in first of our team with a time of 33 minutes, but very special thanks go to the older members of our team for their fantastic effort.
Come ladies! If they can do it – so can you – please join us next year!!
It was a lovely day for a picnic too, plus a great way to raise funds. The total raised will be advised as soon as all the sponsors are collected.
Rochester Cathedral "Sponsor a Chair" Project
On Friday 28th August 2009, 900 of the Cathedral's old, worn-out chairs were replaced with new ones.
You can be part of this exciting project by sponsoring one or more of the new chairs.
Why are the new chairs necessary?
- They are stylish, elegant and remarkably comfortable
- our current chairs are uncomfortable and detract from the beauty of the cathedral
- They can be stacked and moved easily
- a busy cathedral needs flexible seating for different events and services
- They are hard-wearing
- the new chairs have stood the test of time in other cathedrals
- They are safe
- 2 recent fires in other cathedrals were caused by chairs catching fire
Unpacking the chairs
(Photograph courtesy of The Kent Messenger Group)
Each year Rochester Cathedral hosts 1,500 services and events. High-quality seating is a vital part of our hospitality to guests, visitors and worshippers. The Howe 40/4 is one of the most space-saving chairs on the market; it stacks 40 high in only 4 ft (hence the name), and complements the colour and texture of the cathedral's architecture with its elegant design. You will find it in a number of the UK's mediaeval cathedrals.
Sponsoring a chair is a lovely way of helping the cathedral, and at the same time marking the contribution of an individual or an organisation that is important to you. Each chair can bear a plaque with a name requested by the sponsor - this could be your own name or someone you wish to commemorate; it could be the name of a church or parish, a school, club, company, regiment, university, or any other form of organisation.
Each chair costs £150. If you would like to sponsor one or more chairs, please contact Rochester Cathedral Trust, Garth House, The Precinct, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1SX (01634 810074) email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text13654 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Conditions:
- Once sponsored, the chair remains the property of the cathedral and does not entitle the sponsor to any special admission or seating rights.
- The chairs are designed so that they may be moved and stacked when necessary. There is no undertaking to keep a sponsored chair in any part or position in the cathedral.
- While the chairs are expected to last for many years and every effort will be made to avoid damage, no guarantee can be given that any one chair will be in the cathedral for any specific period of time.
- The Dean and Chapter reserve the right to approve what may be inscribed on the plaque.
The Friends of Rochester Cathedral have very kindly contributed £70,000 towards this very expensive project, and our sincere thanks go to them for their continued support of our fund raising projects.
ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL 2010 CALENDAR
We had a fantastic response from parishes of the 604 Society enter a photograph of their parish into a 2010 calendar. We are pleased to advised that a final selection has been made and the calendar has now been printed and is for sale. They will be available at £5 each from the Development Office, The Cathedral Welcome Desk, and the Visitor Information Centre on Rochester High Street from the end of June. The calendar was launched at a reception at Garth House on 24th June, where the photographers were invited for a preview of the calendar.
Back row from left – Michael Luxton; Brian Bunce; Geoff Matthews; Pamela Day; Andy Smith; Stan Codling.
Front row from left – Tony Fairclough; Tony White; Ronald Walford
To view the calendar click here
Our congratulations go to the winning photographers, they are:
January St Barnabas, Beckenham Michael Luxton
February St Mary the Virgin, Horton Kirby Ronald Walford
March All Saints, Footscray Andy Smith
April St Paulinus, Crayford Brian Bunce
May St Botolph, Lullingstone Philip McGarvey
June St Martin, Brasted Pamela Day
July Christ Church, Sidcup DS Codling
August St Edmund King & Martyr
West Kingsdown Tony White
September St Peter & St Paul, Edenbridge Anthony R Tester
October Christ Church, Luton Sue Cherry
November St Margaret, Rainham Tony Fairclough
December Rochester Cathedral Choirs Geoff Matthews
Cover Rochester Cathedral West Front David Robinson
Our very sincere thanks go to our graphic designer, Billie Wootton of Innov8 Graphic Design and Barker's Lithographic Printers for the printing.
We are very grateful to our Trustee Mrs Jean Callebaut, who fully sponsored the calendar. All proceeds will go to the Music Endowment of Rochester Cathedral.
Mrs Jean Callebaut and Very Rev'd Adrian Newman, Dean of Rochester
For an order form click here
JOOLS HOLLAND "CONSIDER THE SOURCE" CD
We are delighted to advise that the CD recording made at the Jools Holland concert held here in the Cathedral in 2007 is now available for sale.
The price is £12.99 inclusive. Should you need us to post it to you, there will be a postage and packing charge of an extra £1.50.
There are ten tracks on the CD.
1. Rock Me with Ruby Turner
2. Precious Lord with Ruby Turner
3. Seven Acts of Mercy with Louise Marshall
4. Consider the Source
5. Where in the World with Beverley Knight
6. A Change is Gonna Come with Beverley Knight
7. Peace in the Valley with Ruby Turner
8 Kyrie with the Wells & Rochester Cathedral Choirs
9. Sanctus with the Wells & Rochester cathedral Choirs
10 .Up Above my Head I hear Music in the Air with the Wells & Rochester Cathedral Choirs
Jools Holland has very kindly donated copies of this CD to both ourselves and Wells Cathedral (where he also performed this concert) and all funds raised will go towards the Cathedral fund raising. Our very sincere thanks go to him and his wonderful team.
Please conatct Lynne in the Development Office at Garth House for your copy.
Tel: 01634 810074
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL CHARITY GOLF MATCH
Rochester Cathedral held it’s first Charity Golf Day at Hever Castle Golf Club on 21st March 2009.
Sandy Gall, CBE and Very Rev'd Adrian Newman
Sandy Gall, Lord Astor of Hever (Chairman) & Tony Montuui (High Sheriff's team)
Lord Astor of Hever joined us to see everybody off on the first tee after delicious bacon rolls and coffee! We were very pleased to have Mr Sandy Gall CBE heading up one of our teams. Our thanks go also to our brilliant local supporters, mhs homes, Lyons Electrical, Ward Security, GEP Safety Consultants, The Brice family, Nigel Wheeler and his High Sheriff team, and our Trustee, the Hon Mrs Clare Denison-Pender and her teams. Our congratulations to the Kentish Cavaliers on winning the day! We received £6,500 in entry fees and donations for the day.
Our thanks to KM Treasure Chest www.kentonline.co.uk and P&O Ferries for their support.
For more information on P&O Ferries please go to www.poferries.com
Our major sponsor for the event is Ward Security of Medway City Estate, Rochester. For more information on this Medway company go to www.ward-security.co.uk
THE KENT POLICE MALE VOICE CHOIR AND ORGANIST DAN SOPER IN CONCERT
Our sincere thanks go to The kent Police Male Voice Choir for a wonderful concert in the Cathedral on 16 May 2009. Special thanks also to Mr Dan Soper for his very talented Organ playing.
As always, our thanks go to to all the behind the scenes people for their help. Pam Newlyn, Mike Clayton, John and Jane Smith, the Vergers and Event Stewards, thank you all for your help.
THE VERGERS OF ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL CHALLENGE US ALL TO A QUIZ
We all had a fantastic evening with the Vergers as our Quiz Masters. It was so successful that the Vergers want to make it an annual event. Thank you to Colin, Joe and Mel for all their efforts. Over £600 was raised.
FIRST LESSON - MURDER!
We all had a great night recently exercising our sleuthing skills, and were entertained by some of Chapter and Cathedral staff while they took part in Helen Bradshaw’s “First Lesson – Murder!”
From left: Scott Farrell, Liz Simmons (seated) Catherine Staziker, Jean Kerr
Full cast from left: Colin Tolhurst; Catherine Staziker; John Bradshaw; Liz Simmons; Jean Kerr; Scott Farrell; Adrian Newman
Thank you so much to Helen Bannister for supplying all the food for the evening. We raised £668 in ticket and raffle sales. Special thanks to Derek and Tina Clark for their “Forensic “ greeting at the door!
HENRY SANDON'S CHRISTMAS EVE VISIT TO THE CATHEDRAL
We are delighted to advise that Mr Henry Sandon, MBE joined us in the Cathedral on Christmas Eve to meet and greet, and to autograph copies of Rochester Remembers. Thank you so much to all who came along to say hello. Copies of Rochester Remembers are still available if you have not got your copy yet. Phone 01634 810074 for further details.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
We were delighted to have John Bromley Davenport perform his adaptation of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" in the Cathedral during the Dickens weekend in December 2008. This fund raising event filled the cathedral and was much enjoyed. Our thanks to The Hon. Clare Denison-Pender, a Trustee of Rochester Cathedral, who arranged this performance.
COMPLETED PROJECTS
Since we started our Fundraising campaign back in January 2005 we have achieved many of the goals we set. Some of the projects that have been paid for are as follows:
The installation of a new harness system, for safely working at heights.
Full electrical test of the electrical installations in the Cathedral, followed by a test of appliances.
Test and repair the lightning conductors.
Removal of a problem bee’s nest.
An extensive CCTV survey of the underground drainage system.
Refurbishment of the toilet facilities in the Garth.
Works to the chair store
Design and launch of new web site
A photographic Library
Repair of cathedral pipes and gutters and essential works to the Clerestory window masonry.
Pathway relaid (south side)
External work on the mullions (north side)
Feasibility studies (necessary precursors to any major works)
Disabled Access to Crypt
Interpretation Centre
Cathedral Interpretation Plan
Precinct Property
Cherry Picker (Ex funding from Friends of Rochester Cathedral)
High Level conservation of Lady Chapel and South Transept masonry.
Exploration of the Garth by Archaeologist in preparation for the Disability Access project.
Music Outreach project commenced
We hope to have the first phase of the Interpretation Plan that has been funded by Heritage Lottery Fund in place by Easter 2009.
ROCHESTER REMEMBERS
As part of our fund raising effort for the cathedral, the congregation have got together to produce a book called “Rochester Remembers”. The concept was partly started to commemorate the 70th anniversary of WWII and partly to tell the fascinating stories of ordinary local people during that time.
“Rochester Remembers” is all about the lives and experiences of people during the war, as told by themselves, who now live in Rochester. As you can imagine they are fantastic memories, some heart breaking, some amusing, but all interesting and thought provoking. Photographs are included.
The book goes to print during October and we hope to have it ready for sale at £10 per copy by the end of November. Mr Henry Sandon kindly wrote the Foreward to our book, he is a Patron of the Evacuee's Society. He say's, "It is nice to be invited to write a foreword to Rochester Remembers. As a Londoner my pre-war memories of Kent were limited to an occasional steamer trip to Margate and my wartime years were spent as an evacuee in Buckinghamshire. Life as a “Vaccy” could be like the curate’s egg (even curates only got one egg a week on the ration), we missed our parents and it was very difficult to live with strangers.
I am a patron of the Evacuees Association, together with Michael Aspel, the long time presenter of the BBC Antiques Roadshow and This Is Your Life, and we hear some heartbreaking stories of the treatment of some vaccies. But we survived and I became a little cog in the wheels of the Royal West Kents in Shorncliffe Camp, wangling my way into the South East Command Concert Party, which was a little like “It Ain’t ‘Arf ‘Ot Mum”. As the resident baritone I must have sung in most towns in Kent and give a belated apology to any who suffered.
In recent years I have been closely related to Rochester through my son David singing in the Cathedral Choir and I have even sung a few times with the choir myself. So I wish all the best to the book of Anne and John Sears and to the great City of Rochester.
Henry Sandon M.B.E.
The book will be on sale at Baggins Bookshop and The Visitor Information Centre in Rochester High Street, and at Rainham Bookshop as well as here at the Cathedral in the shop and from the office. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
If you have any difficulty in obtaining the book, please contact the Development Office in Garth House on 01634 810074
Please note that £1.50 postage and packing will be added to postal orders.
GRAND AUCTION IN KINGS SCHOOL HALL, ROCHESTER
SATURDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2008
The auction was great fun and we raised over £2,000!
Our thanks go firstly to John and David Sandon for the auctioneering. To Dr Ian Walker and Mr Kevin Jones of Kings School for kindly allowing us to use their facilities, and to all the helpers on the evening, Betty Trollope, Pam Gonsalves, Felicity Osborne, and the Kings School boys that made excellent runners!
Last but not least our very grateful thanks go to all the people that donated sale lots.
BARN DANCE IN KINGS SCHOOL HALL, ROCHESTER
We had great fun at the Barn Dance. The Skinners Rats are really good fun.
Speacial thanks to John and Anne Sears for the tremendous amount of work they put into it.
Also to Betty Trollope for her help with the raffle, and Mary Woodfield for her help with the Hot Dogs.
Before expenses we raised almost £650.
Our thanks to the following High Street businesses that sponsored raffle prizes:
The Candy Bar
Capons Butchers
Dennis Green Jewellers
Dickens House Wine Emporium
Ebeneezers
Francis Iles
garden House Cafe & Deli
Hometown
Johnstones
Just Perfect
Kaizen International
Nimbus Lighting
Pips of Rochester
Rochester Handbags
Slinders Florist
The Deli
The Dolls House
Leeds Castle kindly donated a 1 year family membership pass
The donation was made via the KM Community Chest programme
Eileen Coleman donated a delicious Christmas cake.
Thank you to all.
FUN WALK FOR CATHEDRAL
On 7th September a team of 18 women from the Cathedral took part in the Adidas 5km Women’s Challenge in Hype Park. This is an annual race was organised by the London Marathon Company and 15,000 women participated.
Winifred ‘Win’ Lang, who turns 90 in January, took part in the race and raised £325 for cathedral funds. She said: “I have never done it before, but I really enjoyed it – we had a lovely day and I had no aches, pains or anything like that.
I haven’t yet decided whether or not I will be taking part in next year’s race, I will make a decision nearer the time”
Everybody completed the race in good time (we are walkers – not runners) and despite the rotten weather, we had a fun morning.
Our thanks go to all our team for their effort and their sponsorship fundraising. Funds are still coming in and we hope to be as successful as lat year. 
CHEESE & WINE ENTERTAINMENT IN KINGS ORCHARD
We recently held two very successful events in a marquee we were kindly given the use of by The University of Greenwich.
The first one was a Cheese & Wine party, which was very well attended. We were entertained by the Balgores Band, a 1930’s style folk band, who also very kindly volunteered their services freely.
Our grateful thanks go to helpers Helen Bannister, Andrew Coulson and Jara Carter.
DRINKS RECEPTION IN KINGS ORCHARD
The next night the Dean and Lord Astor (Chairman of Rochester Cathedral Trust) hosted a drinks reception which was also very well attended and gave us the opportunity to say thank you to some of the many people that have helped us on our fund raising journey over the past few years.
LEAVE A LEGACY TO ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL
THE ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL BUSINESS GUILD
