Cathedral News Sunday 30 August - Sunday 13 September
Imagining Tomorrow This weekend our city once again welcomes the colour, creativity, and imagination of the Steampunk Festival. Across uphill Lincoln, familiar sights will be transformed by extraordinary costumes, ingenious inventions, and glimpses into worlds that never quite existed. It is, in part, an exercise in looking backwards, reimagining the past through the lens of wonder. Cathedrals are sometimes accused of looking too much to the past. We treasure ancient stones, inherited traditions, old stories, and patterns of worship that have endured for centuries. Yet the Christian faith is never simply about nostalgia. We do not gather to escape the present, nor to recreate a golden age that never was. Rather, we seek to discover how the wisdom of the past can illuminate the challenges of today. There is something profoundly Christian in the Steampunk instinct to imagine alternatives. It invites us to ask not only “What is?” but “What could be?” The Bible is full of that question. The prophets imagined swords beaten into ploughshares. Jesus imagined a kingdom where the poor are blessed, the stranger welcomed, and the last become first. Hope is one of the greatest gifts of faith. Not optimism based on circumstances, but hope rooted in God’s purposes. We live in a time when many people feel anxious about the future: war and conflict, environmental pressures, economic uncertainty,
and growing loneliness can make it difficult to look ahead with confidence. Yet Christians affirm that the future belongs neither to fear nor to despair, but to God’s hope-filled promise. This weekend, as the city is filled with imagination and creativity, perhaps it offers an invitation to all of us. What kind of community do we hope to become? What future are we helping to build? And how might God’s vision of justice, compassion, and peace shape that future? The Christian answer begins not with machinery or invention, but with grace: trusting that God’s future is already drawing near, and that each of us has a part to play in bringing signs of that kingdom into the world today.
Rowena King, Canon Missioner
Worship and Mission Weekly Service Schedule Details of services and music can be viewed on the Cathedral’s website. Visit: www.bit.ly/services-and-music Stillpoint This is a time of guided silent prayer to be still and aware of the presence of God. We meet in the Longland Chantry from 9.15am to 9.45am on the following Mondays: 7 September, 5 October, 2 November, 7 December Choral Mattins Mattins, the Book of Common Prayer’s morning counterpart to Evensong, is marked by celebration and praise to greet the new day. Experience another aspect of our Christian tradition in worship. Choral Mattins is held once a month on a Sunday at 9.30am. The next Choral Mattins services will be: • 20 September • 11 October • 15 November • 6 December Cathedral Confirmations Confirmation is an important sacramental stepping stone in our Christian life at which we affirm our faith for ourselves and are strengthened by the Holy Spirit for service and witness. In response to requests from members of our community, we are very pleased that Bishop Nicholas will be celebrating with us the Sung Eucharist for All Saints’ Day, Sunday 1 November, at which he will baptise and confirm. This will be in addition to the usual baptisms and confirmations at the Easter Vigil. If you are interested in exploring this, please contact: kevin.walton@lincolncathedral.com
Community Harvest Supper Planning is underway for this year’s Harvest Supper which will take place on Thursday 8 October. Further details and timings will be shared in future editions of the Cathedral News and via the Community Roll mailing list. A Grand Day Out Carol & Paul Hill write: On Wednesday 19 August, our son, who has additional needs, along with 5 friends and their carers, visited the Cathedral for a handson special tour. Everyone had a go at ringing the 10.30am bell, swinging the thurible, hunting for the Lincoln Imp, looking for graffiti and talking about the peregrine falcons. We lit a candle and said a prayer for a recently deceased member of staff, then went for drinks, cakes and toasted teacakes in the rear courtyard of the Cathedral Café. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made this visit possible, and especially to Christine Rowbotham, Zoe from the vergers’ team, Canon Michael Boughton, and Matthew Tarling, for their help and warm welcome. Also, to James and the staff in the café who looked after us so well. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their visit. Music Celebration 2026 The Dean of Lincoln, The Very Revd Dr Simon Jones, and Chair of the Music Fund Council, Mr Andrew Clark DL, invite you to evensong and a celebration of the wonderful music of Lincoln Cathedral on Sunday 4 October, starting at 3.45pm (please be seated by 3.40pm). To help us with catering arrangements, we kindly ask that you reserve your place by Friday 18 September. Please RSVP to amber.hardy@lincolncathedral.com, by calling 01522 561613 or by using the link below: www.bit.ly/Music-Celebration-2026
Upcoming Events and Road Closures Several major events taking place in and around the Cathedral this autumn will result in temporary road closures, traffic restrictions and changes to parking arrangements. Please take note of the information below and allow extra time for travel where necessary. Lloyds Tour of Britain Wednesday 2 September Significant road closures and parking restrictions will be in place in the uphill area of Lincoln including Bailgate, Eastgate and Minster Yard. To anyone coming to the Cathedral on this day, please plan your journey in advance and allow extra time for travel and parking. A full list of road closures and parking restrictions on the Lincolnshire County Council website www.bit.ly/Tour-of-Britain-Closures University of Lincoln Graduations Monday 7 to Friday 11 September and Monday 14 September Minster Yard and Castle Square will be closed to all traffic and parking bays will be suspended on Minster Yard. All other roads in the area remain open. Lincoln Half Marathon Sunday 4 October The Bailgate, Eastgate and Minster Yard will be closed. As the route comes across the front of the Cathedral and through Exchequergate Arch. Parking bays will also be suspended on Bailgate, Eastgate and Minster Yard. Please plan your journey in advance and allow extra time for travel and parking. The route map with road closures can be found on the Lincoln Half Marathon website www.bit.ly/lincoln-half-marathon
Events Cathedral of Curiosities Friday 28 to Monday 31 August Celebrate Lincoln’s Steampunk Festival with a weekend of exploration, discovery and curious encounters at Lincoln Cathedral. Cathedral of Curiosities Trail Set off on a journey through the Cathedral, pausing at marked points to uncover strange tales, remarkable characters, and intriguing objects that have left their mark on this ancient place. Cathedral of Curiosities Tour Join our special guided tour on Saturday 29 August at 1.30pm and discover the Cathedral’s Victorian Gothic architecture, stunning stained glass, supernatural tales and fascinating curiosities. Advance booking is required: www.bit.ly/Curiosities-Tour Steampunk Offers Complete your visit with special steampunk-themed treats in the Cathedral Café and browse unique gifts and souvenirs in the Cathedral Shop throughout the festival weekend.
Be a Chorister for a Day Saturday 12 September, 1pm Do you know a child who loves to sing? Join us for ‘Be a Chorister for a Day’! Experience a taste of what it is like to be a chorister at Lincoln Cathedral. It is aimed at children in school years 2 to 6. During the afternoon you’ll get a free singing lesson with one of the Cathedral’s specialists, a tour of the Cathedral, afternoon tea and the opportunity to sing with the Cathedral Choir during Evensong. To book your place, please complete the form on our website www.bit.ly/Be-A-Chorister Scholars’ Open Day Tuesday 15 September Ever wondered what it’s like to be an Organ or Choral Scholar at Lincoln Cathedral? Join us on Tuesday 15 September for our Scholars’ Open Day and experience one of the country’s leading cathedral music programmes firsthand. Meet our music team and current scholars, enjoy specialist coaching and tuition, explore the Cathedral behind the scenes, and take part in Choral Evensong alongside the Cathedral Choir. Whether you’re preparing an application or simply exploring your options, it’s a unique opportunity to discover what life as a Cathedral scholar is really like. To register your interest, simply complete the form on our website: www.lincolncathedral.com/events/ scholars-open-day/
Academy of St Martin in the Fields Wednesday 23 September, 7pm Returning to its founder Sir Neville Marriner’s birthplace, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields will be joined by violinist Stella Chen to perform one of the greatest violin concertos of the nineteenth century. From the opening drumbeats, Beethoven’s Violin Concerto unfolds into a journey from wind chorales to warm string chords and orchestral climaxes, all woven together by Chen’s lyrical and expressive violin playing.
Grand Organ Festival Tickets for this year’s Grand Organ Festival will soon be on sale. Join us for a spectacular series of recitals showcasing the power and versatility of Lincoln Cathedral’s renowned Father Willis organ. Featuring some of the UK’s finest organists, this year’s festival offers a wonderful variety of music. Jeffrey Makinson Tue 22 September, 7pm Works by Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, Eben and Duruflé. James Gough Tue 29 September, 7pm Works by J.S. Bach, Franck, Bridge and Duruflé. Philip Rushforth Tue 6 October, 7pm Performing works by Alcock, Bowen, Hollins, and Roger-Ducasse. David Pipe Tue 13 October, 7pm Works by Franck, Guilmant, Fleury and Vierne. Organ Extravaganza Tue 20 October, 7pm Featuring J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Widor’s Toccata and choral favourites. Daniel Cook Tue 27 October, 7pm Works by J.S. Bach, Whitlock and Reubke. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for details of when tickets go on sale. For more details of forthcoming events and to book your tickets, go to our website at: www.lincolncathedral.com/events