When we celebrated the ministry of our beloved Dean, Neil Collings, recently, we found ourselves rejoicing and shedding tears. One of the principal motives behind a farewell service is to say thank you to someone who has given so much in the name of Christ to the people of God but it has been difficult to do this for Neil. However, I want to reiterate that Neil is fully aware of the great shower of prayers, support and affection that have rained down upon the Deanery over the last year. He carries these gifts with him to Morden College where he is now settled in a beautiful room over looking the croquet lawn which stretches across to the old Wren buildings of the College. Of course, we continue our prayers for Neil on a daily basis but part of his intention in moving on was that the Cathedral church might, in due course, receive a worthy successor. Neil has established robust structures for overseeing and effecting the Cathedral’s ministry and mission and we are blessed with many skilled and talented people who share the leadership and good ordering of this place so that we are in good heart despite the cloud that has been cast over us recently.

The Cathedral staff recently attended a one-day conference in Lincoln about cathedral ministry which was attended by all of the Cathedrals of the eastern region. We discussed the relationship between a cathedral and a diocese. We must never be complacent but we gave several examples of good practice in relation to this Cathedral and this Diocese. The Cathedral’s integrity is exemplified by its role as Mother Church of the Diocese. This prayer is almost a mission statement for our Cathedral: O God, make the doors of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship; narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife; make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children nor to straying feet but rugged and strong enough to turn back the tempters power. God make the doors of this house the gateway to thine eternal kingdom. Amen.

Michael Hample