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CELEBRATING AND GIVING THANKS

The Very Rev June Osborne, The Dean (Monday 1st September 2008)

This year we have tried to tell everyone who has come our way that it’s the 750th anniversary of this unique building. The great banner on our scaffolding declares it. And we’ve had a summer of glorious events to proclaim and enjoy it. We’ve been blessed by Anglican bishops from across the globe including memorable times with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul from our link Province of Sudan.

We’ve offered rare events such as an Open Day and a Flower Festival, and throughout it all our visitors have been able to learn more about our life from the splendid exhibition in the Cloisters.

But the actual dedication of the Cathedral was a September event, at the feast of St. Michael and All Angels, or ‘Michaelmas’ as we often call it. So it is fitting that at the end of this month the Archbishop of Canterbury will follow in the steps of his predecessor Boniface of Savoy, and dedicate our life afresh to God’s service. We will remember together how this ground was hallowed for the worship of the God we see in the face of Jesus Christ, who can be known by us and is revealed afresh to people in this place day by day.

Throughout those 750 years the Cathedral has resolutely maintained the prayer and praise of God and been a visible symbol of the Christian faith; come turmoil in State and Church, come times of plenty or times of great need, at war and in peace, with a few faithful souls or with capacity crowds. It matters not what the conditions or the personalities involved, what happens here is for all people in all times.

In September 1258 our forebears gave God thanks that he had called them to be pilgrims in this place. We are privileged to be able to say that we still exist to make real the glory and presence of God in the world. In all that we are, and all we do in His name may God bless us and may His holy name be praised.

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