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BRINGING INNOVATION

Canon Mark Bonney, Treasurer (Thursday 1st January 2009)

.....to the tradition that is Salisbury Cathedral! This is the simple, bold and exciting statement of Chapter’s Vision for the Cathedral that begins its Strategic Plan and which underpins the Chapter and Senior Leadership Team’s work at the moment. There is nothing like the New Year for something new and innovative, and so we are looking, very soon, to experiment with a very particular piece of innovation to the tradition that is Salisbury Cathedral – and this is within the field of liturgy and worship where we widely recognised as being innovative and forward thinking. Our liturgy and worship is rightly valued and admired, but like all things if it stands still it will stagnate, complacency sets in and the liturgy itself becomes a ‘god’ instead of the One who continually makes all things new.

Over two years ago Chapter published the document “Faith in the Future - Our Vision”, and within that it stated “we hope to install a font at the west end, a nave altar at the spire crossing…”. 2008 saw the first aspiration come to fruition – a stunning innovation most agree! We are now planning a period of experimentation with a nave altar at the spire crossing. There are a number of sound theological and liturgical reasons for this, particularly a theology that sees worshippers as the Body of Christ gathered around one altar making the one offering of sacrifice and praise together – so we will be exploring how best we can do that.

We propose to have an experimental period from 8 February -17 May, with an altar being used in the spire crossing throughout that period on Sundays. In order to talk at greater length about this and what is involved, the Precentor and I invite you to join us for a ‘Bring and Share’ lunch in the BSR at the Cathedral School on 18 January after the morning Eucharist. This will give us an opportunity to talk together about the theological and liturgical whys and wherefores, and what it will mean in practical terms, with different arrangements of furniture and experimentation with seating etc.

Here’s to an exciting and innovative New Year!

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