The work of ensuring the Cathedral stays well kept and in good repair is a constant endeavour. And it relies on an expert team, not only of stonemasons, but also carpenters, glaziers, conservators, architects, and others. Cathedrals across England are amongst the foremost patrons of heritage crafts, keeping alive skills which ensure that the amazing buildings we inherit are given to the next generation in better shape than we received them. Winchester Cathedral’s recently launched Stone by Stone appeal hopes to keep alive this tradition of conservation on which our Cathedral so heavily depends.
But in the end, this work isn’t just about buildings; it is about community. During the summer, Winchester Cathedral is buzzing with people, visiting, praying, and enjoying events. Worship, our Family Trail, special tours, our Kings and Scribes exhibition, and our events draw people from near and far to discover renewal, meaning, and hope. Our building is important because here we invite people to visit, to find sanctuary, and to discover friendship. And here worshippers, volunteers, and staff work together to sustain a community that is life-giving.
This isn’t true only of the Cathedral and other heritage places, however; it is also true of our homes. These are places of security, hospitality, and family life, and those without homes or living in insecure accommodation are more vulnerable to illness and loss of relationships. For this reason, I have been delighted to become Patron of The Winchester Beacon, a charity that has worked in the city and region for 30 years to give hope to those without a home. By offering supported housing, it enables people to reestablish themselves in society with dignity and confidence. The staff and volunteers of The Beacon offer a life-changing opportunity to their clients, accompanied by a deep compassion.
Christians believe that God in Jesus made his home among us. Jesus never, of course, built a Cathedral or anything like it, but he showed that friendships, family life, community engagement, and society are where we can meet with God. That they meet with God is my prayer for all who come to the Cathedral – and it’s my prayer for the lives we live at home, at places of work, and in other buildings where we learn or linger.
And spare a thought for the expert crafts people who keep these buildings alive, stone by stone.