Christmas Services

For a list of special Advent evening services, and the Christmas service schedule, see our Forthcoming Events page.

Latest News

Choir and young organist shine at Nine Lessons and Carols

The Junior Choristers of the Cathedral Choir sang at a service for the last time before their term ended, on 25 November. This was a glorious Nine Lessons and Carols. Kutlwano Kepadisa (Kepa) had taught the choir a number of new carols, and the chancel was packed with parishioners and friends. The organist was Bayanda Mthetho, a 15-year chorister who attends Graeme College. Generous donors, who wish to remain anonymous, have paid for him to receive organ lessons throughout 2018. This video clip of Bayanda playing part of Bach’s Prelude No 5 in G Major was recorded at the service.

New Appointments

Lou-Anne Liebenberg, Parish Secretary, has been appointed Office Administrator/ Bookkeeper from 1 January 2019. She will succeed Chantel Riddin, who is leaving town. We give thanks for Chantel’s efficient and cheerful presence and work in our midst, and wish her every blessing in the future.

Silulami Mize, having served for a period in an acting capacity, has been officially appointed Verger with effect from 1 January 2019. We congratulate Lou-Anne and Sly, and pray for God’s blessing on their ministries.

The Cathedral is looking for a temporary replacement for the role of Parish Secretary effective 01 January 2019 from Monday to Friday, 08:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m. This will be a paid position for 6 months. For more information regarding the role and responsibilities of the position,  Please contact the parish office on 046 622 2445.

 

 

Director of Music – position vacant

Dr Andrew-John Bethke, the previous Director of Music at the Cathedral, left after Easter 2017. At the time it was announced that a suitable successor had been appointed.  However, he was a UK citizen, and was required to obtain a visa to work in South Africa. After eighteen months of effort, it became apparent that this was actually going to prove impossible, and the decision was taken to re-advertise the post.

The Cathedral is looking for a dynamic church musician, with a passion for promoting Church music in a diversity of styles and languages, as an integral part of the worship of Almighty God. Duties will include directing the music and playing the organ for Cathedral worship, and training the young members of the Makana Choir School. For further details of the vacant position, click here.

 

St George’s Fair

The weather was ‘fair’ on 3 November for the St George’s Fair. A bumper crowd turned out on a lovely warm morning. Congratulations to Rodney Bridger, Rose Spanneberg, June Venn and the whole team on raising a record-breaking sum of over R45,000!

The Kids’ Zone in the Deanery Garden was a new feature, complete with jumping castle. For more pictures, see our Gallery.

 

Patronal, Dedication Sunday and Harvest Festival

On 28 October the morning services at the Cathedral were special occasions of thanksgiving and joy.

The 9:30 service began with a procession led by Ayanda Dabengwa and Ikhona Mvaphantsi and the Children’s Church (Sunday School) carrying flags, and they returned later to present a musical item. The Choir sang, the marimbas played, harvest gifts (non-perishable items for the Grocery Baskets) were displayed before the altar, and parishioners brought up their pledges for the year to be presented at Communion.

During the service the Dean inducted the Revd Siphokazi Njokweni as the Chaplain of the Makana Choir School. He also inducted the new Head Chorister for 2019, Nzulu Nzwana, a Graeme College Grade 10 learner.

 

 

More details in ‘People and Places’ for October, and more photos in our Gallery!

 

 

 

 

 

Cathedral Choir End of Year Concert

On Sunday 21 October the Choir presented their End of Year Concert, at which they sang a selection of the repertoire they have learned and sung throughout the year.

Listen to the following excepts from their items:

• ‘Alleluia’ by Gordon Young
• ‘Masite Amen’ arranged by Sidumo Nyamezele, solo sung by Kutlwano Kepadisa
• ‘Ubi Caritas’ by Ola Gjeilo

On that occasion they said goodbye to two girls who were about to start writing their Matric, Sine Nqumba (left) and the 2018 Head Chorister, Avile Sonyamba (right).

 

New Chorister robed

Congratulations and a warm welcome to Kuhle Pama, who has completed her period of probation in the Makana Choir School. At Evensong on Sunday 14 October she was inducted and robed.

 

Publication of new Southern African hymnbook

The Southern African Multilingual Hymn Collection was compiled by Dr Andrew-John Bethke, who did much of the preliminary work while he was Director of Music at our Cathedral. The new hymnbook contains a much larger selection of hymns than the “little blue books” we have been using in the Cathedral, and includes music, and English translations. To order copies (R100 each), please contact Revd Cynthia Botha of the Provincial Publishing Department on publish@anglicanchurchsa.org.za.

 

 

 

Two new student Lay Ministers

On Sunday 9 September we welcomed two brand-new Lay Ministers, both students: Theo Duxbury and Thandiwe Gabavana. May God bless them in their ministry!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Makana Choir School AGM

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On 2 September the Makana Choir School held its AGM. The meeting was attended by 25 choristers, parents and parishioners, who also watched the video clip of ‘Slice of Light’ which featured the Makana Choir School. Congratulations to the newly elected Committee: David Gain (Chair), Virginia David-Engelbrecht (Treasurer), Maggy Clarke (Secretary), Cathy Meiklejohn (Fund-raiser) together with Kutlwano Kepadisa, Glyn Lloyd-Jones, Jessica Smith and Penny Whitford. The 2019 Head Chorister will become an ex officio member of the Committee when he/she is chosen.

 

Cathedral Vision

We believe we are called to be a vibrant, attractive, diverse, welcoming, all age community of people who seek to follow Christ.
The Cathedral’s ministry seeks at all times to be obedient to the call of God through Jesus Christ.

Key Performance Areas

• Worship
• Pastoral care and building community
• Families, children and young people
• Teaching, discipleship and evangelism
• Mission, ministry and outreach
• Administration, communication and oversight
• Cathedral plant and physical environment
• Dedication and stewardship

Latest Publications

Two books by Bishop Eric Pike

Two books by the retired former Bishop of Port Elizabeth are available at the Cathedral Parish Office, 108 High Street Grahamstown/ Makhanda @ R150.

In ‘Who do you say I am?’ Bishop Eric refers to the same question that Christ asked of his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” In doing so, he demonstrates that in each of the many and varied chapters of his life, he has discovered more about the God he has served so faithfully.

In ‘Waymarks for the Way’ Bishop Eric gives us a handbook for our journey through life.

 

Letters from Bishop Ebenezer Ntlali

In an Ad Clerum dated November 2018, Bishop Ebenezer addresses the important issues of Safe Church, Pastoral Standards and the Archbishop’s Commission on Theological Education.

Read Bishop Ebenezer’s letter to the clergy and people, dated September – November 2018.

Diocesan Intercessions

Daily prayers of intercessions and thanksgiving for the Diocese of Grahamstown for December 2018.

Umbuliso for October-November 2018

Umbuliso, the newsletter of the Diocese of Grahamstown for October-November 2018 can be downloaded as a pdf.

 

By Archbishop Thabo Makgoba

4 December 1018: To the Laos – to the People of God. The Archbishop’s Advent letter.

11 November 2018: Homily by Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, at the Cathedral of St Paul, St Helena, at the Consecration and Installation of Dale Arthur Bowers as the 16th Bishop of St Helena.

14 November 2018: Of Dinuzulu, Boer prisoners and the slave trade – Blogging from the South Atlantic.

26 October 2018: ‘Women destined for God’s Purpose‘, an address to the 2018 Provincial Conference of the Anglican Women’s Fellowship.

For further publications of the ACSA and the Diocese of Grahamstown visit our Publications page.