Latest News

Three Parishioners awarded for long and faithful service

On 20 January 2019 the Dean awarded citations to three long-standing volunteers at the Cathedral who had recently stepped down from their duties, Andrew Tracey (left), Penny Whitford and Clive Whitford. Read the citations here: Andrew Tracey; Penny Whitford; Clive Whitford. Congratulations and many heartfelt thanks to these wonderful people who have given so much in the service of the Lord!

Cathedral Bells in the news in Northern Ireland

On 26 December 2018 a 45-minute radio programme entitled ‘The Bells of St Macartans’ was broadcast on the Irish radio stations Shannonside FM and Northern Sound FM. This was mainly concerned with three Irish Cathedrals dedicated to St Macartan, but also included a segment relating to this Cathedral. The connection was that the Dean of Grahamstown at the time when our first eight bells were installed, Frederick Williams, had grown up in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, within sound of the bells of St Macartan’s Cathedral. Those bells are hung in a circle, and Dean Williams wished to have  similar circle of bells in the Cathedral in Grahamstown.

The radio programme was produced and presented by Noel Murphy, who visited Grahamstown in May 2018. To listen to a podcast of the programme, which includes the sound of the St Michael’s Marimbas, click here. For more about the history of our Cathedral bells, click here.

Christmas Eve Crib Service

A merry band of musicians led the singing at the children’s Crib Service on Monday 24 December 2018, and the children dressed up as their favourite Nativity characters for an impromptu Nativity play. For more pictures, see our Gallery.

Bayanda and Jovan Heynsen

Appeal for young organist’s lessons in 2019

Bayanda Mthetho, 15-year old Graeme College learner, is a member of the Makana Choir School. He began piano lessons at the age of 11, and has recently passed the Grade 8 Trinity piano exam, with the astonishing mark of 97%!

As a result of the generosity of a number of sponsors, throughout 2018 Bayanda received organ lessons from Jovan Heynsen, music teacher and Choir Director of St Andrew’s College and DSG Choirs. As there is still no Organist and Director of Music at the Cathedral, it is intended that Mr Heynsen will continue to teach Bayanda the organ in 2019.

We are now appealing to generous music-lovers who would feel moved to sponsor these lessons. The banking details of the Makana Choir School are as follows:

• Bank: First National, Grahamstown (Makhanda).
• Current Account name: “Grahamstown Choir School”
• Account number: 62256130726

Donors are requested to put as reference “Bayanda Organ” and their surname. Requests for anonymity will be respected.

It is envisaged that Bayanda will receive one organ lesson per week throughout school terms, @ R350 per lesson. Mr Heynsen also intends that he take an organ exam during the course of the year.

For more details, click here.

This video clip of Bayanda playing part of Bach’s Prelude No 5 in G Major was recorded at a service on 25 November 2018.

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.

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

Read Bishop Ebenezer’s latest letter to the clergy and people, for December 2018.

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 January 2019.

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.