Latest News

Return to Lockdown Level Three

Due to the third wave of Covid-19, which is particularly severe in Gauteng Province, President Ramaphosa on 15 June announced an immediate return to Lockdown Alert Level Three. For the Cathedral the most noticeable effect is that the maximum number of persons who will be permitted to be present in the building for a service (including the altar party) is FIFTY (previously 100). Please remember to wear masks, sanitize, and observe social distancing. If you are concerned about the risk of going out, do take advantage of our live-streamed services. The live stream is now working well again, and on Sundays the following are streamed on our Facebook page: Sung Eucharist at 09:30, and the Student Service at 18:30.

Thanks for Prayers for Mama Noncedo Ntlali

We are delighted to be able to report that Mama Noncedo Ntlali, dear wife of our Bishop Ebenezer, was discharged from Mercantile Hospital in Gqeberha (PE) on Saturday 12 June. She had been treated there for Covid-19. We give thanks for her healing, and that the Bishop and his family, as well as Dean Mzi and his family, who had to be tested, received negative results. Please continue to hold the Ntlali family in your prayers.

Student Services Resume, 6:30 p.m. on Sundays

Grahamstown Cathedral Student Ministry has been suspended throughout lockdown, but on Sunday 6 June 2021 the Cathedral was delighted to welcome students again to a service at 6:30 p.m. These services will be a regular feature of Sunday evenings during the University term, and will be both live in the Lady Chapel, and live-streamed on our Facebook page. The Sub-Dean, Melany Adonis, preached at the first service, and she will be overseeing the Core Group of the CSM. For more details, contact Canon Melany: 083 685 6033, melanyadonis@gmail.com.

Update on Suspension of Parish Administrator

On 28 May the Churchwarden and Treasurer of the Cathedral Parish, Mr Ronaldo Burger, issued an update on the matter of the Parish Administrator, Ms Lou-Anne Liebenberg, who had been suspended following allegations of missing funds. To read the Update, click here.

Trinity Sunday

On Trinity Sunday it is traditional to sing “Holy, holy, holy…” In the Cathedral on 30 May  we heard our Senior Organ Scholar, Jonathan Hughes, singing the setting by Schubert, accompanied on the piano by Junior Organ Scholar Bayanda Mthetho. Listen to this YouTube extract.

Pentecost Celebrations

On 23 May the Cathedral rejoiced in the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Everyone was encouraged to wear red – even the altar servers were in red! Andrew Tracey’s reading of the Ezekiel lesson was enlivened by snatches of the well-known song “Dem Bones”, with the congregation joining in with the words “DRY BONES!” And as a final reminder that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, everyone was sent home with cupcakes, lovingly made and iced by Sally Terry and the altar servers.

 

 

 

Mzinzisi Dyantyi licensed as Dean of Grahamstown, 24 April

On Saturday 24 April the Cathedral had the joy of welcoming our new Dean, Mzinzisi Dyantyi, when he was licensed and installed by the Bishop of Grahamstown, Ebenezer Ntlali. We praise God for this wonderful service, and ask the Lord’s blessing on the ministry of Dean Mzinzisi and Sub-Dean Melany Adonis.

For more pictures, see our Gallery.

 

Meet the new Dean of Grahamstown, Mzinzisi Dyantyi

Mzinzisi Dyantyi, the new Dean of Grahamstown,  is seen here with his wife Lilitha, son Samila (4) and daughter Sambesiwe (7).

Canon Melany Adonis is the new Sub-Dean and Chancellor of the Cathedral. May God bless Mzi, Melany, and their families in this new and exciting stage of their ministry!

 

 

Kutlwano Kepadisa appointed Cathedral Director of Music and Precentor

After the Parish Council had met on Wednesday evening, 27 January, for the last time in Andrew Hunter’s tenure as Dean, he announced the appointment of Kutlwano Kepadisa as Director of Music of the Cathedral. Kutlwano (Kepa) has been acting as Director of Music for some months, and was also in charge of the Cathedral music for two years from 2017-2019, after the departure of Dr Andrew-John Bethke. Trained initially by Dr Bethke as a Choir Intern, Kepa has worked tirelessly to develop his talents as a choir director. To judge by the outpouring of delighted congratulations on Facebook from parishioners and friends near and far, this appointment is extremely popular, and Kepa should be able to depend on support from the parish and beyond. At the live-streamed Eucharist service on Sunday 31 January, Dean Andrew announced that in addition to being Director of Music, he had appointed Kepa Cathedral Precentor. We congratulate him, and ask God’s blessing on him in this new field of work.

Kutlwano Kepadisa succeeds Cameron Luke, who joined us in April 2019. A brilliant organist, he brought many gifts and talents to the Cathedral and the choir. We thank him for all that he has contributed to the life of the Cathedral.

Cathedral choristers wanted!

The Imvumi (singers) section of the choir is looking for young singers to join our music ministry. Singers from Grade 5 to Grade 10 are encouraged to come try out for the choir. Interested singers/parents must contact Mr Kutlwano Kepadisa at 078 869 0880 (Whatsapp) to book their audition slot.

 

Cathedral open for Sunday morning worship

The Cathedral has been open again for worship since Sunday 14 February. There are two morning services each Sunday in the Cathedral, Holy Communion at 07:30 and Sung Eucharist at 09:30 a.m.

Under the current adjusted Level Two regulations, no more than 100 persons will be allowed in the Cathedral at a time. All Covid-19 regulations to be observed. Communion will be in one kind (i.e. wafers only).

The 09:30 Eucharist services are also streamed live on our Facebook page.

For details of other live-streamed services, see our Worship page.

 

Farewell to Chris Mann, Artist-in-Residence

Chris Mann, poet and troubadour, one of the Cathedral’s Artists-in-Residence, died at home of cancer on 10 March.  Over the years we have valued his poems, his songs, and those amazing collaborative multi-media shows produced for successive Spiritfests with his wife and fellow Artist-in-Residence Julia Skeen. His faith breathed easily through his art, an unforced, natural witness. We give thanks for his incalculable contribution to this city and this worshipping fellowship, mourn his passing, and pray for Julia and the family.

Chris Mann’s funeral took take place in the Cathedral on Friday 19 March at 10:30. Due to Covid-19 regulations, numbers present were limited to 100, but the service was streamed live, and recorded. It is still available to be watched here.

For more about Artists-in-Residence, and poems by Chris, see Our Artists page.

 

Visitors welcome

The Cathedral is open for visitors and private prayer during the Verger’s working hours, i.e. 9-12 and 1-3 on weekdays, and 9-12 on Saturdays. Please wear masks.

The Cathedral Office is open from 8—4:30 (closed for lunch 1—2). All visitors to the office are asked to wear masks, complete a register and sanitise their hands on entry. Sanitiser is provided.

 

 

South African Council of Churches Guidelines on Funerals in a time of pandemic

The SACC has produced a useful summary of the Government regulations covering funerals during the coronavirus pandemic. It can be accessed in poster form here.

This is part of the website which the SACC developed, which contains a range of useful, and accurate content on the Coronavirus pandemic. These can be downloaded and shared in all 11 languages. It also includes links to other useful resources.

Beyond general information on the virus, the SACC will provide information on the particular challenges faced by churches at this time. New content will be added regularly. It is work in progress and will improve with time.

Requests for information to be added on the site can be sent to info@coronachurch.org.za

Please share this resource widely.

 

 

Anglican Consultative Council passes Environment resolution

The Anglican Consultative Council, meeting in Hong Kong in May, passed an important resolution on the environment. The resolution recognised that there is a global climate emergency and requested that churches develop action plans and resources for sustainable living. Read more…