Latest News

National Arts Festival, 27 June – 7 July

The National Arts Festival has come and gone, bringing welcome visitors and exciting shows to Makhanda/ Grahamstown. As always the Cathedral was a major venue for events in Spiritfest.

We enjoyed wonderful and uplifting worship, full of music. There was an organ recital by former Cathedral Director of Music Dr Christopher Cockburn, and a concert by the Makhanda Kwantu Choir with Quava Vocal Group. Each of these choirs  received from the National Arts Festival an Ovation Award! Many congratulations, especially to Kutlwano Kepadisa (“Kepa”) and his choir.

Once again, after a three-year gap, the Cathedral bell ringers welcomed members of the public to ascend the tower and attend a fascinating and inter-active explanation of how the bells are rung. Some visitors even got the opportunity to ring a bell!

The Chapter House turned into a Coffee Shop for the inside of a week, and during that time it was the venue for the Spiritfest Winter School, with lectures on subjects from how stained glass is made to ‘Why God loves Art’.

For details of the Spiritfest programme, which also took place in a number of other local church venues, see the Spiritfest page. For a wide variety of pictures, visit the Spiritfest Gallery. For video clips from some of the Spiritfest events, see the Videos page.

 

Trinity Sunday celebration of Dean Andrew’s Doctorate

Bishop Ebenezer Ntlali celebrated and preached at the main morning Eucharist on Sunday 16 June, after which there was a splendid sit-down lunch.

Dr Rose Spanneberg was among those who made speeches, and Theodore Duxbury acted as MC in his inimitable style. For more photos, see our Gallery.

Ordained Deacon and Priest at one service!

We rejoice with Prof Geoff Antrobus, a long-time Lay Minister at the Cathedral who on 8 June, in St Philip’s Church East London, was ordained both deacon and priest in the same service. Geoff, seen here with Dean Andrew Hunter, is licensed to the parish of St Peter Sidbury. May God bless his ministry richly!

Baptisms, and children admitted to Communion

On Sunday 26 May Baptisms took place at the 9:30 Eucharist service, at which the Bishop presided. The Dean also admitted a number of children to Holy Communion. As Revd Claire explained, “Baptism is the single sacrament of initiation into the membership of the body of Christ. The sign of the cross made on our foreheads shows that we belong to Christ. We are welcomed and born anew into the Christian family of the church. At the Eucharist each week, we reaffirm and renew our Baptism.

 

Cathedral choristers wanted!

The Cathedral choir is recruiting. If you are interested in joining and becoming part of a team of talented musicians, we would be pleased to hear from you. Initial enquiries may be made to the Director of Music Cameron Luke (062 987 0397, call or SMS) or the Choir Intern Kutlwano Kepadisa (Kepa — 078 869 0880).

Bell Ringing and Access to the Cathedral Tower

Want to go up the cathedral bell tower? Would you really like to be a bell ringer?

We welcome visitors to the bell tower but would ask that you always contact a bell ringer to lead you or your guests into the ringing chamber – for your safety. Furthermore, only a bell ringer is able to demonstrate ringing to you and your experience is not complete without seeing this! We try not to leave the bells in the (dangerous) position of being ‘rung up’ after we leave the Tower but sometimes this is necessary -especially with the heavier bells which weigh more than 500 kg and take time to get into a position for ringing. Your cooperation is much appreciated.

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…

New baby for the Revd Luthando and Lusanda

We are delighted to announce the birth of Lumnene Ukhanyo Madiba. He arrived on 30 April, to the great joy of his parents Luthando and Lusanda, and Lulibo who is now a Big Sister! We pray God’s special blessings on this brand-new addition to the Cathedral family.

Cathedral music intern wows State President

On Freedom Day this year, 27 April, the destination for State President Cyril Ramaphosa was right here in Makhanda, where he spoke at the Miki Yili Stadium. Grocott’s Mail described as a “highlight of the day” the singing of the Kwantu Community Choir, conducted by none other than Kutlwano ‘Kepa’ Kepadisa. The President seemed to agree, as he danced and sang alongside them, and even took a turn at conducting. Kepa reported that he exclaimed “I really would love to join your choir.” Bayanda Mthetho was on the keyboard, and Asakhe Cuntsulana played the drum.

Welcome to our new Director of Music

At a wonderful, moving Three Hours Devotion at the Cathedral this Good Friday, we had the joy of welcoming our new Director of Music, Cameron Luke! May God bless him in his ministry here. For more about Cameron, click here.

 

 

Good Friday Devotion

At the Good Friday three-hour devotion on 19 April, members of the Cathedral family highlighted aspects of Christ’s passion through the eyes of various witnesses: The sister of the penitent thief (Claire Nye Hunter); Peter (Idowu Akinloye), John (John Jackson); Mary the Mother of Jesus (Ayanda Mpofu), Pilate (Theo Duxbury) and the Centurion (Andrew Hunter). Not in the photo was Mary Magdalene (Siphokazi Njokweni).

 

 

Archbishop appeals for cyclone relief donations

(For updates on the situation in Mozambique and descriptions of the Archbishop’s visit to the disaster area, see “Visiting the Diocese of Niassa in the wake of Cyclone Idai” (11 April), “Bishop McKenzie’s grave has drowned” (12 April), and “Displaced and living ‘like wild animals’ – a neglected place where only the Church is visible” (14 April).

Message from Archbishop Thabo Makgoba to the People of Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe & Appeal for assistance

On behalf of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, and on my own behalf, I offer our deepest condolences and express our heartfelt pain at the loss of life and property caused by the destructive effects of Cyclone Idai across Southern Africa.

We want to assure the affected Dioceses in Mozambique – the Diocese of Lebombo led by Bishop Carlos Matsinhe and the Diocese of Niassa led by Bishop Vicente Msosa – of our prayers. Please pray also for the Dioceses in Malawi and Zimbabwe in our neighbouring Province of Central Africa which were affected.

I appeal to Anglicans across Southern Africa to donate generously to ACSA’s Disaster Relief Fund in order to provide relief to those in devastated areas.

Bank details 

Bank: Standard Bank of SA Ltd
Branch: Thibault Square
Branch code: 02 09 09
Account number: 07 007 8394
Account name: Disaster Relief Fund