People and Places 2020

People and Places, December 2020

At the end of any year we expect to hear of people leaving Makhanda, so perhaps it should not have come as a shock when Dean Andrew announced that he and Claire would be departing for Cape Town at the end of January 2021. But, of course, it did! While we congratulate Revd Claire on her appointment as Rector of St Thomas’s Rondebosch, and wish God’s blessing on them both as they prepare to return to their home city, we have to admit that the hole they will leave at the Cathedral, and in our hearts, is enormous! We are so grateful to God that they were able to spend a whole 13 years ministering to us. It was a surprise to learn that 13 years is the longest term of service of any Dean in the long history of Grahamstown Cathedral, so we have no right to complain that Andrew is leaving us “too soon”!

Theodore Duxbury, Student Researcher of the Year

Among others who are moving on, Theodore Duxbury has heard that next year he will be doing his Community Service as a pharmacist at Bedford Hospital, not too far away from us. Since 2012 Theo has been a student a Rhodes, and part of the Cathedral Student Ministry, which he has chaired for the past two years. He’s also been on the Parish Council, and is currently the Alternate Churchwarden. How we will miss him! We will follow his career with interest, and wish him every blessing. His achievements at Rhodes were crowned at the end of November when was named Student Researcher of the Year. For a short video of his citation, follow this link.

Not leaving, but indeed confirmed in her position here, is Ikhona Mvaphantsi, who has been appointed by Rhodes University as Senior Alumni Relations Officer in the Communication and Advancement Division (a permanent post). Congratulations!

Katie Appollis’s wonderful contribution to Good Shepherd School during her no fewer than 43 years on the staff was recognised in a farewell ceremony at the school recently, at which she was presented with a painting. She was described as “an outstanding educator”, and it was said of her that “The positive impact she made in the lives of children will echo forever…”

Just when we thought we could relax, and look forward to an end-of-year something like “normal”, back came Covid-19 to the Eastern Cape with renewed ferocity. The disease found its way into Somerset Place, infecting staff and some residents, and claiming the life of Beth Denton. Beth, an Oblate of the Community of the Resurrection, had retired to St Luke’s after a life of service spent mainly in Port Elizabeth, and moved last year to Somerset Place Frail Care. We give thanks for her long life of service, and for all those who were touched by her Godly loving spirit. Ian Meiklejohn was infected, and spent quite a long time feeling very poorly at home, although he is now on the mend. We pray for his full recovery, and also for others who have been infected, including Tandiwe Gabavana, Richard Brooks and Abongile Dongwana (in Cape Town).

As mentioned in the previous People and Places, Sarah James was due to have a major operation to straighten her spine on Friday 20 November. This took place in Gateway Hospital, near Durban, a process which took 8½ hours. The surgeon said that the operation succeeded beyond his expectations, and Sarah is now actually 6 cm taller than she was previously! Although at first she was in a tremendous amount of pain, this was carefully managed, and physiotherapy was started at once, so that she was soon sitting, then standing, and walking. A week after the operation she was discharged to go home and recuperate. We give thanks for this amazing result, and continue to pray for her complete healing. Oh yes, and she managed to hand in her thesis just in time before she went into hospital.

Following the Dean’s example, Revd Claire has also had two cataract operations, so we know that the Hunters are going into their move to Cape Town with their eyes open, and seeing clearly! We give thanks for the skill of the surgeon and the success of these operations.

We pray for members of the parish who have suffered bereavement: Michelle and Rodney Bridger are mourning their uncle Humphrey Doyle, as well as praying for his wife Maureen who is sick, and Sister Carol’s brother Robin Garnett has died. The Revd Mluleki Mize, a local retired priest who died on 15 November, was the father of our Verger, Silulami (“Sly”) Mize. Revd Mluleki was a self-supporting priest who ministered both at St Philip’s and St Augustine’s, and was greatly appreciated by those congregations. We give thanks for his life and ministry, and pray for Sly.

On Sunday 1 November the Cathedral celebrated the Feast of All Saints in the morning, and in the evening, the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls). Instead of Evening Prayer we met in the Cathedral for a Sung Eucharist, which was also live-streamed. At this service the names of beloved friends and family members who had died were remembered, and candles lit. We also remembered especially all those who have died as a result of Covid-19, and prayed for their families. The Cathedral Consort, directed by Kutlwano Kepadisa, sang the Requiem Mass by Dr Andrew-John Bethke. Listen to Jessica Lloyd-Jones singing the Pié Jesu, accompanied on the organ by our Junior Organ Scholar Bayanda Mthetho.

The Makana Choir School’s Annual General Meeting on Sunday 15 November was attended by 20 choristers, choristers’ parents and parishioners. Congratulations to Glyn Lloyd-Jones who was elected Chairperson, as well as Treasurer Jessica Lloyd-Jones, Secretary Maggy Clarke, Fund-Raiser Cathy Meiklejohn and Parents’ Representative Phumla Cagwe. A further committee member elected was Jonathan Hughes, who is our Senior Organ Scholar. Acting Director of Music Kutlwano Kepadisa (Kepa), Head Chorister Xolisa Foley, the Dean, and Chaplain Siphokazi Njokweni, are all ex officio members of the Committee.

Janine and Lyle Abdul

Although he has had various health issues this year, and continues to suffer from back pain, our Artist-in-Residence Chris Mann has not stopped working. At the end of November he took part in the Madibaland World Literary Festival. One of the few consolations of our new lifestyle in the time of coronavirus is that Chris, and many others around the world, could participate from the comfort of their own homes. Those of us who tuned in via Zoom witnessed Chris (or was it Fafa Hopkins?) in vintage troubadour mode, playing consummately professional song videos of his work, but also reciting and singing live. What a privilege, and what an achievement, Chris! Visit his website at chrismann.co.za

In contrast to the general gloom of 2020, romance is in the air in the Parish Office. A couple of months ago we congratulated Parish Administrator Lou-Anne Liebenberg on her engagement to Jeronavan Safers, and now we are delighted to announce that on 28 November our Parish Secretary Janine (neé Jegels) was married to Lyle Abdul by Dean Andrew in the Cathedral. May God richly bless them both in their life together.

As school and university terms come to an end, it was time to elect the new Student Ministry leadership for 2021. Congratulations to Legatong Ranoto the new Chairperson, Nqobani Dabengwa the deputy, and Kundai Jimu and Kepa who will continue to lead the worship. The last (socially distanced) lunch for the Student Ministry was a bitter-sweet occasion, as everyone was saying farewell to Revd Claire, and she would also miss them so much!

We pray for safe journeys for those travelling home, and a blessed Advent season.

People and Places, November 2020

Simultaneous live-streaming

The great moment finally arrived! After six months without Sunday worship in the Cathedral, six long months of locked doors and silence, on Sunday 4 October small congregations ventured in, masked. We had our temperatures taken, fumbled with filling in unfamiliar forms, found seats as designated, not too close to one another. And we sighed with joy and looked around. What a beautiful building! How easily it had been, previously, to take the stained glass windows for granted. Yes, we thank God for our Cathedral, and for all the people who worked hard to clean and make it ready for us. And, at the 9:30 services there is even music! Kutlwano Kepadisa, our Acting Director of Music, has brought different small groups of singers to the service each Sunday to uplift our souls heavenwards, and the congregation join in quietly behind their masks. The marimba players are back. The junior choristers, and even some probationers, being trained in their art, are back on duty. Those whose state of health means they may not risk attending in person are not forgotten, for the Sung Eucharist is simultaneously live-streamed every Sunday, so that they may pick it up on their computers or cellphones. The 7:30 service is a quieter Holy Communion, usually according to the SABP rite and always in the Cathedral, while the 5 p.m. Evensong continues to be available online only. That is when the Dean takes the opportunity to invite “visiting” preachers from far and wide. Revd Wilma Jakobsen from Hermanus was a recent example. Some Cathedral groups have also begun to meet at least partly in person, for instance the Meditation group led by Julia Skeen and Revd Claire, which meets out of doors weather permitting, while the option remains of meditating at home and then joining in a discussion via Skype.

Xoliswa Foley (centre) and Nzulu Nzwana (right)

On Sunday 25 October during the 9:30 a.m. Sung Eucharist the Cathedral said farewell to Nzulu Nzwana, who had been Head Chorister for two years. He took up this duty in his Grade 11 year, 2019. On several occasions he conducted the Cathedral Choir or even larger groups of singers such as the Back to School Choir and (in 2019) the Masicule massed choir. He is now writing his Matric exams, and will be leaving Graeme College and the Makanda Choir School. The Choir School and the Cathedral community wish him well in the future and pray God’s blessing upon him. His successor is Xolisa Foley, who has been a member of the Makana Choir School and the Cathedral Choir since his junior school days, and will be going into Grade 12 next year. Dean Andrew Hunter inducted him formally into the position of Head Chorister at the same service. To listen to the choir singing “Thixo Onothando” at the beginning of that service, click here.

Sarah James

Something else we were deprived of by lockdown was the excitement and joy of Graduation. Way back in May I should have been writing about our students who had graduated in April, but it all happened virtually. So well done to Sarah James for thinking of posting on Facebook a “graduation photo”. I have great pleasure in reproducing it here. And tremendous congratulations to her on obtaining her B. Journ with Distinction! She is still a student at Rhodes, and is about to complete her Honours in History, most of which she has had to do at home in Durban North. We pray for her and all students finishing their courses in unfamiliar circumstances. And Sarah needs our prayers especially on 27 November when she faces major and essential surgery to her spine, to correct the scoliosis which she has lived with all her life, and which has caused her enormous pain. To hear her tell her story in her own words, click here.

Theo Duxbury

In the midst of his Rhodes studies, and his Churchwarden duties, Theodore Duxbury managed to obtain a qualification in Healthcare Service Management from the Regent Business School in Johannesburg, Cum Laude! Warm congratulations.

October is traditionally our Stewardship and Giving month, culminating in Dedication Sunday when pledges are collected, enabling the Churchwardens and Parish Council to budget for the coming year. This year with much of our worship taking place virtually, it was no surprise that the Cathedral’s income fell below budget. Anyone who has not yet sent in a Pledge Form to the Parish Office and would like to make a promise to contribute regularly to the ministry of the Cathedral can download a form here.

As October draws to a close, we have been accustomed to getting together for our big fund-raiser of the year, St George’s Fair. This year Rodney Bridger and his imaginative team have put together a “St George’s Fair with a Difference”, which began on Saturday 30 October with a sale of pre-ordered cakes etc, to be followed later by sales of curried goods, boerewors rolls and more. For details, pick up a leaflet at church, or click here. News is just in that our beloved Lynette Marais, who was always to be seen behind the cake stall at St George’s Fairs, remembered the Cathedral in her will. She has left a tithe (10%) of the proceeds of the sale of her house to the Cathedral of St Michael and St George! We give great thanks to God.

Our prayers are asked for Basil Coyne, whose mother died in October, and for his wife Fiona in hospital. Tragically, the coronavirus has claimed the life of Lou-Anne Liebenberg’s cousin Trevor Moss. Andrew Tracey had a pacemaker fitted in mid-October, and is at home with Heather, who is not very well. On 27 October Bishop Ebenezer’s son-in-law Aviwe Mbuku survived a robbery at gunpoint in Cape Town. We pray for him, his wife Zipho and all the family. Dean Andrew had two successful cataract operations towards the end of October, for which we give thanks. After having the first op on a Wednesday, he surprised those who tuned into the live-streamed Saturday Evening Prayer by reading from the Bible without glasses!

Shortly before the cataract ops, the Dean and Claire took a well-deserved holiday, and with their friends Bob and Rachel Mash walked the Tsitsikamma Trail. The weather was perfect, neither too hot nor ever wet, and although there were various minor slips and bumps on the rocky and challenging route, everyone reached the end without serious injury. The views and the indigenous vegetation were amazing! Rachel Hunter has returned to Cape Town and is enjoying the experience of observing Junior Primary classes. She has opted to postpone her actual Teaching Practice until the first half of 2021, in order to give it more time.

As we head into exam season, we pray for all students and school pupils as they write, at the end of a uniquely disrupted year. We also pray for good sense to prevail, that young people (and others!) may curb their instinct to gather in groups and make merry. It’s a sobering thought that exposing oneself to Covid-19 at a party may result in a missed exam, and the result of that would be a whole year lost! And let’s remember that masks are not neck ornaments but are to be worn over the mouth, and over the nose, every time we leave home. It may be stuffy, it may be boring, but someone’s life can depend on it. And if you have a smartphone, do download the “Covid Alert SA” app. It’s free from the Playstore, and the more people have it, the more easily we can tell if we have been in contact with someone who is infected.

May God bless us and those we love, and keep us safe.

People and Places, October 2020

We were still living under the shadow of the pandemic, we never knew when another round of load-shedding would be announced, and we were waiting anxiously for the rains – but the Lord sent us a wonderful Spring! The coral trees all over town have never seemed so full of exuberant blossom, and in the gardens birds, flowers and new leaves keep on appearing – regardless of the date, the temperature or whether or not it has rained.

Sarah James and her parents, in Maggy Clarke’s garden

The gradual relaxing of lockdown regulations has meant that like hibernating animals some of us have ventured out, visited friends or family, or received visitors at our homes. Sarah James, one of our students who is also a member of the choir, has been working on her Honours thesis at home in KZN all through lockdown. At the end of September she and her parents Chris and Di drove down for two nights to clear her res room, and had time to visit a few people. Sarah looks forward to returning next year to start on her Masters. Jeanette Eve welcomed her daughter Catherine from Stellenbosch for ten days. Together they went to Kenton and stayed in a rented house for a few delightful nights by the Bushman’s River. Maggy Clarke was able to spend some time in Port Alfred to be near her daughter Helen and family. And Revd Claire went to Great Brak River for a very special reunion. She and four of her ’varsity friends meet up once every five years to spend a few days together. They first met as students when they were all about 18 years old, and this is the year they all turn 60! We thank God for this wonderfully enduring friendship.

We congratulate Revd Claire on this special birthday, which was on 20 September. In “normal” times the Deanery family would have loved to welcome the parish for a big party, especially now that they are all at home, even Nicola after all her travels, but this could not be. Instead, the family compiled a book of all the good wishes which they had received for Claire, from many parishioners and other friends.

Even under the difficult conditions imposed by lock-down, romance can flourish. It is a great joy to be able to congratulate Lou-Anne Liebenberg on her engagement to Jeronavan Safers. May God bless them both as they look forward to their life together.

Congratulations to Bayanda Mthetho, our Junior Organ Scholar, on being elected as one of the Graeme College prefects for 2021. Congratulations also to the Rector of the College of the Transfiguration, Dr Vicentia Kgabe, on being elected Vice-Chair of the Rhodes University Council, and to Mary Birt, founder of Food4Futures, on being given an Ubuntu Award by the Kingswood Rotary Interact Club. Throughout lockdown the Cathedral has been co-operating with Food4Futures in their tremendous task of feeding the hungry in Makhanda, and we give thanks to God for this wonderful work.

We pray for Gill Meyer, who was in a car accident. And special prayers are asked for Michael Whisson, sick at home.

Jackie Shipster, Chris Mann’s sister, died on 31 August in the UK. Chris and Julia had travelled to England and spent several long periods with her since she suffered a severe stroke that left her paralysed four years ago, but sadly at the end they were unable to be with her. We pray for all the family. We also remember Zoleka Maqwili on the death of her father Nhise Maqwili, Sub-Dean Mzi Dyantyi whose aunt Nothemba died, and Lou-Anne Liebenberg on the death of cousin Wayne Jordan.

Photo: Chris Walwyn

Chris Walwyn, who died of cancer at Brookshaw on 29 September, was a meticulous exponent of the art of printing, who turned his hand to many things. At the College of the Transfiguration he fulfilled the post of Estate Manager nobly and with humility, and his last position before he retired to Bathurst was in our own Parish Office as Secretary. At many an Ordination Chris was the “Official Photographer” recording the occasion. Any amateur photographer who has tried to capture the beauty of a stained glass window, using an ordinary camera or a cellphone, will know that this is no easy task. Chris has left us a wonderful record of all the windows in the Cathedral. To see some examples of his work, click here. We give thanks for his life, and pray for his wife Marian, children and grandchildren.

Although the restrictions on physical travel have been obvious and often very tiresome, there are some advantages to the many online meetings which have replaced physical gatherings. Dean Andrew was one of the reps from the Diocese of Grahamstown who attended the Provincial Standing Committee. Normally he, the Bishop and the lay rep would have had to travel to the venue, along with people from all the other 28 Dioceses of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA). But now the reps of each Diocese sat in their respective Diocesan Offices and interacted with each other via Zoom, a huge saving in money and time. The Dean did comment that it helped that most of those attending the meeting had actually met already, and knew each other quite well.

Rachel Mash

As part of the Season of Creation we were able to welcome as our preacher at the 9:30 online service on 27 September the Revd Canon Rachel Mash, Environmental Co-ordinator of the ACSA, who is based in Cape Town. Chris Mann was invited to be on the panel of a discussion at the Artists’ Gathering. This is an annual gathering of Christian artists, which usually takes place in the winelands of the Cape, but this year it was entirely virtual, so Chris was able to take part without leaving his home. The same applied to two of the speakers who are resident in the USA. The theme of the discussion Chris took part in was ‘The hopeful interplay of Christianity, creativity and citizenship in our current context’.

By complete contrast, on the Sunday after Heritage Day some 500 citizens of Makhanda gathered outside the Cathedral (but not too close together) to ‘dance the Jerusalema’! What a joyful and hopeful occasion. One visitor to the Cathedral Facebook page left a comment: “It’s a place to be, we had a great day today doing a Jerusalema dance challenge, wow it was nice”. Remembering the origin and meaning of the song, what could be more appropriate. “Jerusalem is my home – guard me, walk with me, do not leave me here!” For a video clip, click here.

Sly at the open door

Although the President announced that churches would be permitted to open their doors as early as June for corporate worship under certain conditions, the Dean and Parish Council, in consultation with other parishioners, felt it was wiser to wait, as the pandemic had not passed its peak and many of the Cathedral family were elderly and vulnerable. Now, happily, the lockdown has been reduced to Level One, and the decision has been taken to open the Cathedral doors once more. From Monday 28 September Silulami Mize (Sly), the Cathedral Verger, has been on duty, and the building is open for visitors and private prayer. The first Sunday services will be held on 4 October, when we will celebrate our Patronal Festival, the Feast of St Michael and All Angels, with Holy Communion at both 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. Bearing in mind that there are still people who will need to stay away from gatherings on account of their health, it has been decided to continue to live-stream the 9:30 a.m. Sunday Eucharist services, only now from the Cathedral rather than from the Cory Room. Evening Prayer at 5 p.m. will continue to be live-streamed only, as will the daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer on weekdays. Details can be found on our Worship page. Whether you decide to join in live worship, suitably masked and socially distanced, or whether you continue to be with us online, do take precautions, as the pandemic will be with us for a long time to come. May the Lord keep us safe.

People and Places, September 2020

In the middle of August our President announced that South Africa was to move to Lockdown Level Two, with interprovincial travel allowed, and the resumption of sales of alcohol and tobacco products. Towards the end of the month all school children were permitted to return to school, although this was controversial and many stayed away. We give thanks that while every day there are new cases of Covid-19, and new deaths, the numbers are currently falling. We pray that there will not be a rise in numbers, now that the restrictions are being eased. Cathedral services are still being streamed live from our Facebook page, and for the first time on 16 August both Facebook and Zoom were used for our live-streamed Sunday morning service – wow! Kutlwano Kepadisa (Kepa) is the man with the technical know-how who made that happen.

August is observed in South Africa as Women’s Month, and all the Sunday evening preachers were women clergy: Gina Gcebile from the College of the Transfiguration, Noelene Arends, Rector of St Martin’s Gonubie, Gwen Mvula from St Philip’s Grahamstown, Melany Adonis, Canon for Development in the Bishop’s Office, and the COTT Rector, Dr Vicentia Kgabe. People who did not own a copy of our Lectionary might have been forgiven for assuming that the Revd Arends had chosen the Old Testament reading on which she preached, to fit the theme of Women’s Month, but in fact the rape of Tamar (2 Samuel 13) was actually the set lesson! This had also been the scripture used at the second Youth Discussion on 3 August. This meeting, held over Zoom and Facebook, saw panellists Kundai Jimu, Asakhe Cuntsulana, Rachel Hunter, Kepa and Theo Duxbury, seeking to find ways the Church might address the Gender Based Violence pandemic. Ideas included: Look at the Bible verses which are used to prove that men are in charge, and put them in their proper context. Don’t stay silent, speak up! It’s about how men raise their sons! And even: A “boot camp” to be run by women, for men! The discussions continue…

Sister Ursula

We pray for the family of Leslie Watkins, who died in August, and especially for his wife Ann. Melanie Lancaster’s mother Eileen Gibbens died in Stutterheim on 18 July at the age of 96. She was a Rhodes graduate, and remembered when on VE Day, the end of World War II in 1945, the whole University processed down High Street to the sound of the Cathedral bells. Prayers are asked for Paul Walters, whose friend and colleague since 1964, André Lemmer, has died of cancer. One of the Roman Catholic Assumption Sisters who was well known and loved in ecumenical circles here, Sister Ursula Hinchion, died on 3 August. She served on the Spiritfest planning group for a number of years, organising meditations at St Patrick’s and elsewhere with a sparkly enthusiasm and energy that belied her years. During 2019 she was diagnosed with inoperable cancer, and her Order moved her to Port Elizabeth where she was cared for until her death. The Dean and Claire were among the 50 people permitted to attend her Requiem Mass in person, under the lockdown regulations. We give thanks for her life and pray for all those who mourn her.

We give thanks that the Revd Siphokazi Njokweni, who had been treating herself at home for Covid-19, was able to return to teaching on 24 August. Shortness of breath and lack of taste and smell were still bothering her. Kepa’s family members in Johannesburg have recovered from the virus, but then his father Moemedi was taken ill again. Kepa went home on 23 August to be with him for a week, his first visit since lockdown began in March. Happily the latest news is that his father now seems to be much better. Peter Stockwell had surgery to his jaw which was a success, but he had to put up with a liquid diet for several weeks as the scar healed. The Revd Gary Griffiths-Smith, a former chaplain at St Andrew’s College, underwent extensive surgery in New Zealand, to remove a malignant brain tumour. The op went well and he is on the long road to recovery.We continue to pray for them all.

We salute those who are going the extra mile in so many ways during this pandemic, including our donors, food parcel packers and distributers, and of course the health workers. In Johannesburg people have the opportunity to volunteer for vaccine trials, and Maggy Clarke’s daughter Beccy Stones has been making periodic visits to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital to be vaccinated as part of the joint Oxford-Wits venture.

We welcome the Revd Richard Wyngard, his wife Chris, and their six-year-old triplets to the wider church family in Makhanda. Richard is the new Chaplain at St Andrew’s College.

Warm congratulations to Zipho Ntlali, daughter of Bishop Ebenezer Ntlali, and her new husband Aviwe Mbuku. The Bishop performed their wedding ceremony in the Bishopsbourne garden on 22 August, and Revd Claire was the preacher. In accordance with Covid-19 regulations guests were limited to 50, and masks were worn, except for the photographs.

Congratulations to Barbara and Wilf Stout, our former Director of Music and Organist, Founders and Patrons of the Makana Choir School, who have been married for 50 years!

Two lovely couples – fifty years apart!

News of Amy Richter and Joe Pagano is that they have begun a new ministry as priests in the Anglican Parish of Pasadena/Cormack in Newfoundland, Canada. Arriving from the United States, they had to begin with two weeks quarantine in their Rectory. Amy is the Rector and Joe the Associate Rector. And if you wonder how new priests introduce themselves to a parish in a time of coronavirus, click here for their short video. They will also be on the staff of Queen’s College Newfoundland, a theological college. We wish God’s blessings on their new ministry.

The Deanery family had been eagerly looking forward to the return of Nicola from the United States. Her flights were cancelled and rebooked numerous times, but finally she flew out via Dallas and Doha, and arrived in South Africa on 26 August. Now she must spend two weeks in quarantine, in the St George’s Hotel, Johannesburg.

Lynette Marais

During August Lynette Marais, knowing that her cancer was inoperable and getting worse, was joined by her two sisters Felicity and Rosemary from Johannesburg. They came to look after her, and also to pack up her house. It was clear that Lynette would be leaving us soon. The Revd Claire invited anyone who would like to send a message of thanks and good wishes to Lynette, to put it in an email. These were compiled into a fat little booklet, which was presented to Lynette, giving her much joy. For an hour on the morning of 20 August, a stream of well-wishers came in ones and twos to greet Lynette at her bedside, suitably masked, and regulated by Revd Claire who allowed them two minutes each. There was even a trio which burst into an original song – ‘Dame Lynette’ by Andrew and Geoffrey Tracey and Christian Carver. Then, on 23 August during the live-streamed Sunday morning service, Dean Andrew announced that he was giving the Dean’s Award to Lynette. This honour was instituted in 2016, and is presented by the Dean to “anyone, not necessarily from the Anglican Church or the Cathedral, who has contributed significantly to the Grahamstown community”. Writing in her Citation, Dean Andrew described Lynette as someone who “through her leadership of the National Festival of the Arts for 20 years, served the whole of South Africa and its artistic and diverse cultural communities with dedication and distinction.” He also paid tribute to her contribution to the community at large, for instance through Rotary and the Soroptimists, and especially emphasized her faithful service at the Cathedral as a server and Lay Minister, her faith, strength, courage, and joyful sense of fun. To read the full Citation click here.

And so, with perfect timing, on the evening of Friday 28 August, Lynette Marais made her exit from this life, and her entrance into the Heavenly Kingdom. We give thanks to God for Lynette. She will be greatly missed.

People and Places, August 2020

As the month of July progressed, the government kept adjusting the regulations of “Level 3 lockdown” one way, or another, giving an impression of uncertainty and leaving many frustrated. More children returned to school on the 6^th of the month, but then on the 27^th all public schools were closed for four weeks, with very little notice. The ban on liquor sales, and a night-time curfew, were reinstated with even less notice. But at the same time, the reality of Covid-19 was being brought home to us every day, not just in news bulletins, but in the lives of people we know well.

On 12 July the virus claimed the life of Trevor Cowie, and his wife Celeste was also infected. Our prayers are with her, and we pray for the Kepadisa family, Kepa’s parents and brothers, who tested positive for the virus. They have been treating themselves at home in Gauteng, while Kepa himself was here in Makhanda. We give thanks that they are all making a good recovery, and that Duma Myemane, who also tested positive, is now well again after a period of self isolation. Recent shock news was of the death of one of our local clergy, Mvuleni Mvula, Rector of St Clement’s. Our prayers are asked for all his family. Sadly, the mother of one of our choir members, and junior Organ Scholar, Bayanda Mthetho, died on 3 July in Cape Town (not of Covid-19). We pray for him, and for our Churchwarden, Lungile Penxa, whose mother Nomvuzo died here in Makhanda on 30 July.

Mandy Bridger had to go to hospital for treatment to her feet, which she had hoped to avoid at this time. We give thanks that this was successful, and we also give thanks for the success of the treatment which June Venn had on her eye, in East London. Lynette Marais, who has cancer, is especially in our prayers at this time.

The Revd Andy Kruger

In the midst of these troubles the Cathedral community is called to continue being the Church, the Body of Christ. The peak of the pandemic is not a good time to be opening a building for gatherings, so worship continues to be online. Bible studies and meditation take place via Zoom or Facebook. Services are live-streamed via the Cathedral Facebook page: on weekdays, Morning and Evening Prayer; on Sundays, services which include music, readings and prayers contributed by members of the Cathedral family, and sermons. Audio recordings or text versions of the sermons can be found on the Sermons page of our website. On 12 July Andy Kruger was our preacher at Evening Prayer. A former Assistant Priest at the Cathedral, Andy is now Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Cranford, in the Diocese of New Jersey, USA. He assured us that he and his wife Heather and baby Edward are all doing well.

At our most recent Zoom “Tea after Church” meeting on Sunday 19 July, local congregants were joined by three from Cape Town, A-J Bethke’s parents Tony and Erica, and Dorothy Holder. Dorothy is still teaching private pupils flute, double bass and piano, but now all remotely. She demonstrated the challenges involved in showing the teacher an instrument as large as a double bass, using only a cellphone camera!

PinkBusters © Azile Cibi

The Cathedral Covid Care group continues to collaborate with Food4Futures in fund-raising, packing and distributing food parcels to those who are most in need at this time. It turns out that some of our wonderful team who pack food parcels for the hungry are also talented pantsula dancers! They produced a show on the National Arts Festival Virtual Fringe called ‘The Pink Busters’.

A highlight of the Virtual National Arts Festival was the launch, also on the Fringe, of ‘Three Years in the Making’, a documentary video showcasing the Makhanda Kwantu Choir. Congratulations to Kutlwano Kepadisa (Kepa) the founder, conductor and inspiration of this wonderful home-grown community choir, which includes a number of past and present members of the Cathedral choir. The professional standard of the film, made by Evaan Ferreira, was superb. The “lock-down” Kwantu Choir have also produced an album with the same name. This can still be accessed on the Virtual Fringe website, but Kepa hopes to have CDs available in September. As a spin-off, we have been enjoying more sound clips of Kwantu during our live-streamed Sunday services!

Crystal Warren

Other creative Cathedral people have been getting their work published. Poet-in-Residence Crystal Warren, has four of her poems included in a new anthology, ‘The only Magic we know’. And Theo Duxbury collaborated on an article in the journal “Qualitative Research’, titled ‘Understanding critical concepts in engaged research: The case of a rural health development project in South Africa.’

News from the UK is that Barbara and Wilf Stout are rejoicing in the birth of another grandson. Albert (known as Bertie) was born on 18 July to Emily, wife of their son Mick. Considering the major surgery and treatment which Mick went through in 2018, it is a special joy to learn that he and all his family are well.

After a year and a half as Youth Intern at the Cathedral, Tandiwe Gabavana has been appointed as a Community Health Worker at Fort England Hospital. We shall miss her, but congratulate her on this appointment, and wish her every blessing in this important work.

It is good to welcome Rachel Hunter back home, to continue studying for her postgraduate teacher’s diploma course online. The students have been told that they will not be returning to UCT physically, although at some stage they will be required to do a shortened version of the teaching practice which is required as part of the course. With government schools closed for four weeks, there is uncertainty over when that may be. In the meantime it is good to have her back in Makhanda.

Rachel was part of the panel which discussed questions suggested by young people, at a meeting live-streamed via Facebook on Wednesday 22 July. Her fellow panellists were Kepa, and Asakhe Cuntsulana, while Dean Andrew Hunter chaired the discussion. The list of hard-hitting questions sent in numbered 16, ranging from sex and drugs to evolution and climate change. Not surprisingly, there was only time to discuss the first question! This challenged the Church on how to stand up for justice, peace and hope in times of turmoil. The panel agreed that Christians are called to love one another and bear one another’s burdens, to listen compassionately and be non-judgemental. The next session will be made available on the Cathedral’s newly launched YouTube channel, and will focus on gender based violence. Do visit the YouTube channel and subscribe to it.

May God sustain us all in these uncertain times, and bless us and those we love.

People and Places, July 2020

This issue of ‘People and Places’ appears in the middle of the National Arts Festival, a Festival like no Festival before it. We give thanks for the courage and creativity of the organisers and many artists who have made a Virtual Festival possible. On the first Festival Sunday, 28 June, the Cathedral’s live-streamed morning service included contributions from a wide variety of our musicians and poets. We heard our Director of Music Cameron Luke on the organ, his Assistant Kutlwano Kepadisa (Kepa) singing with Bayanda Mthetho, Asakhe Cuntsulana singing and accompanying himself on the kalimba, Chris Mann singing one of his song-poems, Crystal Warren reading one of her poems, Tyreece Burger playing the violin, and an anthem from the Makhanda Kwantu Choir! If you missed it and would like to hear it, click here.

On the afternoon of Sunday 14 June a concert was premiered on YouTube, featuring choirs from all over South Africa. This included an item from Kwantu Choir recorded at last year’s Masicule. If you missed it, catch up with it here.

As the month of June began, South Africa took the first tentative steps into Level Three of lockdown, while at the same time the news reminded us daily of the rapidly climbing Covid-19 infection and death rates. Grades 12 and 7 returned to school, wearing face-masks, and sitting in single desks, widely spaced. Good Shepherd School, where Revd Claire is the Chaplain, was among those to welcome the Grade Sevens. Children who themselves had health issues like asthma, or who lived with elderly or sick relatives, were allowed to stay at home. Sadly however we soon heard of various schools having to cope with the result of one or more of the pupils or staff being diagnosed with the virus – closing for a few days, and then re-opening. We continue to pray for teachers, children and all concerned.

While most high schools which opened their doors to their Grade 12s at the beginning of June were able to use several empty classrooms to accommodate them, this did not apply to Gadra Matric School for obvious reasons. However, with the loan of extra hall space and some juggling of time-tables, all the pupils were welcomed in, and Cathy Meiklejohn reported that they were eager to get back to work.

The Parish Office reopened on 10 June, with all protocols in place to safeguard those who work there, as well as visitors. The Cathedral however has not yet reopened for worship, as this will be a far more complicated and challenging process. Discussions continue at parish and diocesan level. Meanwhile, the weekly distribution of food parcels continues, working together with Food4Futures, and we give thanks for the regular donations which make this possible.

One unexpected benefit of the lockdown is that “visiting” preachers need not stir from their own homes. On 14 June we had the joy of welcoming the Revd David Lloyd-Jones, father of Glyn Lloyd-Jones, to preach at Evensong, although he was at home in Kokstad. And a few minutes after that service ended, Revd Claire was the visiting preacher at a morning service in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA, at the invitation of her friend Mary-Ellen Ashcroft. Mary-Ellen is the Vicar there, and Nicola Hunter has been staying with her while waiting to see what arrangements can be made for her to return to South Africa. It is hoped that will be in August. The COTT students assigned to the Cathedral for pastoral experience are able to take a turn at preaching, as is expected of them. Bongumusa Thusini’s sermon was due to be heard on Sunday evening, 21 June, but due to technical problems went out instead on the Wednesday following. And Miseka Makaputa was the preacher at Evensong on 28 June.

We pray for the family of Stephen Holder, a well known organist and music teacher in Makhanda who died on 10 June. He was a driving force behind the popular annual Big Hymn Sings, and was among those who assisted by playing the Cathedral organ during 2017 after the departure of A-J Bethke. His memorial service which was live-streamed from Commemoration Church on 28 June was a feast of wonderful music, including contributions from Cameron Luke on the organ, and choral items by a handful of Kwantu choir members conducted by Kepa. It can still be accessed here. Prayers are also asked for a member of our far-flung online congregation, Elsa Blackbeard, on the death of her brother Owen. Like Elsa, he lived in Australia. Sadly among the many who have died of Covid-19 in recent days in the Eastern Cape was a lay member of our Cathedral Chapter, Nontobeko Moletsane. Her family are in our prayers, as well as her fellow members of Chapter.

What a lovely couple! Pat and Sally Terry.

Prayers are asked for Jennie McGarvie, Jane Bradshaw’s daughter, and Gill Meyer’s daughter Katie Fair. Among our “gathered congregation” who tune in to Cathedral live-streamed services, Namso Nyamela in Pretoria has been suffering from shingles, while Lesley-Ann Foster in East London has been diagnosed with Covid-19. We pray for them.

We give thanks that Paul Walters has improved in health sufficiently to be able, at last, to begin to take the medication which was prescribed after his operation in February. In Scotland, Wilf Stout fell ill at the beginning of June with suspected Covid-19. We give thanks that, although it took quite a while, he has now made a good recovery from whatever it was. Barbara, happily, has remained free of infection.

Warm congratulations to Pat and Sally Terry, on their Golden Wedding Anniversary! They were married 50 years ago on 27 June 1970. The restrictions of these times led them to be creative, and their Zoom get-together of relatives brought together members of both sides of the family from England, Scotland, Wales, Mauritius, South Africa and California, some of whom had never met each other before!

It is a blessing to be able to keep in touch with friends and family all over the world, and in some cases to make contact again with people we have not heard from for years. May God bless us all, and those we love and pray for.

People and Places, June 2020

Those who were members of the Cathedral family in 2011-2012 will remember the Revd Andy Kruger. He was attached to the Cathedral as a Deacon, and later an Assistant Priest, while living at the College of the Transfiguration and studying for his Masters in Theology with the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His girlfriend at the time was Heather Prince, a Rhodes student, and both were deeply involved in our student ministry. They announced their engagement in 2012, and left at the end of the year to return to the Diocese of Natal, where they married. Later they moved to the USA, where Andy is Priest-in-Charge of a parish in Cranford, New Jersey. They wrote to the Dean to share the exciting news that they were expecting a baby, and to invite anyone in the parish to “attend” a babyshower on 9 May via Zoom! The resulting party was enormous fun, with a tour of the nursery led by Heather, online guessing games devised by her sister (presumably in South Africa?) and prayers led by South African priest Bruce Jenneker. In fact it became quite hard to know where everyone was. At one time there were 89 participants – quite a crowd! Andy and Heather were looking the picture of health, and the baby was due on 4 June. However, Edward Nathaniel Prince Kruger was in a hurry, and made his entrance on 20 May! Our congratulations to the proud parents, and we pray God’s richest blessings on them and on Edward.

On Sunday 10 May we held our first “Virtual Tea After Church” via Zoom at 11:00, and a great many of the congregation put in appearances, Pat Terry with a beard most people had not seen before. We met for the first time one of the regulars at our daily live-streamed services, Neale Andrews, and learned that he is a lay leader in Prestbury, Pietermaritzburg. We also met his companion in lockdown, a delightful little blue bird called Percy who perched on his shoulder, and added a few tweets. At a second gathering on 24 May it was a pleasure to be joined by our Bishop, Ebenezer Ntlali.

The daily services of Morning and Evening Prayer which are streamed live on the Cathedral Facebook page by Dean Andrew and the Revd Claire are gathering a number of people from far beyond Makhanda, like former chorister and lay minister Namso Nyamela in Pretoria, and Maria Kirner in Sweden. Among our most regular attenders is Elsa Blackbeard in Australia. We held her in our prayers recently when she was in hospital with a stroke, and it was good to hear that she has now been discharged. We pray for her complete recovery. Christopher Moore, who was Director of Music at the Cathedral in 2005, and subsequently returned to the UK, “followed” the Cathedral Facebook page. On 31 May one lesson was read by Nicola Hunter in the USA. Her parents join her in attending services at “Spirit of the Wilderness” Episcopal Church in Grand Marais, where their friend Mary-Ellen Ashcroft is the Vicar. After they have finished live-streaming Evening Prayer here, Andrew and Claire attend their morning service!

We pray for Jenny Reynolds, Rose Buchner’s sister, on the death of her son Robert in the UK.

Prayers are asked for Canon James Hoyle, who had another stroke. The coronavirus is everywhere, and the reality comes home to us when people we know and love are among those infected. At the time of writing Wilf Stout, who with his wife Barbara started our Choir School and jointly led it from 2008-12, was suffering from the symptoms and awaiting a definite diagnosis in Scotland. We hold him and Barbara in our prayers. We have been praying for the Revd Wilfred and Debbie Meyer in Cape Town, coronavirus patients. Debbie required an operation, and we give thanks for its success. A former Dean of Grahamstown, Bishop Godfrey Ashby, now 89 and living in a care home in the UK, was also diagnosed with the virus, and we give thanks that he is now recovering.

We have good news from the Revd Idowu Akinloye in Ogbomoso, Nigeria, where he, like us, is locked down. He has been told that Rhodes University has approved the award of his PhD in Law. Warm congratulations to him! Idowu thanks us for our support, prayers and encouragement during his studies, and hopes that it will be possible in due course for him to return to take up his postdoctoral fellowship. He sends his kind regards, and those of his wife Aduragbemi and daughter Greatness, to all the Cathedral family.

Congratulations to Rachel Hunter on her 25^th Birthday. She spent her birthday in lockdown in Cape Town, and was showered in love with messages from near and far!

Colin Lewis, Author

From Wales we hear that Colin Lewis has just had a book published, for teenagers and above. This is based on the story of a horse he bought and trained three years ago, and is called ‘Maisie, a Welsh Cob in mid Wales’. Maisie has been working at a trail riding centre “carrying clients across the roof of Wales” and recently gave birth to a lovely filly. Colin’s wife Marijke produces a weekly Covid news-sheet to circulate around their parish.

Crystal Warren, Poet-in-Residence

On 10 May Crystal Warren was installed and licensed as a Poet-in-Residence of the Cathedral. This event had been long planned for this date, but instead of it taking place in the Cathedral it was held in the context of a live-streamed Evensong. Crystal joins Chris Mann and Julia Skeen, the Cathedral’s other two Artists-in-Residence. At our services that day she read three of her poems, which can be found here.

Another planned event which was transformed in a similar way was the commemoration of the 200^th anniversary of the arrival of the 1820 Settlers in the Eastern Cape. This took place at the 9:30 a.m. service on Sunday 17 May. Our usual gathered congregation of online worshippers from around the country and beyond was increased to over 500 when it was joined by descendents of 1820 Settlers, some from near at hand but others from Durban, Zimbabwe and Australia. A couple of them even discovered they had a common ancestor, which made them (very!) distant cousins.

Even before the further easing of lockdown restrictions to Level 3 on 1 June, it was possible for people to return home after extended stays. We welcome back Elizabeth Breetzke, who returned from Cape Town after her treatment there, during which she had been staying with her daughter. And Shirley Horan, daughter of Geoff and Margie Antrobus, flew home with her three sons to her husband Mark in Canada after a holiday in South Africa which had been intended to last four weeks, but which stretched to eleven! One of our “long-distance” congregation, Simone Tietz, who was a member of our student group some years ago and is now a teacher in Swakopmund, Namibia, was stuck for weeks in Germany, but is delighted to report that she will soon be able to fly home.

President Ramaphosa’s announcement that places of worship would be allowed to reopen their doors from 1 June came a surprise. The conditions are not easy to fulfil, and both the Parish Council and the Chapter of the Diocese will be holding discussions with much prayer before any steps are taken. In the meantime, the important point to remember is that, as the Dean said in his sermon of 17 May, the Church has never closed, only the buildings. We are the Church, and as the Body of Christ we can continue to worship him in our homes, and together via the internet, and we can be his hands and feet in showing compassion to those in greatest need, through the food parcel distribution. May God bless us all.

People and Places, May 2020

As I began to write this, I was struck by the relevance of a sentence from the Gospel for the 2^nd Sunday of Easter, 19 April: “Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them, and said, ‘Peace be with you’.” Some of us are entirely on our own during the lockdown, and obeying the instructions to stay at home if we don’t work in essential services. Some of us are locked down in family situations, like Geoff and Margie Antrobus whose daughter Shirley Horan and her three boys are unable to return home to Canada. Whatever your situation, whoever and wherever you are, the Lord Jesus is right there with you, and none of us need to fear or to be lonely.

The plight of people who have suddenly lost their income is another matter. There are no cars for the car guards to look after, and informal traders find their customers have disappeared. Children who relied on school meals were left hungry when the schools closed. The Cathedral immediately put out an appeal so that there might be vouchers or food parcels provided for the hungry. In this we were not alone, and partnerships have developed with other groups in Makhanda such as Food4Futures. Between the start of the lockdown on 27 March and noon on 23 April, Food4Futures with the Cathedral gave out a total of 435 food parcels, and 288 food vouchers. By that date we had received R71,100 in donations to the Cathedral Covid Care fund and had spent a total of R50,390. On that day, 23 April, Cathedral members, with friends from Food4Futures and others from around town, met to pack food parcels in the Hall. We give thanks for the generosity of those who gave, and those who did the packing. Although the Government is also stepping in to provide increased funding, and food parcels for recipients of social grants, these do not stretch nearly far enough, and the efforts of civil society and the churches are vital. Everyone can help, whether it is packing or delivering food, or keeping those financial contributions flowing. Donations can be channelled through the Cathedral bank account: Cathedral of St Michael & St George, FNB Grahamstown, Account number 52320792164. Reference: “Covid Care”. For more pictures, see our Gallery.

Stones family members “in the congregation” in Jo’burg

Faced with the necessity to keep the Cathedral locked up, Dean Andrew and the Revd Claire have been live-streaming daily services on the Cathedral Facebook page: Morning Prayer at 9 a.m. and Evening Prayer at 5 p.m. On Sundays the morning service is at 9:30, with a homily and Spiritual Communion, as well as increasing musical input from Director of Music Cameron Luke, his Assistant Kutlwano Kepadisa (Kepa), and Asakhe Cuntsulana, and lessons read by different parishioners. The appreciation for these acts of worship can be judged from the fact that the “congregation” often includes people joining in from far and wide. It has been good to welcome among others Dorothy Holder and Rachel Hunter in Cape Town, Beccy Stones and family in Johannesburg, and even Cathy Euijen in Abu Dhabi. Dean Andrew and Claire have also started a Faith-Sharing WhatsApp group, sharing daily voice-note reflections, which anyone may join, by sending a WhatsApp to https://chat.whatsapp.com/KPIVZJ3p9Vi4Bqr0UK6R8J

Shortly before the lockdown, Lorraine Cassim, who had been living with the CR Sisters, left for Port Elizabeth. She is looking forward to moving into her own place in Buffelsfontein retirement centre. Our prayers and good wishes go with her. Jane Bradshaw has retired as Manager of the Eluxolweni Shelter, and handed over to Dansill Bouwer, who brings a wealth of experience to the job. Jane will retain her connection with Eluxolweni with a position on the Management Committee, as Treasurer. She is pleased to report that the boys, who initially rebelled against the coronavirus lockdown restrictions and tried every means to “escape”, have now come to the conclusion that the safest place for them is inside Eluxolweni.

News from the USA is that Nicola Hunter has finished her two months working with the delightful husky dogs in northern Minnesota, and is now staying with Claire’s friend Mary-Ellen Ashcroft, who lives not far away. She and the family are praying she will be able to fly home as planned in June.

The Dongwana family are in our prayers, after the death of Yoliswa’s aunt, Evelyn Nongazi Maxakala, in East London. And we continue to pray for Theodore Duxbury, his father and sister, together in Somerset East following the death of his mother. Their plans for a memorial service are on hold until large gatherings are again permitted. We pray for Heather Tracey, who fell again before Easter and broke her nose. The fall also injured again the ribs which she had broken previously. More recently Pat Terry fell in his garden and broke his ankle, and we pray also for his healing, as well as for Kungawo, grandson of Pinky Matya, and Joss Wortley’s son Ross. Although Elizabeth Breetzke has finished her course of treatment in Cape Town, she has not been able to return home because of restrictions on crossing provincial borders. She remains with her daughter and family, while Peter is still here in Grahamstown/ Makhanda. When Chris Mann finished his course of treatment in Port Elizabeth, he and Julia were allowed to travel home because there was no provincial border involved. Chris wasted no time in giving us a precious gift, in the form of three monologues on YouTube. These take us in imagination into the memories of three witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus: one of the disciples at Emmaus, Mary Magdalene and “doubting” Thomas. They can be found on our Videos page. And on YouTube you can hear him singing his song-poem in praise of South African women, ‘Ms South Africa’.

Congratulations to John Suggit, honorary Canon of Grahamstown, who turned 98 on 15 April. A former Warden of St Paul’s College (now COTT), Rhodes Professor of Theology and Cathedral Chancellor, Canon Suggit has enjoyed a long retirement in the Western Cape which has been enormously productive, as he continues writing and publishing books. In the photo he is shown with the Archbishop, who said of him “In turbulent times, John Suggit’s writings have played an important role in underpinning our Church and its witness”.

News is just in that Philip Burnett, who as a young man directed the Cathedral choir during 2003-4, was awarded his PhD by Bristol University just before the UK went into lockdown. Congratulations to Philip!

As schools and universities embark on teaching in a new way, using online lessons and lectures, teachers find themselves having to learn new lessons themselves. Jessica and Glyn Lloyd-Jones are both engaged in this process. Former Director of Music A-J Bethke is spending the lockdown in Cape Town with his parents Tony and Erica. He is taking the opportunity to record his lectures for UKZN, while the grandparents play their part by keeping his little boy Caleb occupied. His aunt, the Revd Margaret Fourie, is in Johannesburg at present with her brother. She was visiting from the Isle of Man when South Africa was locked down – and so was her island home.

On the eve of Freedom Day over 1000 South Africans sang our National Anthem in a virtual massed choir. Among them were Kepa, with members of the Makhanda Kwantu Choir and Rhodes University Chamber Choir, including Aphiwe Mame, Tandiwe Gabavana and Xolisa Foley. You can hear them (and try to spot their faces!) on YouTube. The names of all the participants are listed at the end of the video.

The day this edition of ‘People and Places’ was published, 1 May, our national lockdown was eased from Level Five to Level Four. This writer was thrilled to take a walk outside the confines of her residential complex for the first time in five weeks – how beautiful the world is! We pray that the easing of restrictions will indeed benefit the economy, and especially our most vulnerable citizens, but that at the same time that people will take seriously the risk of infection, and obey the rules which help to keep us all safe. May God bless us all.

People and Places, April 2020

Who would have believed it? One month ago we were worshipping together, singing God’s praises together, having fun and fellowship. We were making new friends, visiting the sick, celebrating or commiserating together. Now we are apart. The Cathedral, and all the churches, are locked. The schools are closed. The streets are (at least supposed to be) quiet. The word on everyone’s lips is “Coronavirus”. We are in Lock-Down! But be not afraid – God is right here in Lock-Down with us. Strange though it may seem, even as the church doors have closed, prayer has become more popular. Unexpected people will say “God bless you” and mean it. The Lord’s Prayer suddenly becomes more meaningful. “Save us in the time of trial and deliver us from evil” can bring tears to your eyes. Generosity breaks out when people remember that “your can’t take it with you”. Life is unpredictable, and each day precious. Even though we cannot leave our homes, the sky and the flowers are there to be treasured. So, we look back down the telescope towards the beginning of the month of March, which somehow seems long, long ago.

This year we welcomed a wonderful group of new students, who have been attending our evening student services, as well as morning Eucharists. On the weekend of 29 February – 1 March new and old members of the group spent time together at Fairewood Outdoor Education Centre enjoying Fellowship, Friendship, Food and Fun. With members of the group coming from all over this country, plus Zimbabwe, Botswana and Uganda, there was scope to learn praise songs in each other’s languages, as well as hiking, swimming, playing biblical charades and praying with and for each other. As they are now forced to be apart, we know that this time of bonding will be all the more special as they look back on it. Many thanks to all in the Cathedral family who supported this weekend with financial donations, food and transport. For more photos, see our Gallery.

The same weekend saw the Choir welcome Junaid Douglas, who had been serving his time as a Probationer faithfully, and who was admitted to full membership as a Chorister. We pray God’s blessing on his ministry in music. A number of new Probationers have begun the same journey. Some from VG, Graeme and PJ Olivier had attended one Cathedral Sung Eucharist before the Lock-Down. A large group of younger children from Good Shepherd Christian School will in due course be taking musical instruction from Assistant Director of Music Kutlwano Kepadisa (Kepa) before they start singing in the Cathedral.

Masicule is a musical highlight of the Makhanda year, especially for young people, and this year’s Masicule concerts took place on Sunday 8 and Monday 9 March, less than a week before the declaration of South Africa’s State of Disaster, and before any cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in the Eastern Cape. What memorable evenings! There were 500 youngsters singing their hearts out on the stage, and more who did not even fit on the stage. Our own Kepa was the Musical Director, and did much of the conducting, and all the choirs which he conducts featured: the Cathedral Choir, Kwantu Choir, Graeme College’s Leopard Voices, and the Rhodes University Chamber Choir which he co-directs with our Director of Music Cameron Luke. The guest artist was Nomfundo Xaluva, a jazz singer, keyboard player and composer. Her “Bayathetha”, arranged by members of the Kwantu Choir and RUCC, was for this member of the audience the highlight of the whole show. And, just when Masicule was fading from our memories, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a programme “A City that Sings” on 30 March, and made it possible for people all over the world to hear about it. To download the half-hour programme, click here. What a joy, when we were in lock-down, to hear Kepa’s voice, among others, and the wonderful massed voices of the young people! Congratulations to every single person involved in this tremendous event.

Our Annual Vestry Meeting took place on 15 March, and the newly elected Parish Councillors and Wardens were admitted to their offices the following Sunday, at the last Sung Eucharist before the Lock-Down. We congratulate Churchwardens Lungile Penxa and Ronaldo Burger, Alternate Churchwarden Theo Duxbury, and the Councillors Katie Appollis, Rodney Bridger, Ian Meiklejohn, Nomakwezi Gabavana and Tandiwe Gabavana, and pray God’s blessing on them in their leadership roles in this interesting and challenging year. Given that it is not so long that women have even been on Parish Councils, it is definitely the first time that a grandmother and her granddaughter have been elected onto the Cathedral PCC at the same meeting! The Cathedral Student Ministry (CSM) and Community of the Resurrection (CR) choose their own representatives, who are ex officio members of the PCC, as are all the clergy.

From 17 – 19 March, Revd Claire led a semi-silent retreat for nine members of the Cathedral’s weekly Meditation Group. The setting was the lovely Pomeroy Lodges, in a private nature reserve about 20 km from Port Alfred. They enjoyed corporate acts of worship (morning informal Eucharists and Night Prayer) interspersed with guided meditations and times of solitude. The early birds met at 6:30 a.m. for a hike in the reserve, and delighted in the beauty of nature including giraffe, zebra, blesbok, wildebeest, impala, kudu, waterbuck, warthogs and more (and got covered in tick bites!) During each meal, they intentionally got to know one another, by asking two people to share something of their life story. It was a very special time away to be renewed in faith and hope, in the face of the increasing spread of the coronavirus. They hope to make this an annual event.

Members of the Archdeaconry DYG (Diocesan Youth Guild) gathered at the 9:30 service in the Cathedral on 22 March, to renew their vows with Archdeaconry DYG Chaplain Revd Gwen Mvula. New member Chumile Mvula took her vows for the first time. We give thanks for the commitment of these young people from the Cathedral, St Philip’s and St Augustine’s Churches, and pray for them all. For more photos, see our Gallery.

Congratulations to John Walters, son of Paul and June, who moved to the UK with his young family at the beginning of the year in faith, but with no job. He has now been appointed Head of Art at the Pilgrim School in Winchester, which is the Choir School of Winchester Cathedral. This is a wonderful opportunity, and we pray that he will be greatly blessed when he can eventually take up the work after the extended UK Easter holidays.

We pray for Theo Duxbury, student leader and Alternate Churchwarden, whose mother died very suddenly just before the Lock-Down. We also pray for all Cathedral people who have family members far away, and do not know when they may be reunited. In particular, Nicola Hunter in Minnesota, USA, has no idea when and how she will return to South Africa, given that the flight she was booked on in June has been cancelled. We also think of Cameron Luke, our Director of Music, whose mother and siblings are in Cornwall, UK, and there are many others. Shirley Horan, daughter of Margie and Geoff Antrobus, and her three sons, are here visiting from Canada and are faced with similar uncertainty about their travel home.

There are some less cheerful moments when it feels like we are in a nightmare Lent which is going on indefinitely, when instead of merely “giving up” alcohol or chocolate we are forced to give up shopping and going for walks, hugs and visiting friends and even church and Lent courses! But viewed from another perspective it can be a time for drawing closer to Jesus, a time for reading, praying, thinking things through. Thanks to technology we have phones and email, and can communicate with friends and family. The Cathedral Facebook page has been collecting “likes” at a rapid pace. Dean Andrew is offering prayer times three times a day on the Cathedral Facebook page (09:00, 12:00 and 17:00 on weekdays) and there is an act of worship at 09:30 on Sundays which includes music and a Spiritual Communion. Please join us when worship is “live-streamed”, or catch up later.

May we all be kept safe, and blessed in unexpected ways.

I end with a prose poem which I believe has gone viral on social media, although I actually heard it on the radio – thanks to Pat Terry’s brother Peter on Classic 1027. It was written recently by an American retired teacher and chaplain Kitty O’Meara who lives in Madison WI, perhaps inspired by an Italian poem by Irene Vella whose husband was sick with the coronavirus. May it indeed be prophetic:

And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.

People and Places, March 2020

On the first Sunday in February learners from no fewer than nine Makhanda schools gathered in the Cathedral, wearing their uniforms, for what has become the traditional Back to School Service. Schools represented were Nyaluza High School, Nombulelo High School, Victoria Girls’ High School, Graeme College, Victoria Primary School, Good Shepherd School, PJ Olivier, DSG and Kingswood College. St Andrew’s College was invited, but was unable to attend. Dean Andrew’s challenging sermon addressed issues of bullying and violence in schools, and those present, learners, teachers, parents and guardians, stood up in their groups and made promises, to do their best in the year ahead. Some days before the service Kutlwano Kepadisa (Kepa), the Assistant Director of Music, got together a group of singers from the various schools to form a “Back to School Choir”, which led the singing with a swing. Listen to them singing “Bawo Thixo Somandla“, conducted by the Head Chorister of the Cathedral Choir, Nzulu Nzwana. For more pictures, see our Gallery.

The following week there was an evening service with a completely different atmosphere, but equally moving. The small choir Saeculum Aureum, consisting almost entirely of adult members of the Cathedral Choir, led the singing at a service of Choral Evensong to celebrate the life and works of the poet-priest George Herbert. Several of Herbert’s poems are in the English Hymnal and well-loved (e.g. “Teach me my God and King” and “Let all the world in every corner sing”). Others were read out, and one was the anthem, “Ah my dear angrie Lord”, to a setting by Christopher Cockburn, a former Director of Music at this Cathedral. The Canticles were by another former Director, A-J Bethke.

A warm welcome to Jonathan Hughes, a first-year student from Port Elizabeth, who has been appointed as a Cathedral Organ Scholar. Studying chemistry and music, Jonathan will have organ lessons from our Director of Music Cameron Luke, and receive a bursary paid for by the sponsors of the Makana Choir School. You may spot him singing in the bass line of the choir, or in the organ loft with Cameron.

Since the departure of Ayanda Dabengwa at the end of last year, the Cathedral community has been praying for someone to assist Ikhona Mvaphantsi with Children’s Church. We are delighted that our prayers have now been answered, with the arrival in the congregation of Pinky Matya, a recently retired teacher with Children’s Church experience. We give thanks to God for her, and pray for her ministry together with Ikhona.

Mopping up in the Lady Chapel.

Prayers for rain have been amply answered in this area, and the Deanery tanks and many others happily overflowed. Less happy was the discovery was that when the rain is extremely violent, the roof of the Lady Chapel leaks! Considerable mopping-up operations ensued, and an insurance claim is pending. Another mishap on church property was when Geoff Antrobus stumbled in the lane next to the Bishop’s office door, and landed flat on his face, which required stitches, but we give thanks that no bones were broken. Another senior Cathedral member nursing bruises is Andrew Tracey, who tripped over his cat at home, and landed on his back. We pray for their complete recovery.

Please pray also for Paul Walters, who after an operation in Greenacres on 13 February, had to be taken back to Port Elizabeth to deal with blood clots in his lungs. We give thanks that after a few days in St George’s, giving him a chance to compare hospitals, while June stayed in a B&B, he was discharged and sent home with strict instructions to remain as immobile as possible (though not actually in bed) while recuperation continues.

Ernest Bridger died on 24 February. He was the father of Rodney and Donovan Bridger and Michelle Burger, father-in-law of Ronaldo Burger, and Mandy and Davidean Bridger, and very much a part of the Cathedral family over many years. We give thanks for all that he contributed over the course of his long life, and pray for his many relatives. We pray also for Sub-Dean Mzi Dyantyi on the death of his aunt on 12 February, and for Lou-Anne Liebenberg whose uncle died on 17 February.

It was good to welcome Tom and Dorothy Linthicum back on a visit from the USA. They were previously on the staff at the College of the Transfiguration. Lorraine Nicholson, a former stalwart of the Cathedral AWF, attended a service on 23 February, while visiting from Devon, in the UK.

News from the far north of the USA is that Nicola Hunter has quickly settled into her temporary job at Points Unknown in Minnesota. She has already mastered the art of driving a sled drawn by a team of husky dogs, which is called “mushing”! Having registered as a Vet student in Pretoria this January, she was given credits for the first 6 months thanks to her years of Medicine and Animal Science at Stellenbosch University, and will only need to report for lectures in July at the start of the 2nd semester. So she seized the moment and has taken up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain veterinary experience with working dogs. The Revd Dr Mary-Ellen Ashcroft (who has preached at our Cathedral) lives nearby, and has opened her home to Nicola on her days off.

Pancake Pandemonium reigned in St George’s Hall on Shrove Tuesday, 25 February. The hot weather did not deter Sally Terry and her hardy band of pancake makers. One estimate was that around 1000 pancakes were made! The word went out far and wide, and throngs gathered to enjoy their supper on the premises or buy pancakes to take home. After deducting expenses, the profit of just over R7,750 went to the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal. Congratulations to the team! For more pictures, see our Gallery.

Lent began with a solemn Ash Wednesday choral Eucharist, at which the Revd Claire in her sermon challenged us on giving, praying and fasting. May Lent be a blessed time for us all.

People and Places, February 2020

Jackie Russion

Zezethu Flani

A warm welcome to newcomers to our Cathedral, especially new students. We also welcome back those returning. This year we welcome two new faces in the parish office. Jackie Russion is the Office Cleaner and Messenger, while Zezethu Flani who has done computer training at Gadra, joins the team for a year as Office Intern, to gain experience. And if her surname seems familiar, yes, you are right, she’s the daughter of Dinah, who worked for the parish for so many years!

Throughout 2019 Maggy Clarke was involved at a distance with editing a book of many people’s memories of the early years of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Nativity in Pietermaritzburg, which was built while she and her family were living there, and dedicated in 1981. The book, ‘People of Reconciliation’ was compiled by the first Dean of that cathedral, John Forbes. Maggy flew to KwaZulu-Natal to attend the book launch on 30 November, which took place in the cathedral itself, and stayed with John and his wife Elaine. It was very special not only to meet up with the other members of the editorial team, but also with people who had lived and worshipped with her in Pietermaritzburg, some of whom she had not seen for over 30 years.

Tim Williams, a retired doctor and faithful member of the congregation, died on 16 January. We pray for his wife Debbie and the family.

During December, Heather Tracey slipped and fell, when she had been speaking at someone’s funeral in Port Elizabeth. As a result she broke some ribs, although the extent of her injuries was not realised at first. We give thanks that even when confined to a wheel-chair she retained her good spirits, and that she was soon back in the congregation and making a good recovery. Prayers are asked for Chris Mann and Elizabeth Breetzke, undergoing treatment, and for Jane Bradshaw’s brother Dave Mullins. Sarah James, who created the multi-media presentation Masithi Amen which can be found on our website, is recovering from having her wisdom teeth extracted, but plans to be back for the beginning of term, when she will be starting her History Honours. Please pray for her as she continues to live with scoliosis, while awaiting an operation towards the end of the year.

The Hunter family gathered in Stellenbosch in December to celebrate with Rachel on the occasion of her graduation. We congratulate her, and wish her well as she goes on to study for her teacher’s diploma at UCT. Her sister Nicola, with a year of Animal Science from Stellenbosch under her belt, is now registered at Pretoria University prior to veterinary studies at Ondestepoort.

The Rhodes Chamber Choir has the reputation of being an environment where romance flourishes. A generation ago that was where David (now the Revd) Lloyd-Jones and Barbara (also now the Revd Lloyd-Jones) met. And more recently, in what is perhaps a first for the RUCC, after their son Glyn met Jessica Smith in the same choir, a wedding was the result! Glyn and Jessica’s marriage took place in the Cathedral on 21 December, and the whole parish was invited. The service was predictably and delightfully full of wonderful music. A choir was gathered from far and wide, consisting of present and former members of the Cathedral Choir, Pro Carmine, Saeculum Aureum – and of course the Rhodes University Chamber Choir! The setting for the Nuptial Mass was Haydn’s Little Organ Mass, and the organ was played by our Director of Music Cameron Luke. Former Director of Music A-J Bethke was invited to conduct. He is now on the staff of the Music Department of the KZN University in Durban, and he flew with his three-year-old son Caleb to Cape Town, left Caleb with his parents and a day later took the overnight bus to Makhanda, arriving the morning before the wedding. Margie Antrobus, Sally Terry and a team oversaw the wedding reception, which was a splendid bring-and-share tea in St George’s Hall. Fellow chorister Charlie Antrobus was Glyn’s Best Man.

The evening after the wedding saw our Nine Lessons and Carols, another wonderful choral service, at which members of the Cathedral choir were joined by past choristers and friends. Most notably among their number were Glyn and Jessica Lloyd-Jones, with Jessica singing the solo verse at the beginning of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. Cameron Luke and his Assistant Kutlwano Kepadisa (Kepa) shared the conducting, and the Director played the organ. Highlights included ‘Bogoroditse Djevo’ (Hail Mary) by Arvo Part, ‘The Lamb’ by John Tavener, and a delightful setting of ‘We three Kings’ by Philip Stopford. Unfortunately by that time AJ Bethke was on the bus again, on his way back to Cape Town.

During January Jessica’s parents, Alfred and Leonie Smith, came back to visit her while they were still on leave in South Africa. Since 2015 they have been based in McLeod Ganj, the home of the Dalai Lama in the far north of India, where they have been learning Tibetan, teaching English, and learning and teaching much about the respective cultures and beliefs of the Buddhist and Christian ways of life. During their visit to Makhanda they spent an evening with Geoff Antrobus’s Bible Study group and shared their fascinating story.

On Christmas Eve children and their families gathered in the Cathedral for a (very!) informal service of Blessing of the Crib, with an impromptu Nativity Scene, coordinated by Rachel Hunter. Singing of familiar carols was led by a group of nine talented young instrumentalists, mainly string players, conducted by Kepa. While many Cathedral families were away for Christmas, we welcomed a number of visitors, some of whom were old friends such as Dorothy Holder.

A film about Amasango Career School, made in 2015, was shown after SABC2’s ‘Slice of Light’ at 11:30 on Sunday 5 January. For those who missed it, it can be watched on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-HOWUIBhek

The now traditional Epiphany Service of Lights took place the same evening, followed as always by sherry and the ‘Three Kings Cake’. This is baked with a dry bean concealed in the dough, and the person who finds the bean in their slice is supposed to bake the cake the following Epiphany. Strangely enough at Epiphany 2019 nobody found the bean! And even more strange, although Penny Whitford, who kindly volunteered to bake the cake this time, definitely included a bean – once again nobody found it! A volunteer has again been found for 2021…