The Dalesmen Male Voice choir, with James Slimings (Tenor), Susan Holmes (Piano) and Frikki Walker (Organ) will give a Charity Concert for The Concrete Garden and The Place, (St Matthew’s Possilpark), in St Mary’s Cathedral, on Saturday 29 September at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 from the Cathedral Office, or on the door.

The Rev Canon Cedric Blakey has been appointed to become the new Vice-Provost of St Mary’s, Cathedral.

Cedric will take up his post at the beginning of December and will be coming to Glasgow from the city of Derby where he has been part of the team at Derby Cathedral and a Minister in Secular Employment, working as an Emergency Planning Officer with Derbyshire County Council.

On announcing the new appointment, the Provost, the Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth said, “I am delighted to announce this appointment. I want to thank all those members of the congregation who have helped to make this come about, particularly through those who responded so positively to the increased giving appeal earlier this year. My thanks also go to Vestry members who have given advice and support throughout the process and especially to those
who helped with interviewing. Thanks are also due to the Bishop and the Diocese for considerable support, including particularly the provision of a Diocesan house in Scotstoun where Cedric will live.

Cedric has sent this message for the congregation:

I’m delighted to have the opportunity to be joining you at St Mary’s in December. So who’s coming?

I was born in Sheffield in 1954 of mixed Lancastrian/Yorkshire parentage and have lived in the wonderful County of Derbyshire since the age of 6. Enjoying the gift of publically funded further education, I studied first Archaeology and Anthropology and then Theology at Fitzwilliam College Cambridge. After voluntary work in a city centre church in Derby I studied at St John’s College Nottingham before my ordination in 1979.

My ministry began in the ex-coalmining community of Cotmanhay, and then there were incumbencies in the Derby city suburbs of Blagreaves and Sinfin Moor, the post-industrial market town of Heanor, a spell as Rural Dean, followed by eight years as full-time chaplain/PA to the Bishop of Derby. I have also experience of ecumenical work, international mission partnership (with the Church of North India), training lay people and new clergy, have done a little broadcasting, and was elected as a member of the General Synod of the Church of England for ten years. I became a member of the college of canons of Derby cathedral in 2003, which has been my ‘home church’ now for five years.

Working in the bishop’s office I found myself getting involved in disaster management (remember the millennium bug?), and when invited to apply for the post as an emergency planning officer in the County Council I took the challenge. I have enjoyed so much about this activity, not least the opportunity to study for a post-graduation degree in 2008. But equally I have appreciated the fabulous opportunities of being a ‘non-stipendiary’ priest.

I am grateful for the encouragement of my current bishop to look for a new opportunity to apply some of these experiences and unusual skill-set to a new sphere of ministry. So it’s time for a new adventure, new learning, new challenges.

The household includes three very friendly dogs, cat and rabbit, and a touring caravan. I enjoy long-distance walking and bike rides, music (classical & folk), theatre, photography, gardening, baking, brewing and singing.

Prayers are welcome for the move and the new beginnings in Glasgow.

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The Feast of the Epiphany will be celebrated in St Mary’s on Sunday 3 January 2010 with services at 08.30 am, 10.30 am and 6.30 pm. At these services, the arrival of the Magi (sometimes called the three Wise Men) is celebrated with special music. The theme for Epiphany is discovering God.

The Annual General Meeting of the Congregation of the Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin will take place on 23 November 2008 at 12 Noon.

The annual report can be downloaded here: Annual Report – AGM 2008

The Rev Richard Coles will be the preacher for the All Saints service which will be held on 2 November 2008 at 1030. Richard is a broadcaster, priest and former popstar as one half of the Communards. He will lead a workshop on “The Best of Times, the Worst of Times” on 1 November from 11 until 3 pm.

The All Souls Requiem will take place on Sunday 2 November 2008 at 6.30 pm. At this service, people who have died will be remembered by name in prayer. Names should be added to the list in church or e-mailed to the Cathedral Office.