As a general comment, this month’s update is quite hard to write as there is so much happening that it will almost inevitably be out of date soon after sending out, and some of it is still not at a stage where I can write about it in a document that goes onto a public website. But we still very much value your prayers and concern, so here goes with what I can say….
Parish support and publicity
Our second chance for parish reps to visit the project comes on November 15th and we’re looking forward to an interesting time together with those who can make it. If you’re reading this before then, and would like to come, do give us a ring (0116 248 7400 and ask.
Our plans for further parish consultation will now be implemented in the New Year, but clergy can expect to hear from Bishop Tim, about that before Christmas. In the meantime – look out for our Christmas card from project staff…!
Prayer Pointer – pray for a full sense of partnership in mission across the diocese, within and between parishes and for projects such as this, and at Launde Abbey
The Square…
Pick Everard and Gillespies (our firm of consultant landscape architects) are pressing on hard with proposals for a Public Square which meets all the desired elements within our brief, and can be submitted for any necessary planning consent by the end of the year. We will be welcoming a visit from representatives of the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England (CFCE) a little later in the month, so we can run our thinking past them informally, prior to making any formal submissions. This is the body who must give approval for any work to Cathedrals anywhere in England, so you can appreciate the significance of gaining their understanding and support – which to be fair we have had in the build up to this stage. We have also recently held a Workshop for city planning officers, for a similar purpose. The 3D models we are now using for these purposes are great fun to play around with!!!
We will shortly be conducting a survey of the views of people who frequent the Cathedral Precincts, to see what they think of the area as it is, and might be.
Prayer Pointer – pray for the visit of CFCE, and for good conversations and guidance on proposals.
- pray for those conducting the survey, and those questioned, that we will get helpful views to inform our planning
…and the Cathedral Reordering
As I have said before, we need to get a clear idea of how plans for outside the Cathedral will fit together with any proposals that may later emerge for inside it. Van Heyningen and Haward (vhh) are progressing their ideas with a working group from the Cathedral, and we’re hopeful that we will achieve that meshing of ideas inside and out.
Prayer Pointer – pray for the work of architects at vhh and Gillespies and for effective working relations between the two practices
St Martin’s House
Our project with NEET young people now has a name – futur4u – and plans for the pilot group from January are progressing well, with one or two students already signed up. The Advisory Group for our joint working with the Children’s Society meets here in Leicester next month and fund-raising is in hand to ensure that is ready to move into action next year. And we are now refining our proposals for the Music for Life project – which gets a mention in a motion from Guthlaxton Deanery on ‘promoting church music’, due for debate at Diocesan Synod on November 21st. We are hopeful this might be something which will attract a sponsor in its own right.
Last time I also spoke of ongoing work on the St Martin’s House Business Plan. That continues, with just a few final matters to firm up, and I hope to submit it to for approval early next month, so building work can commence in the new year.
Prayer Pointer – pray for these developing plans – and for Tony working with futur4u, Matt with Music for Life and Robin Rolls and myself liaising over Children’s Society links.
People
No new people around this month, so you can perhaps just keep praying for the existing team: myself, Danni, Stephanie in the office, and Danny and Alex in the car park. And for all the people who give so generously and voluntarily of their time to assist on our various advisory groups – Project group, Construction group, Square group, Reordering group, Fundraising group, futur4u advisory group,
Prayer Pointer – give thanks for all the time and energy offered to the project, and pray that it will be well used towards a greater end.
Last word?
I was leading a Remembrance Sunday service in a small village in the east of the diocese the other day, and spoke about Cathedral Square project in terms of ‘seizing the moment’ (the readings, some may recall, were Jonah and the commencement of Jesus’ public ministry in Mark – “the right time is here…”). I wasn’t sure how a project in the city many miles away would be perceived in rural Leicestershire – but was in the event overwhelmed by the positive comments from people afterwards. “We’re so glad you’re doing this, especially for the young people” said one lady. It was the perfect end to what had been a rather difficult week earlier. It was just the right time for me to hear that. And the time is also right for our project.
Pete Hobson – Project Director 10 November 2009