Cathedral Square Update – March 2010

- Hot on the heels of last month’s (delayed) Update, here is the news for March…

St Martin’s House

Preparations are now well advanced for the hand-over of the building, including the grounds, to Hallams for a start on site on 12 April.   Amongst other things, of course, that means an end to the informal car parking arrangements, for both the general public, and for Cathedral use.  It’s been a long-term arrangement which has never been more than fortuitous, and we know that the change will necessitate some revised travel planning on the part of numbers of people.

Our final ‘tour’ of the unaltered building is at 2pm on Sunday March 21^st, so if you are reading this Update before then and would like to come – maybe even bring a small group – then do let Danni know as soon as possible – as we need to plan for the numbers expected.  Her email is danni.blair@leccofe.org.

Now we’ve confirmed we’re definitely going ahead several things assume a new priority.  We have agreed to set in motion the processes for appointing a centre manager so that he or she can be in post in good time before the place opens.    We also need to begin planning the marketing strategy that will let people know of space available to hire in the central section – and the negotiations with possible partners in the south end also gain a new focus. 

Prayer Pointers – pray for all the processes involved in the key appointment of a St Martin’s House centre manager

- for the project managers, Adrian Padgett at Hallams and Michael Goodhart at Pick Everard,  as they finalise plans to move on site

The Square

There’s been a small burst of publicity in the local media (press and radio) about our Square proposals, with concerns being raised on conservationist grounds.   In part I’d say it involves a misreading of what’s being proposed, and in part there’s a genuine difference of views.   We’re doing our best to listen and respond to what seem to be legitimate concerns, whilst maintaining our vision for a space for the church and city that is far more flexible and welcoming than what is currently in place.   Reading the Cathedral archives gives a sense of proportion – those precincts have been reordered any number of times over the years!

The funding ‘window of opportunity’ we had hoped to hit has been closed on us – but there is still hope for other possibilities into the future.  On the one hand, this takes a little of the pressure off to finalise proposals under tight time constraints, but on the other hand we do believe it is in public interest to carry out this work, and we trust that public bodies will prove able to help us achieve our shared vision.

Prayer Pointer – for continued discussions on Square plans, both internally and with planning authorities, both secular and ecclesiastical

- for the political changes coming in the leadership of the city council and their impact on our conversations on funding opportunities

Cathedral

I was very pleased to join the Cathedral community for the final day of their weekend away at Launde Abbey on 28 February.   The overall theme was ‘Our Journey’, covering both personal stories, and the life of St Martin’s since it became Cathedral church in 1928 up to the present and beyond, and I was asked to speak on how the Cathedral Square Project as a whole will impact on that journey.    It was great to be with some of the members of that congregation, hear their stories, and share their vision, and it reminded me that at the heart of this project is a Christian community seeking to bear witness to Christ in their own distinctive setting – just as parishes up and down the diocese seek to do.

Prayer Pointer – pray for the Cathedral congregation and their clergy, Vivienne, David, Stephen and Barry, plus other colleagues – for wisdom to see and courage to seize the opportunities that lie before them

People

We said a sad but grateful ‘Goodbye’ to Stephanie at the start of March (her leaving present was four goblets and a bottle of champagne!), and also to Katie, whose monthly accounting visits have helped us so much.  Katie is being replaced by Zowie Wooley on an interim basis.   Tony Prince, our futur4u development worker is also off on long-term sick leave, but we’re delighted to welcome Aisha Desai as his interim replacement.  Aisha has been running the pilot course since January, and will now add development work to her remit.

Prayer Pointer – pray for Tony and Katie, not with us for the moment, and for Aisha and Zowie as they join the team in their respective roles

Last word?

I was invited to speak on the Project in South Croxton and Gaddesby the other Sunday, when the OT reading was from Isaiah 55, which starts “Come, everyone who is thirsty – here is water!  Come, you that have no money – buy corn and eat!”   Generous hospitality indeed.     That same passage goes on to speak of transforming relationships:  “At one time they did not know you, but now they will come running to join you” – and attentiveness to God: “Turn to the LORD and pray to him now that he is near”.  Those are, of course, the three key themes of our project.     Once again, it was encouraging to find congregations deep in the heart of rural Leicestershire eager to know what we’re planning in the city, and very supportive of the vision we share.     It makes you believe in the family of the diocese…

Pete Hobson – Project Director   9 March 2010