Vol 4/4
May
1999

Select from Index above or read all The Bridge by selecting the

symbol at the bottom of each page

Tutu launches Cathedral Appeal

"God is all embracing but he depends on frail human collaborators like you and me. If we want to reveal the all-embracing features of our Lord, we must be there to receive".

"A Cathedral must be people friendly, open, hospitable, welcoming, so people will want to come in, will be drawn in and drawn into the heart of the God who cares for all. Then they can go back into God's world to reclaim it for God"

With those words Archbishop Desmond Tutu launched the Southwark Cathedral Millennium Appeal on Friday 23 April.

The Archbishop had flown in specially for the launch from the U.S.A. and was off the next day to Berlin where he was to receive the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Prize for his work in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.

From the moment he stepped through the Cathedral doors till he mounted the podium for the speeches, his smile never faltered as one after another, people pressed forward to shake his hand. And there were warm embraces for old friends specially those from parishes in Surrey and south London where he had served as a young priest.

After inspecting the plans and models of the proposals for the Cathedral, the Archbishop joined the Provost, Colin Slee, Bishop Tom, Michael O'Connor of the Millennium Commission and Howard Hughes, Chairman of the Appeal Committee on the platform.

The Provost began the speeches with a welcome "It's good to see so many people, specially since you know we are after your money!" He thanked Archbishop Tutu - the Appeal's Worldwide President - for his encouragement and unfailing support.

Long tradition of service

"Southwark Cathedral has a very long tradition of service to people. I never stop reminding my friends across the river that Westminster Abbey was copied from this building - and St Paul's is a mere teenager."

This project will enable us to rise to the challenge of meeting the requests of the many more who will come here in the future, as a result of the changes taking place in this area of South London", he said.

Michael O'Connor of the Millennium Commission said that they were particularly proud of the work done with places of worship, where millennium grants were used for "...building for the future on an historical base". He gave a few figures showing the wide range and large number of lottery grants given to different projects up and down the country.

But he added "We say NO nine times out of 10 - so the fact that we have said YES shows the quality of the Southwark proposal."

Bishop Tom Butler is the National President of the Appeal. He said "I spend a lot of time travelling around the Diocese and I am always encouraged by the warmth the people of the parishes have towards the Cathedral. It is very much at the centre of Diocesan life."

Desmond Tutu enter the Cathedral with the Provost

Favourite venue

"It also has a national church role" he added, "as the favourite venue for the consecration of new Bishops in the south of England."

"With the new plans for the South Bank of the Thames we must expect tens of thousands of visitors to the Cathedral and an integral part of the building plans is to better welcome those visitors - with a Visitor Centre reflecting the past present and the future of Christianity and especially this Cathedral."

Southwark Cathedral is, he said "a national treasure and the mother church of the diocese, very lovable and greatly loved."

A homecoming

The Archbishop began his address by saying that it felt like "a homecoming - and how thrilled I am".

He recalled his days in Bletchingley as a Curate. "It was a wonderful experience. We were 'insiders' whereas in our own country we were 'outsiders'." Bletchingley had, he said, "exorcised the demons of self-doubt, which is one of the pernicious effects of racism. In an extraordinary way, this diocese helped prepare me for my ministry in racist South Africa".

He returned to Southwark in 1972 as an NSM in Grove Park, while working in London for the World Council of Churches. "I was again enveloped in hospitality, caring and concern." He recalled how Bishop Wilfred Wood had been "my father confessor" helping his spiritual growth and how he had been greatly influenced by successive Bishops of Woolwich.

Then apparently seamlessly, a reminiscent address turned into a powerful sermon.

Speaking of the Cathedral as a 'warm and friendly place' he said "There needs to be space where people can sit - silence amid the world's clamour to be able to look up and say...I have seen the Lord...to say, I can see the whole company of heaven, here in this building."

Desmond Tutu, Colin Slee & Architect view a model of the Cathedral

God has a dream...

"God has a dream for the millennium and this project is part of that dream. The dream God has he leaves in your hands and mine."

For those who saw that as a daunting task, he ended with the story of a Russian Orthodox Priest whose atheist friend said "I'm sorry I just cannot believe in your God". "Don't worry" the priest said, "God still believes in you".

He sat down to silence...and then waves of applause, standing several times to acknowledge the audience before the noise died down sufficiently for the final speaker, Howard Hughes.

He set out the financial picture of the Appeal, explaining that they were seeking around £10 million - £8 million for new building and a further £2 million for conservation and work in education and music. The Millennium Commission has agreed a grant of £3.9 million provided that can be matched by the Appeal. The Cathedral has already pledged £2 million from its own funds, Bridge House Estates have pledged £0.45 million and another donor had come forward before the launch with a further £100,000.

£1.3 million needed now

"We need £1.3 million to match the Millennium Commission grant and release that for the first phase of the work." After that a further £3.5 million would be needed. "I believe we can and will achieve that."

The Cathedral hope to sign the contracts in June for work to proceed, "and we need to secure the funding by then" he said.

"We anticipate further and significant sums from corporate and trust sources. But it is now the time to widen the appeal, to the community and the diocese. We need the support of everyone who cares about this Cathedral."

"I ask that you consider giving according to your means, however large or small an amount that may be." He also appealed for covenants and giving through the Gift Aid scheme.

Finally he asked "Are you excited by the Vision? Do you want to see it become reality? If yes, I urge you to give us your support."

Next

The full printed edition of the 'Bridge' newspaper is available at all Southwark Parish Churches
Further copies can be obtained from wendy.s.robins@southwark.anglican.org
Page design by BrainStorm