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LENT LUNCH
Despite the downpour of rain, 40 plus folk attended the first Lent Lunch this year in Prebendal House, organised by the Friends of Llandaff Cathedral, with catering by their corporate member, Howell’s School and with students serving the choice of three (delicious) soups.
Chair Linda Quinn talked about the work of the Friends and their support of the Cathedral over 91 years, the most recent grant being £261k towards the new boilers and improved heating. Do come along for the Wednesday Lunches each week during Lent -12 noon Eucharist and 12.30pm Lunch. A short talk about a different aspect of the cathedral community each week follows each Lunch.
Programme for 2024
This is a varied and full programme for our Members and also for those intrigued by the Friends and interested to find out more. Visitors are very welcome at our Events, while Members usually enjoy a discount.
Easter Monday Friends Tour at 11am on Monday 1st April
Meet Brian Robinson and guides inside the Cathedral for an interesting tour of less than an hour. Bring any visitors or friends or just yourself. You will probably find out something you didn’t know and have an enjoyable walk around (opportunities to sit as well). No charge, but we hope visitors will consider joining the Friends.
FRIENDS ANNUAL FESTIVAL – MAY 17th-19th
ANNUAL LUNCH
At the popular venue, The Maltsters, Llandaff on Friday 17th May at 12.30pm. Booking details to follow, but please note the date in your diary now.
AGM, Tour, Annual Lecture, Light tea and Evensong Saturday 18th May from 2pm.
2pm Guided Tour – Dr Nicholas Lambert will lead a tour around the cathedral looking at ‘Pre-Raphaelite art and the Victorian Arts & Crafts movement’
3pm AGM Annual report containing agenda will be circulated nearer the date
Followed by the
Annual Lecture – The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Rowan Williams will speak on ‘Prayer and Interfaith Encounter.’
Tea will then be available before
5.30pm Evensong with the Cathedral Choir and Presentation of Friends’ Choristers Awards
Friends Festival Eucharist 11am Sunday 19th May
Tour of the B.B.C.
A guided tour of the new buildings at Station Approach is planned for the afternoon of 13th June.
We understand this is a very interesting tour and it will be good to see what has replaced the Llandaff Headquarters.
Booking details and time to follow – this is a 90 minute tour with no opportunity to sit. Friends to meet at the B.B.C.
Open Days September 2024
Two days as part of European Heritage Open Doors – dates expected to be 13th and 14th September
Friday Explore and Draw for local primary schools.
Saturday Open Day for all with a programme of events including the Music Department, Bell Tower Tours, Guided Friends’ Tour and Conversations with the Archivist. Details to follow.
Autumn Tea at the Great Hall, Howell’s School – Saturday 16th November
The 2023 tea brought many requests to return and, with grateful thanks to Howell’s Principal and Friends Trustee Mrs Sally Davis, the 2024 Autumn Tea will be held from 2.30pm on Saturday 16th November.
Friends Winter Newsletter
Members received their annual Winter Newsletter at the end of 2023 featuring events and developments during the year.
When you join the Friends, you will receive this in addition to an annual report and email communications keeping you up to date.
One of our members from Northamptonshire recalled the air raid in 1941 and being asked to collect glass fragments for the restoration. He keeps in touch with the Cathedral through the livestreamed services (part funded by the Friends.) Another member from Australia has connected through the newsletter with a member in the U.S.A. – worldwide connections!
Biggest Ever Grant – Over a Quarter of a Million Pounds
In 2023, the Friends made what is thought to be their biggest ever grant, over a quarter of a million pounds. The Dean and Chapter have received payments totalling £261,775.82, in support of Chapter’s project to replace the 70 year old boilers and improve the heating system. Other grants this year have been a further £45,000 for the Music Department, including ongoing help with the costs of developing the Cathedral girls choir and £7,000 towards the new Garden of Remembrance.
Autumn Tea at the Great Hall, Howell’s School
Over 50 members and visitors enjoyed a splendid Afternoon Tea of sandwiches, cakes, scones with jam and cream and trifles at the Great Hall of Howell’s School on Saturday 2nd December.
The decorations were magnificent and it was really good to meet up with friends old and new, a wonderful seasonal get-together.
Many thanks to Principal Mrs Sally Davis, also a Friends’ Trustee, for inviting us. If you were to dream of an amazing place for a wonderful afternoon tea, this would be it.
Our Vice President, Mrs Morfudd Meredith spoke about her role as His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, and the many appointments and invitations she receives in this varied and important voluntary work.
Following tea, we were led in carol singing by Revd Canon Graham Holcombe, who was warmly welcomed.
Thankyou to all who attended. Some comments included –
‘The tea was wonderful….worth joining the Friends for!’
‘I have had tea in several London hotels, and none of them were equal to this.’
‘There is no location better than this.’ ‘I hope you’re going to hold it again next year…..’
Friends Open Day
Friends Open Days were held at the Cathedral on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th September.
Friday was ‘Explore and Draw’ for the four Llandaff primary schools. Although many of the children will have been to the Cathedral for services, not many of them may have had the opportunity to have a good look around.
There were delighted comments of ‘Can we go anywhere we like?’ as children walked around, sat in the choir stalls, looked under the Majestas, studied windows, monuments and artworks in the aisles and then drew their own pictures of what interested them most. Teachers tell us the children really enjoy these sessions and look forward to bringing different classes next year.
Rain on Saturday can mean numbers are hard to predict, but there was a good turn out for all the events, Organ talk and demonstration, archives, Bell Tower tours and the Friends guided tour. It was very helpful to have light refreshments in the Prebendal House, provided by Howell’s School, one of our corporate members, as it made all the difference as people stayed for more than one of the events.
We are grateful to the Music Department, Archivist and Bellringers for once again collaborating on this event, part of European Heritage/Cadw Open Doors.
Friends of Salisbury Cathedral
A group of Friends from Salisbury came to Llandaff on Friday 7th July and were welcomed by Friends’ Chair Linda Quinn before a guided tour led by the Cathedral Archivist.
They were in South Wales for four days, also visiting Cardiff Castle, Insole Court, Tredegar House and Tintern Abbey.
2023 Annual Friends Festival
The three day festival began as Friends gathered for the annual lunch at The Maltsters, Llandaff on Friday 12th May. On Saturday 13th, the AGM was followed by an intriguing lecture entitled ‘A life in Crime‘ delivered by Mr Gerard Elias C.B.E., K.C., and Friend. Many of us remembered some of the South Wales crimes he recalled and it was very entertaining.
Choral Evensong followed, including the presentation of the Friends Chorister Awards, this year to Gwenan and Austin. The Festival concluded on Sunday 14th May with the Festal Eucharist. Friends read at both these services.
