News from our Cathedral
Rev’d Darcy Vaughan
I recently spoke with Dean George Hemmings at our diocesan clergy retreat.
Dean George, congratulations on your appointment at St Paul’s Cathedral!
Thank you, Darcy. I think it has been about nine months now. And I just love it. The role of a Dean is very big and busy, and the life of a cathedral is very varied, but it’s been great diving into it.
Fantastic. I get the impression that there is a lot happening! Are there ways that the cathedral is similar to the other parishes of our diocese?
Yes, in some ways the things that happen around the cathedral are the kinds of things that will happen around any parish church. We have regular services, we just probably have more than most parishes do. On a Sunday, we have at least four services, occasionally a fifth, and then six, if you consider the Korean church that meets onsite as well. So, that makes the weekend a pretty busy time. And then we have a couple of midweek services and other gatherings. So, similar to what any parish will have, we just have more of it!
What are some of the differences that make the ministry of the cathedral unique?
I think part of our role is to show more of the spread of what worship and Christian life in church can be like. So, on a Sunday morning we have an 8am First Order Holy Communion service which is a traditional style service with no singing, about as close to the Book of Common Prayer as you could get. And then we have a 9:30 service that’s all singing and dancing! It’s the choral sung Eucharist with the choir and the organ, our opportunity to embrace the fulness of things. And then we have our 11am service, which is a little bit contemporary, a little bit traditional, and it’s also our bilingual service, so we do things equally in English and in the Karen language. And then, because all that wasn’t enough, one of the things we’ve started is a 5pm service. That’s a more contemporary style, which still holds to our rich liturgical heritage, but we have families, and in particular youth leading across that service. And then we stretch further still, because once a month we do traditional coral Evensong, and a contemplative Taizé style service.
The cathedral holds a special significance for the city of Bendigo and for the diocese. How do you think about this?
The vision of St. Paul’s Cathedral is to be the heart of Bendigo. Geographically, we’re pretty much in the heart of Bendigo, the city. It’s our vision to be the heartbeat of that city; to love them and to show them the love of God. And also for the cathedral to be the heart of the diocese. We have a special place to play in the life of the diocese. And that looks like being the home of diocesan services. But also, that we regularly pray for every parish in the diocese.
Finally, in what ways does the cathedral have a unique opportunity to engage with the wider community and share with them the good news?
We are looking to embrace the opportunity we have to be a place of welcome and wonder, witnessing to the worship of Jesus. One of the things that makes the cathedral unique is, we don’t have to do much to have people come in the doors! Literally anytime the doors are open, people will wander in. I’ve had numerous people walk in with their shopping bags, saying “I came out of the supermarket, I saw the doors open and I have just always wanted to come in and have a look.” People also come in looking for help or for solace or for prayer. We had a mother and child walking by on a Sunday morning, they heard the bells, and just came and stood in the back of the church for a while. Once they’re welcomed and they have that moment of wonder, we want to help people to wonder, not just at the beauty of the building, but at the beauty of the God who is the source of all beauty and joy.