Summer of Faith, Hope and Love
July-August 2021

In the summer of 2021 Rochester Cathedral reopened its doors to rediscover 1400 years of rich history with a series of events and exhibits called ‘Faith, Hope & Love’ focusing on the Cathedral’s diverse history, architecture, community and collections.

In this series of videos Canon Chancellor Gordon Giles interprets bible chapter 1 Corinthians verse 13, the inspiration for generations of poets, writers, artists and musicians.

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13

Given that St Paul is writing to a Greek culture, his use of the word connects to an understanding which they already had, of faith as having being exemplified in reliability. To have faith in something or someone is to trust them, to rely on them and to be confident in doing so.

The Greek word elpis, would, like pistes be known to Paul’s hearers, in common parlance and depicted in mythology as a woman holding flowers. Hope was - and to some extent is still - associated with release from suffering, anticipation of something better, and it is hope that enables us to live through or see beyond dark days.

The third and greatest Christian characteristic virtue is love. In 1 Corinthians 13 this is a little more complex, because there are several words which are translated from the Greek into our English word ‘love’, which has various slightly different meanings. The Greek language is more precise and therefore more helpful. Some Bible translations use the word ‘charity’ instead of love. This is because of the Latin ‘Caritas’. But the word St Paul uses is agape.

As we emerge from pandemics and continue to live with ever apparent anxiety about the future; faith, hope and love are the three key emotional elements which will bear us through the turbulent waters of fear, doubt and trepidation which continue to swirl around us.

Faith sustains us in time of doubt and uncertainty.

Hope answers anxiety and despair.

And love casts out fear.

The Revd Canon Dr Gordon Giles, Canon Chancellor

July 2021

Find out more about the exhibitions and events scheduled throughout Faith, Hope and Love this August.

Family activities

Families can choose from many different activities at the Cathedral including special guided tours exploring the medieval monastery. Craft activities and brass rubbing will also be available at different times throughout the week. Families will also be able to pick up a family trail when visiting.

Discover the Cathedral Community

Several volunteer groups will be highlighted the specialist work they do. These include the Bell Ringers, Flower Arrangers and Embroiders.

Reflect

There will also be the opportunity for reflection with prayer stations around the Cathedral all summer. The Kent Corona Quilt will be on display. Created by local artist Amber Rose, the quilt contains the names of 88 people lost to Covid-19 in Kent. It is dedicated to our loved ones lost to Covid-19 and created to offer comfort and support to those left to grieve in isolation during lockdowns.

A new piece of art will be created, with the help of visitors, using the ribbons tied to the Cathedral railings earlier this year as part of the ‘Ribbons for Remembrance’ exhibition.

The Canon Chancellor, Dr Gordon Giles says:

“It has been a difficult, challenging and painful time for everybody these last eighteen months and so as we open up we want to share a loving welcome, express faith in the future and offer hope as we emerge from the crises that have beset us recently. For many the exhilarating experience of ‘the Moon’ may be the last time they came to the Cathedral, so we want to invite people back to reflect, explore and enjoy the heritage of the last fourteen hundred years, so wonderfully exhibited in our sacred space.”

Many events will be repeated during the summer. Admission to the Cathedral is free, there is an admission fee for some of the events.

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