An Easter message from the Dean

The most quoted Charles Dickens novel this year has surely been the opening lines from A Tale of Two Cities: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times'. In some ways these words have encapsulated much of the experiences of people during lockdown, good and bad. It has been a time of aching loss and profound sadness, of disorientation and disruption. Yet, it has also been a time when we have seen the best in people, what is kind, decent, generous, and self-less.

History narrates the constant triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity. On numerous occasions across the centuries, Rochester Cathedral has witnessed war, disaster and disease, when doors were closed and financial resources sparse. Nevertheless, hope within the indomitable human breast prevails and triumph is writ large in the story of perseverance and accomplishment. Indeed, in the very stones of the Cathedral.  As the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins reminds us, despite the 'bleared, smeared' toil of generations, 'There lives the dearest freshness deep down things'. We begin anew and the 'bright wings' of the Holy Spirit energise and restore.

It has been a disastrous year for the Cathedral, yet there have been moments of inspiration, goodness, beauty, and truth. I am deeply indebted to the Cathedral staff who have shown immense resilience and strength of character: to those who have worked from home and covered staff on furlough or absent due to ill health; to those who have balanced multiple expectations; to those who have been thrust into learning new skills and discovered untapped resources within themselves.

However, as we anticipate a world with an effective vaccine, it would be easy to think we will immediately bounce back to some normal life. Yet, this would be completely unrealistic and fail to recognise the long term fatigue many people are experiencing coming out of the present crisis. We need to plan for the re-opening of the Cathedral with this in mind. New patterns of working, learnt during the pandemic, may help to address a better work-life balance and we may not be able to return to full capacity for some time . We will certainly be a smaller team going forward.

During this pandemic year the Chapter and Finance, Risk and Audit Committee carefully considered the wider and long-term impacts upon the Cathedral's financial resilience, reviewing the constantly changing situation by establishing a special Covid-19 group which met weekly and then fortnightly. Provision was made for a reduction in income through the loss of commercial rents and visitor donations. Unrestricted funds were re-prioritised and provision was made for a bank loan, if required. Stricter measures have been introduced to sign off invoices and review expenditure on a weekly review.

All staff, with the exception of a small core team, were furloughed at the beginning of the year, with some remaining on part time furlough still. This allowed the Cathedral to access government support via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This Government scheme enabled the Cathedral finances to show a better outcome than had been predicted at the beginning of the year The Cathedral also received a number of generous donations and grants from the Cathedral Sustainability Fund to assist recovery when the Cathedral is allowed to welcome visitors.

Ensuring staff safety was a priority and approved PPE was introduced to all staff. Rigorous measures were put in place for the protection of visitors coming to the Cathedral for individual prayer or worship. The area used for worship was cleaned between services. Non-contact donation points were placed at entrances and exits as were hand sanitising stations. Careful thought was given to social distancing and some services were ticketed.

As Rochester is so strongly linked to Charles Dickens, perhaps his words are more pertinent to us. Certainly, they can encourage and inspire. In A Tale of Two Cities Dickens asserts his belief in the possibility of resurrection and transformation. This is both on a personal and on a societal level. Not only does Sydney Carton's death secure a new life for Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay, but Carton finds meaning and purpose in his own actions and death. Carton goes to the guillotine in the expectation of a greater rest 'in a better land' and imagines his actions will motivate others going forward to create a better world.

At the heart of the Cathedral's mission is the confidence in a God of love who has demonstrated that love in Jesus; that goodness will finally defeat evil and new life is to be found in death - 'that all things work together for good to those who love in God' (Romans8v28).

Dickens, although not an orthodox Christian believer, was deeply influenced by the life of Christ and the hope of resurrection. In many respects his own life had been a triumph over adversity. It is significant that the last words he wrote before his unexpected death in June 1870 were of Rochester Cathedral and the hope of resurrection life:

“A brilliant morning shines on the old city. Its antiquities and ruins are surprisingly beautiful, with the lusty ivy gleaming in the sun, and the rich trees waving in the balmy air. Changes of glorious light from moving boughs, songs of birds, scents from gardens, woods and fields - or, rather, from the one great garden of the whole cultivated island in its yielding time - penetrate into the Cathedral, subdue its earthy odour, and preach the Resurrection and the Life. The cold stone tombs of centuries ago grow warm; and flecks of brightness dart into the sternest marble corners of the building, fluttering there like wings.”

Reading these words as we emerge from a winter of despair is uplifting, knowing that once again the cold stones of the Cathedral will warm to the sound of human voices and speak of new life. In all this, it is the Holy Spirit of God whose 'fluttering' wings hover over the gathered people of God restoring, rebuilding and recreating in this springtide of hope.

Dean Philip