The Cathedral Church of All Saints Wakefield
Mission and Improvement Plan 2015 – 2019
Introduction
Wakefield Cathedral exists in order to worship God and point others to him.We seek to help people live as disciples of Jesus Christ, and to share his love with the world.We are set in the heart of the city of Wakefield, and endeavour to offer a warm welcome to all who enter or pass by our doors.We have made public our desire that everyone who lives in Wakefield District will come inside at least once a year.Our city centre location gives many people the opportunity to drop in, and undoubtedly that helps us understand why some 50,000 or more candles are lit each year, as people remember a loved one, or bring a deep concern to God.
We try to give priority to people who are needy or disadvantaged, and to be a place of conversation for people of all faiths and none, and a cultural hub in the city centre.As one of three cathedrals in the diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales, we look to play our part alongside our sister cathedrals in Bradford and Ripon in working out what it can mean for three cathedrals to exist in a single diocese, and how together we might faithfully serve the people of our region.
In 2013 Wakefield Cathedral completed the renewal of our nave for the 21st century.This was the physical realisation of the Chapter’s long-term ambition to give the nave back to the people of Wakefield and of our region, and to ensure that this is a place where everyone feels at home.We are currently in the process of renewing our roof on the nave and quire, and are about to start work on the interior of the quire and East End, which will complete the refurbishment of our church, giving a brighter, lighter future to this beautiful medieval building, where we pray all our visitors will be touched by the love and presence of God.
The daily round of prayer is fundamental in Wakefield, as in every cathedral, and we are constantly delighted and transported by the excellent music produced by our choir.Equally important to cathedral life is the education department, which works with local schools and community groups, but is also committed to bringing in groups of people for whom the cathedral would not be a natural home.Alongside the education department sits a creative programme of Christian education and nurture for adults and children alike.
Although the renewal of the building has consumed a lot of energy for a number of years, it has also empowered us, and strengthened our commitment, to building up the people of God.To this end, we held a Mission in late 2013 to reach out to the people of our city and beyond, which was the springboard for continuing engagement with the world outside. This work is championed by our Community Missioner, whose role is to push the clergy and people of our cathedral beyond our comfort zone, and to draw new people into our worshipping life.
Following a review of our current life and work, this plan is an attempt to set out our priorities for the next 12 months and the coming five years, and to determine the particular issues that need to be tackled and changes that we shall wish to implement within this timescale.
Jonathan Greener, Dean of Wakefield
May 2015
Mission and Discipleship
To grow our congregations in numbers and depth
To foster an intentional approach to mission at every level of cathedral life
To provide practical support for disadvantaged people in Wakefield and beyond
Within 12 months
Nurture a growing community of people who will be active in mission, and serve as a catalyst for the whole cathedral community to explore new ways of engaging with people in the city and farther afield
Develop a sustainable programme of activities for the Cathedral Mission Caravan (‘Pop up cathedral’)
Explore and agree more effective ways of working with Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Wakefield (particularly those at Urban House)
Do everything we can to sustain the Wakefield Rent Deposit Scheme in the present economic climate
Further develop our nurture programme for adults and young people
Within 5 years
Further develop links with Wakefield MDC and other partners within Wakefield – and to mirror and complement civic events in cathedral life
Maximise visitor numbers to the cathedral, and help tourists to experience the cathedral as the House of God
Secure sustainable longer-term funding for the Education Department
Worship and Music
To continue to grow our existing congregations
To sustain and further develop excellence in music and liturgy
Within 12 months
Experiment with new and affordable means of music outreach
Integrate choir parents and families more effectively into cathedral life
Within 5 years
Secure sustainable longer-term funding for the Director of Music and the choir/choristers
Mother Church
To engage effectively with the parishes of the new Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales and encourage them in worship and mission
Within 12 months
Explore and develop effective ways of supporting the new diocesan bishop in his ministry and mission
Build friendships with our sister cathedrals in Ripon and Bradford
Develop appropriate structures and relationships, in order to accommodate three cathedrals in one diocese, and allow them to flourish
Establish the right relationships with the five episcopal areas
Develop a pilgrimage programme to attract people who will visit and worship in Wakefield
Resources
To move towards greater financial independence
To extend our administrative support to allow cathedral life to flourish
To embed effective, sustainable processes across cathedral life
Within 12 months
Secure the remaining match funding for Project 2015
Seek funding for the restoration of the stained glass in the East End
Work with Church House Wakefield, the new diocesan structures and our sister cathedrals to configure our administration and financial support in a sustainable format
Develop a business case for a Social Enterprise to work alongside the cathedral, and explore funding opportunities for this business
Develop a considered and sustainable pattern of charitable giving
Reimagine the Friends of Wakefield Cathedral
Review and renew internal processes to ensure maximum efficiency
Within 5 years
Develop plans for a northern extension and to clean/restore the stained glass in the nave
Redevelop the exterior space, including the ‘triangle’