Parishes
St Andrew’s Cathedral plans for the future
Friday 20 January 2006

The Cathedral is looking forward, not just to the new year but to facing the future with the most imaginative plan since the Cathedral was built as the vision of Bishop Robert Eden.  There is something quite significant in this, in that the original part of Eden Court, once the home of Bishop Eden and not part of the theatre complex, is about to be restored as part of the redevelopment of the theatre. At the recent AGM of the Cathedral the Provost, Alex Gordon, outlined a possible way ahead for the Cathedral congregation. 

He said:
“With my arrival as Provost, it was clear that a line had to be drawn under a number of difficulties that had beset us. One of the first things that I did was to invite comment upon the issue of our present pattern of worship. Whilst this has produced a lot of very varied comments about personal likes and dislikes, and rather few suggestions as to how we might proceed with worship which is a better expression of our mission in the 21st century.

“I want you to know that all of the responses will be taken into account when next year I have had a proper chance to evaluate what we are doing. We have to remember – however painful this may be – that our beautiful Cathedral Church was build for a different Church and a different liturgical expression from what is appropriate and fitting for us today. Returning to a supposedly golden age is not an option, though it is clear that we equally have to make the best use of the heritage that is ours.”

“You will hear from the Treasurer that the budget for 2006 has a huge hole in it. There is no simple solution to this. We have been cushioned during this last year by three legacies but we cannot rely on such things happening again, nor should we use precious resources just to pay the present bills.”

“So what is the future as we try to address a serious issue here?”
“We have reached a moment of great opportunity – a chance for new developments to really take off.”

“We could institute a whole series of cuts of expenditure and somehow or other get the budget closer to balancing, perhaps helped along by more and more frenetic attempts to raise more money. But we could not do this without seriously compromising what we are here for – our core values. And we have the responsibility to care for and hand on to the next generation a worthy building.”

“This is not going to be cheap. Next year’s budget contains very little provision for anything more than basic maintenance work. We have to the face the fact that the costs associated with keeping the Cathedral upright and usable are going to go on increasing.”

“Within the next few months the Diocese is moving out of the Office in Kenneth Street. Although there is a very small income from the use by Inverness Music Festival of part of the downstairs office, most of the income we receive for Kenneth Street comes from the Diocese, and so this loss is serious. The reason why the Diocese is moving out is because the Diocese has a budgetary problem, too. So cuts have had to be made.”

“The Secretary will work from her home, and the Bishop will work from his or use other bases around the Diocese. Whilst the kitchen is excellent, and the rest of the building has been looked after as well as could be, it is no longer a good building for any purpose today as it stands.”

“Any redevelopment would need to be in an ethical way with a community focus. What suggests itself to me is the possibility of some kind of respite accommodation. This would involve us entering a partnership with the right agencies, but could be beneficial and synergistic (pastoral care being provided via members of the Cathedral Ministry Team for example), as well as providing a long term source of income for us.”

“When the Cathedral was built, the original plans for the Cathedral including a linkage with the Old Boys School behind the Cathedral. “

“It would be good to have a link between an extended Old Boys School and the Cathedral with provision for permanent shop and tea room (to seriously assist our long term financial future) and to make the present Old Boys School much more user-friendly for the 21st century. In particular, to create an upper story with a small meeting room and office, and a flexible downstairs hall suitable for use by those organisations and groups which no longer would be able to use Kenneth Street if we redeveloped that area.”

“The convenor of the Vestry Property Committee and I have met with the Architect, Colin Munro, to discuss these proposals. He has come up with some extremely interesting ideas.”

“In addition to the tremendous enhancement which this would bring to the Cathedral grounds and the improvements to our ‘plant’ here, we could also create Universal Access to the Cathedral in a more aesthetically satisfactory way than that previously proposed. The advantage of this is that it could be carefully staged. “

“At present, we are only thinking about these possibilities. But we do have to think seriously because at present we have an opportunity. And it won’t be there for ever.”

“Obviously we are very much at the beginning of a plan here which is far from complete in every detail and so it will be inappropriate to even attempt to answer questions at the end of this presentation which relate to the details. Before we go any further, we have also to produce a viable business plan for the different enterprises and we need to investigate sources of funding. I have already spoken to a number of professional fundraisers about this.”

“This is most important for our mission here in the Cathedral as part of God’s people in Inverness. Many of our brothers and sisters face similar problems to us – old buildings for which we have responsibilities and which we try to keep on top of. But think what a shot in the arm for the whole Church – not just the Episcopal Church – if here in a prime area of the city we can have a new, bright and imaginative development! “
“The Church is alive – this would say – and she cares passionately about her mission. I know that some of you like me are a bit suspicious of the ‘image culture’ in which we live. But we can make the most of it.”
“Sometimes we can even make it work for us.”

Provost Gordon concluded his presentation by telling the Cathedral congregation that for things to move forward it must involve everyone in supporting the project.  However, as he explained:
“Nothing as yet is set in stone and it is important that you feed back your ideas and thoughts to us as we begin to make plans. Talk this up. Let us know of people who are interested – who might want a share in the action, or want to use the facilities we may create. Talk to Vestry members, or to me. Let’s see how we can make this work – and provide a surer future for the Cathedral Church of this Diocese.