* Congratulations to Mark Harris on his appointment as Lecturer in Science and Religion at the University of Edinburgh.  This is a new post, the only one of its kind in the UK outwith Oxford and Cambridge, and Mark is eminently and uniquely qualified for this.  This appointment means Mark will step down as Vice-Provost on 1st April, but I am delighted that he will be staying on at the Cathedral as Precentor and continuing to contribute to the life of the Cathedral in many ways.

* The plans for the north side of the Cathedral, including building a new medical centre, stone masons workshop and complete re-landscaping, have been approved by the City of Edinburgh’s Planning Committee.  This is clearly excellent news both for the local community in need of 21st century medical facilities that are fit for purpose and for the Cathedral.  Meetings are scheduled with NHS Lothian in the coming weeks to progress this.

* Welcome to Hector Maclean who will be joining the Vergers’ team for a few months.

February sees the final stage in the selection and election of our new Bishop.  Please remember in your prayers the three candidates and their families and those responsible for voting in the election.

NEWS:

* Work on the new glass porch inside the west door will begin in January.

* As reported at our AGM our Accounts to 30 June 2011 show yet again increased giving, which is clearly excellent, and ever increasing costs as inflation continues to bite.  The Finance Committee will continue to monitor this closely.

* Bill Walker, a bell ringer, a former member of the Property Committee, a most faithful member of the Cathedral, has died and was honoured with a quarter peal on the afternoon of Remembrance Sunday.  In his long life Bill’s activities included setting up telecommunication links and observation towers near the Himalayas to spot for Japanese bombers in World War 2 and representing Scotland at archery. Bill was a good friend to all who were privileged to know him; he was a good friend to me.

Bethlehem and 2012 beckon.  Exactly as in that stable so the Cathedral’s doors will remain open, so that all, including shepherds and wise men and women, may come and kneel at his crib.

In between come Remembrance Sunday whose 2 minutes’ silence becomes ever more poignant as peace throughout our world seems so distant, and the Feast of Christ the King when the Church celebrates the One who is king only of love, whose throne was a cross of wood, whose crown was a crown of thorns, whose courtiers were two thieves sharing the same death sentence, whose royal banquet is the bread and the wine of the Eucharist.

November sees not one but two AGMs.  Remembrance Sunday at 3.30pm is always a devotional performance of a requiem (this year is Fauré), which is preceded by the Friends’ AGM in the Chapter House and followed by a reception in the Resurrection Chapel, hosted by the Friends, to which everyone is warmly invited.

The Cathedral’s AGM is on Advent Sunday and follows our Cathedral Eucharist: at it I will present my report as will the various Cathedral committees and groups, and the accounts will also be presented.  2010/11 has been a demanding year financially: giving has never been higher, but poor dividend income and low bank interest rates combined with ever increasing inflation mean challenging times lie ahead.

September always sees the arrival of new members to the Cathedral Choir. Choristers are: Lula Molleson, Peter Gill, Jacob Slater, Charlie Bell, Esme Frith; Lay Clerk and Choral Scholars are: Dominic Barberi, Alex Robarts, Johnny McGhee Doyle, James Wood; and the Organ Scholar is Mo Wah Chan. Recruitment is clearly buoyant and a credit to the musicianship and training of our Master of the Music.

September also saw a visit of HRH The Princess Royal. As Visitor to St Mary‟s Cathedral Workshop The Princess takes a lively interest in all that we do, and the Cathedral is greatly honoured by her active participation in promoting the work of the Workshop, both in terms of its care of the Cathedral fabric and the training given to our apprentice stonemasons.

With its three spires dominating Edinburgh’s western skyline, St Mary’s is Scotland’s largest Cathedral, and a renowned masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture. Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the Cathedral was consecrated in 1879, and has been open daily for public and private prayer ever since. It is also host to many concerts and cultural events throughout the year.