Passiontide Letter from the Dean
As we move towards Holy Week, the most holy season of the Church’s year, we are invited to take a step back and ponder the events of Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Day. We follow the disciples in the expectation of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem with shouts of Hosanna quickly turn to the despair of the Cross. And then impossibly and unbelievably the report from the women at the tomb that Jesus is risen. Hope turns to despair, which blossoms into new hope and the cries of, Alleluia; He is Risen! Do join us as we celebrate in liturgy and music the greatest festival of the church’s year, the centre of our faith. Full details of Holy Week and Easter can be found here.
Annual Report and Accounts
The 2024 audited accounts were finally approved by Chapter yesterday and will shortly be available on the cathedral website. The delay has been due to a number of factors, including, the change of auditors; the change of finance staff halfway through last year; and the discovery by our new interim Management Accountant that insufficient data had been submitted to the auditors, prior to his arrival, for them to carry out the audit as planned.
Further delay was caused by our new auditors asking questions that may not have been addressed before. For the long term this has been extremely useful as it has helped us to identify a large number of outstanding issues and helped us to get our financial systems more organised, giving a clearer picture of our financial situation.
The good news is that Phil Morris, our Chief Operating Officer, has produced an extremely helpful Strategy for Growth, which aims to significantly reduce our operating deficit over the next couple of years, leading to a break-even within the next five years, if not sooner. A number of the proposed strategies for growth have already taken shape and begun to pay dividends.
The not-so-good news is that the operational deficit currently remains close to the 2024 one of £250k (without taking into account funding which will need to be spent on property to maintain it and to return it a good state of repair). However, with the Strategy for Growth in place we expect to see significant improvements by the end of the year.
In summary, the trajectory for growth and financial stability is very positive, but it will take some time, hard work and commitment to get there. I am very confident that we now have the right people in the right positions, fully motivated, to achieve this.
The Refectory
As legally required by the Charity Commission we are retendering for the Refectory. We have had a good response to the tendering process and possible tenants will soon be interviewed and their business plan scrutinised. Sadly, the current tenants have chosen not to take part in the tendering process. Following the selection process the new tenants will take over in June.
It is likely that the Refectory will be closed for a period for any refitting required. Plans are in place for temporary food and coffee carts to be stationed around the Minster grounds. We hope for good weather!
I am pleased to say that the current tenants have said that they will continue a full service until the end of their tenure. We wish them well for the future.
Property Review
As you may be aware, the Church Commissioners gave us a generous grant to undertake master planning on all the property owned by the Cathedral. They have now reported to Chapter, and Chapter have considered their recommendations and will follow their expert advice. The immediate impact will be the major renovation of Nos 2 and 4 Vicars Court ready for two new canons when appointed. Our master planners considered all options, including the potential sale of all or part of Vicars Court. Their strong advice was to retain for a number of reasons, including: the fact that Vicars Court is clearly integral to the footprint of the Cathedral and it is a heritage asset; the reality of the current poor state of all the properties, which would mean that any sale would be for a very small amount of money; and also their research indicated that we would find it very difficult to find a buyer.
Other plans for the properties are progressing; including the redevelopment of Nos 3 and 5 Vicars Court so that they become income generating, some very encouraging plans for the development of Trebeck, and the use of the Paddock for income generation with the use of marquees during the summer. Also, a revised business plan for the use of the Archbishops Palace which is currently underused for events.
A major fundraising programme will be set in motion, now we are clearer about the future and have a clear (and costed) understanding about our property. Dean-designate Stephen is fully behind the plans and I’m sure will share more as things progress. It’s going to take a number of years before all this comes to fruition, but the plans are incredibly positive and very achievable.
And it’s Goodbye from me!
What a joy and a privilege it has been for me to be your Interim Dean. I have totally fallen in love with this place and will always treasure the unexpected post-retirement gift of the last 18 months.
As you will see from above, there are still many issues outstanding, but a refreshed direction of travel is in place, as we welcome our new Dean. Stephen and I know each other well from my London days, and I am so pleased to be handing over to him. I believe he is exactly the right person to be the next Dean of Southwell.
One of the privileges of my time with you is to have overseen the appointment of almost completely new leadership for the Cathedral. We have a skilled and talented group of new Chapter members who are facing the issues that need to be addressed head on. We have an excellent new Chief Operating Officer in Phil Morris, who in a short 8 months has begun to lead the Cathedral into growth, with great plans for the future. Last week we welcomed our new Chief Finance Officer, David Walker, who will be working 3½ days a week. David comes with huge experience in the commercial and healthcare sectors and has been engaged with the Minster since his appointment, with the benefit that he has already started at a sprint with our auditors and with bringing our rather antiquated systems up to date.
We have an excellent senior leadership team in place with tremendously committed staff and an amazing group of over 350 volunteers, all of whom love the Minster!
I have been so fortunate with my clergy colleagues. Canon Stephen Hippisley-Cox assisted us with Pastoral Care amongst the congregation for a year; thank you Stephen. We have also been blessed by the continuing ministry Canon Amanda Lees who has been embraced by the congregation, and it is great news that she is staying as Canon Missioner until the end of the year. It will be sad to say goodbye to Canon Richard, who has been a source of support and inspiration to me as to the whole congregation. But Richard will move on to being Vicar of Doncaster with our huge thanks, in the sure knowledge that this is a great move for him and his legacy will be treasured here.
Thank you to all of you for your prayers, support and encouragement for me over the past eighteen months. May this Cathedral continue to be a blessing to the many people who visit, to our wonderful staff and volunteers, and to our faithful and vibrant worshipping community.
God is in this place; it is truly a place where heaven and earth meet.
Neil