Ely Cathedral

Just 4 weeks to go until the first in our 'How to be Good' Series with Francis Spufford. Our first subject is Medicine and our guest is Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald. Rebecca is Professor of Cancer Prevention at the University of Cambridge and she has received global recognition for her work in developing tests for early cancer diagnoses. More info about the series and how to book tickets can be found here: https://www.elycathedral.org/…/how-to-b e-good-series-with-f…

We are looking for a part time Kitchen Assistant for our Almonry Restaurant set in a truly unique location, nestled amongst the medieval precinct of Ely Cathedral. Duties will include basic food prep and preparation of our snack menu. Food hygiene and some catering experience required. Apply here: https://www.indeed.co.uk/…/Kitchen-Assi stant-888123a2a6d1dd…

Our Summer Series of free organ recitals continues this Sunday at 5.15pm. This weekend it's an opportunity to hear our Assistant Organist, Edmund Aldhouse. Everyone is welcome. More info about the programme of music here: https://www.elycathedral.org/…/summer-o rgan-recital-edmund-…

Details of all our services from 11-26 August are now available to view on our website, including information about music and preachers. This weekend's services are sung by The Howells Voices. From 13-19 August we welcome the choirs of Immanuel Church, New Castle and St. Peter’s, Lewes, Delaware, USA.
https://www.elycathedral.org/…/p…/ser vices/comb_11-26aug.pdf
... Photo: Andrew Sharpe
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The Dean's sermon from last Sunday entitled 'You are what you eat' is now available to listen to or download from our website:

This weekend we will be proudly flying the rainbow flag in support of the first ever 'Pride in Ely' event.
Mark Bonney, Dean of Ely says: “I am very pleased that Chapter agreed to my request to fly the ‘Pride’ flag from the Cathedral tower on 11 August when Pride in Ely holds is first festival. I am pleased first of all to lend my backing to this community event because it celebrates the breadth and diversity of the community in which we all live. I am also very conscious th...at Christians have not always been perceived as being as supportive and inclusive as some of us would wish, and so I am pleased to fly this flag as a sign of the kind of inclusion that I wish to promote at the Cathedral”
More info about Pride In Ely can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/PrideinElyCambri dge/ Pride in Ely and Cambridge
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Children and families will love our new 'Explorer's Trail'. Just pick up a leaflet when you arrive and have fun exploring the Cathedral, plus find out some fun facts along the way. Don't forget to share photos of your visit with us!

The spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it. Henri J.M. Nouwen #ThoughtForTheWeek

The Cathedral was decorated with some beautiful flowers this weekend for a summer wedding. Congratulations to the bride and groom!

If you are visiting the Cathedral this weekend take a look at Ely Photographic Club's Exhibition in the South West Transept. There are some beautiful pictures in the collection, including some of the Cathedral. The exhibition runs until 31 August.

After a much needed break for a thunder storm last week, the hot summer weather is back here in Ely. It looks set to continue into the weekend and next week - a great time to visit us. If you don't like the hot temperatures it's always cooler inside the Cathedral where you can enjoy a ground floor tour, take the Green Man Trail, visit the The Stained Glass Museum, enjoy the Helaine Blumenfeld exhibition, take a break in the Refectory Café or pick up a souvenir in the shop. Why not finish your day by experiencing the beautiful English choral tradition of Evensong.

Canon Victoria Johnson's sermon 'All That Matters' is now live on our website.
A sermon exploring the meaning of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the sharing of bread and wine, through the lens of the story of the feeding of the five thousand, in the Gospel of St John. With a little help from St Thomas Aquinas.

Writer Francis Spufford talks with five distinguished members of different professions about what 'good' looks like in their working lives, how they negotiate difficult ethical territory, and how their professional 'goodness' is informed, challenged, or at odds with the Christian tradition.
How To Be Good will take place on Thursdays at 6.45pm in the Drawing Room of The Bishop's House, Ely, starting on 6 September 2018. Videos of each talk will be released on the Ely Cathedral YouTube channel at 7pm on the following Monday, starting on 10 September 2018.
For more information, including how to book tickets, visit: https://bit.ly/2KhnLyA

On Saturday 11 August Roger Leivers will be signing copies of his book 'Stirling to Essen' here at Ely Cathedral, the home of the No.3 Group Book of Remembrance. The book tells the true story of the life of Squadron Leader Drummond Wilson and his crew, who flew with XV Squadron out of RAF Alconbury, not far from Ely. More info here: https://bit.ly/2LIXJdo

The beautiful Ely Cathedral Rose is still available to purchase from our Cathedral shop. This subtly scented, repeat flowering shrub plant produces a wonderful multi-headed display of deep red buds open to reveal double, ruffled blooms - the perfect addition to your garden.

We're looking forward to hosting some fantastic book events with our friends at Topping & Company Booksellers of Ely this Autumn. Here are the dates for your diary: 18 September - Neil MacGregor 2 October - Michael Palin 7 November - Yotam Ottolenghi 27 November - Dame Darcey Bussell... Tickets are available direct from Toppings website: https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/ely /
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On Friday 31 August there is a chance to enjoy a delightful summer supper in the beautiful gardens of the monastic buildings of Ely Cathedral.
In aid of the Ely Cathedral Choir Tour Fund, tickets are available from Box Office 01353 660349 or our website. Booking open until 7 August. https://www.elycathedral.org/events/summe r-supper

You can now book visitor tickets via our website. Choose from standard admission (including a ground floor tour), the combined Cathedral & The Stained Glass Museum ticket, or the 'Total Experience' which also includes a Tower Tour and a free tea or coffee in the Refectory Café. More info and details here: https://www.elycathedral.org/tickets/visi tor
Photo: Andrew Sharpe

Three principles of prayer: 1. Keep it honest. 2. Keep it simple. 3. Keep it up. Nicky Gumbel.... #ThoughtForTheWeek
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What can one say to give this place Justice, it is out of this world and if ever get the chance we highly recommend that you take time and take in this splendid building.

Went to the Carol service for the first time with Hubbie and our granddaughter and her Hubble,we had a lovely experience , would recommend going its truly a magical place..

We visited the Christmas market today and had a great time. Having tickets to ensure there weren't too many people seemed to work and the whole event was very well organised. Would have been nice to have some Christmas music playing but other than that a really great event.

We can’t thank the cathedral staff, volunteers and stall holders enough for all their hard work in delivering such and amazing event this weekend.

Without a doubt the highlight of our visit to the cathedral was the tower tour. The views were of course amazing but what made it so special was having Adam as our guide. He was friendly, incredibly knowledgeable, funny and just a lovely guy from start to finish - a true ambassador for the cathedral and Ely.

Thank you all.

Tidy. It’s very old, very beautiful it’s in a wonderful beautiful town and if you’re in the area it’s well worth a wee visit. Why now am I suddenly from Scotland ?

Stunning building.i recommend the tower tour if you are for. City is also very nice

Will visit again

My first visit to this beautiful city and I was impressed with the houses, the streets and the free public parking. Then I was struck with wonder viewing the outside of this magnificent monument and overwhelmed with the beauty of the interior. I really enjoyed my first ever visit to Ely and it will not be my last

I have loved this special place since the first time I visited on New Year's Day 2004. We were visiting from Scotland and staying with our newly married daughter who had just moved to Abington to take up a post as a junior doctor at Addenbrookes. It being New Year's Day. We thought we'd get out of their way for a few hours and decided to visit Ely as we had never been but heard it was pretty. We walked into the cathedral, which was one of the few places open and our jaws hit the floor. Little did I think that 6 years later I'd be moving to beautiful Ely and doing volunteer work in this sacred space. Every time we visited our daughter we'd come here again and when I came on my own in the train I'd watch from the window for the fifteen miles into Ely where you can see it. Then I'd watch the river and boats, the ducks and people sitting by the river eating ice cream. And above everything the cathedral. When we retired and started to find the 600 mile round trip too much and decided to move nearer to our daughter who now had 2 boys there was little doubt where we would move to. It was a difficult process as we didn't know the best areas, the house prices were higher and we didn't know a soul. Our house in Scotland didn't sell for 18 months but we kept faith that we were supposed to be here and it all worked out and we never looked back and are very happy with lots of good friends. From the first time I went to ask about volunteer work at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in Ely I was made welcome, by Canon Alan Hargrave, Sally and Joan at Ministry of Welcome and many more. Now even although I am used to seeing the inside I still get the same feeling of awe when I walk in especially at times like candlemas, lent, advent or Christmas when it is early or late and not many people about. My family and I have needed much prayer since arriving here and it was poured out to us by the community and I love Ely and would not choose to live anywhere else.

Fantastic building, could have sat looking up at the Lantern Tower all day, put this architectural gem on your bucket list, never ceases to amaze me how these giants were ever built, considering the tools available at the time !

Ely Cathedral manages to provide the warmth and closeness of a parish church.. in spite of its greatness. Everywhere you visit and look there is a mesmerising interest such as the Labyrinth.. The Lady Chapel.. The Altar... The amazing architecture and ceiling. Services and evensong integrate you, encouraging one to feel part if the community. The volunteers are kindness itself.. Nothing is too much trouble.. They welcome children...

The special events are eclectic.. utilising the sound facilities created by such a magnificent building.. It is a great environment for a visit.. A meal.. Most important of all a place of private prayer or communion with a Higher Source.. whatever you Faith..

Beautiful cathedral and wonderful displays of flowers at the flower festival yesterday.My friend and I spent a lovely few hours here .

Amazing Cathedral both inside and out, recently visited Durham and Lincoln and to say these were very nice, didn’t think I would see more nicer Cathedral, the whole city was very pretty as well

A very beautiful cathedral indeed, very peaceful and calm, a wonderful place to sit in peace.

A lot of my family comes from the Isle of Ely including my Mother and Grandfather. ( Isle of Ely is now part of Cambridgeshire ) so I was pleased to have this short and visit a second cousin of mine . Some photos on my page taken on a bright sunny but Cold and frosty morning taken in and around the Great Cathedral of the Fens.

A beautiful place which lets you experience its storied history.

There on business however always bring a smile to my face, very welcoming place.

I always used to go to Ely cathedral with my grandparents when I was young. Loved the sheer size of it.

It's still just as impressive now.

And I've been lucky enough to see behind the scenes.

Great place to visit.

After the initial shock of how much it costs to get in we decided to splash out. We’re pleased we did. The Octagonal Tower Tour was excellent. We also enjoyed looking around on our own and found the Stained Glass Window Museum very interesting. The video could have been a little louder but we watched it twice anyway. In the ticket price, a hot beverage in the cafe was included. We would have stopped for some food too but the prices were exorbitant. So popped out to the market after our cup of tea. It looked beautiful food and freshly made but I am not willing to pay £5:50 for one sandwich. Overall an enjoyable time.

The Flowers were beautiful but 'No smell...', very strange and very disappointing !!!