Cathedral Sunday 2014 will be a celebration in worship and the arts as the Diocese commemorates 350 years of the Cathedral of St. Jago de la Vega, Spanish Town as a site of Anglican worship; and the 190th Anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Jamaica (1824 – 2014).
Chairman of the Planning Committee, the Venerable Patrick Cunningham, explains that: “This year, the pilgrimage to the principal church of the Diocese is scheduled for Sunday, November 23; and the programme will feature a Choir Festival in which several outstanding choral groups will perform. These include the renowned Kingston College Chapel Choir, the Laudate Chorale which boasts a diverse worship repertoire and the Church Teachers’ College Choir, which is known for its stirring performances.”
The Choir Festival, which will be mounted in two parts, will begin in Emancipation Square, Spanish Town at 2.30 p.m. This will be followed by a procession to the Cathedral, accompanied by the All Saints’ Marching Band and the St. Jago High School Cadet Corps. The second part of the Choir Festival will take place during the Festal Evensong at the Cathedral starting at 3.30 p.m. This celebratory service will also salute historic churches across the Diocese and their contribution to the spiritual and social development of the Jamaican people through the centuries.
Other highlights of the day’s programme will include guided tours of the Cathedral between 12 Noon and2.00 p.m., as well as a historic Exhibition at the St. Catherine Parish Library, which Archdeacon Cunningham states “will offer an enriching learning experience for members and visitors alike.” The theme for the day’s activities is “Cathedral Renaissance – Rebirth, Renewal, Revival.”
Originally established on the ruins of the Spanish Church of the Red Cross, which was destroyed by invading British troops in the 17th Century, the historic structure was re-built in 1714 and became the Cathedral of the Diocese in 1843.
Cathedral Sunday was first observed in 2002 to sensitize members across the Diocese to the spiritual and historical significance of the Cathedral which is one of the oldest sites of continuous Christian worship in this hemisphere. The celebration is also aimed at mobilizing financial support for restoration of the Cathedral which is a national heritage site.
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