Our Community
At Exeter Cathedral we have a vast community of wonderful people including staff, volunteers, congregation, and so much more! Over the next three months we will be introducing you to some key members of Our Community.
At Exeter Cathedral we have a vast community of wonderful people including staff, volunteers, congregation, and so much more! Over the next three months we will be introducing you to some key members of Our Community.
Pushkar, Youth Volunteer
How long have you been a youth volunteer at Exeter Cathedral?
“I have been a volunteer at the Cathedral for around 6 months now! I started in December 2023!”
How did you find out about youth volunteering?
“I saw a sign at the Cathedral, near the Stewards Desk, while I was visiting with a few of my friends and decided it would be a cool thing to do!”
What made you want to be a part of it?
“I fell in love with the architecture of the Cathedral the very second I saw it. I was fascinated by its history, the various sculptures and stained-glass windows and as a history buff I just couldn’t get enough. I felt the perfect way to get rid of the stress of uni work would be to spend a little time in the Cathedral giving tours and feeding my passion towards history and architecture!”
What is your favourite thing about Exeter Cathedral?
“Honestly there’s a lot I love in the Cathedral, so it’s hard to choose, but if I had to pick it would be the quire stalls and the organ! I absolutely love the cool carvings in the stalls and how grand they look. The organ is an impressive one as well. I try to attend services or events once in a while, just to hear it in action. I also love the people at the Cathedral! Ever since I’ve started volunteering, I’ve met some of the kindest and welcoming people, from the stewards to the guides. They all have interesting stories as well!”
What does being a youth volunteer entail?
“In my experience being a youth volunteer entails supporting the Cathedral’s functioning in a variety of ways. This can be by interacting with visitors and addressing any questions they have regarding the Cathedral. It also entails planning for future events and exhibitions. As a youth panel member, I’ve been part of quite a few meetings regarding newer exhibits and ways to make the Cathedral more appealing than it already is. Volunteering also helps with developing your own skills, be they communication or team-work!”
Flick Evans, Chair of the Exeter Cathedral Flower Arrangers
How long have you been an Exeter Cathedral Flower Arranger for?
“I have been a Cathedral Flower Arranger for about 17 years!”
Were you doing flower arranging before you came to the Cathedral?
“Yes! I was an army officer’s wife, and we were expected to arrange in the barracks chapel and the officers’ mess, which is a designated area for army officers to eat.”
Do you have a favourite flower?
“I don’t really have a favourite flower, but I do have flowers that I don’t like using in arrangements. Like Asian lilies or grandiflora lilies, as these change the shape of an arrangement as they open and that can be very annoying!”
What do you like the most about the Cathedral?
“I love almost everything about the Cathedral – music, liturgy, and the congregation (who are always more than interested in the flowers!). I enjoy talking to visitors about our flowers, but best of all is the privilege and responsibility of leading a very talented team of ladies in our beautiful building.”
John Crowley, Music Foundation Trustee
How long have you been part of the ECMF for?
“I became a Trustee in 2018, but my association with the Cathedral and its music goes back more than 30 years. I sang for a couple of years as a Lay Clerk when my wife and I moved to Devon, I was a Governor of the Cathedral School for 18 years, and my two children were choristers here!”
What is your favourite part of the role?
“I enjoy working with my able and dedicated Trustee colleagues to further ECMF’s objectives, in particular the long-term target we have; to fund 100% of the cost of the music in the Cathedral. We have a continuous programme of promoting events to raise the profile of ECMF and to raise money for it. We are also anxious to encourage regular donations and for supporters to remember ECMF in their wills.”
What is your favourite thing about the Cathedral?
“There is so much! But one corner of the Cathedral which I love is Exeter’s version of “Musicians’ Corner” – the wall in the North aisle of the Nave which holds all the monuments to the Cathedral’s Organists and Directors of Music. I particularly love the monument to Matthew Godwin, who became organist in 1584 at the age of 15 and died two years later. What a prodigy he must have been! And how amazing that a 17-year-old boy is commemorated for the ages by a beautiful memorial tablet in one of the great cathedrals of Europe.”
What does the Music Foundation do?
“For over 30 years, the Music Foundation has provided critical financial assistance to sustain Exeter Cathedral’s musical tradition. Its choir and music team enrich daily worship and special occasions in Devon, and their concert performances bring joy to audiences around the world. The Cathedral’s musical life also brings incalculable benefits to the young lives of its choristers and choral scholars. Time and again, it has changed the trajectory of lives in ways that could never have been imagined.”
Tom, Welcome Desk Team Member
How long have you worked on the Entry Desk at Exeter Cathedral?
“I have worked here for five years now!”
What do you like the most about your role here?
“I really enjoy the shock and joy that some visitors from other countries, especially America, have about the age of the building.”
What is your favourite thing about the Cathedral?
“My favourite thing has got to be the timeless Gothic architecture!”
Are there any particularly memorable events that have happened at the Cathedral while you have been here?
“I remember when Queen Elizabeth died and we had many hundreds of people come in over a few days to sign the goodbye books. I’ve personally never given much thought to the Queen but seeing what she meant to so many people was moving.”
Kit Reynolds, Project Manager for the 2020s Development Appeal Project
How long have you been at Exeter Cathedral?
“I joined in March 2023, so I’ve worked for the Cathedral for just over one year.”
What do you do as Project Manager?
” My job is to manage and coordinate the Development Appeal Project, where we’re working to make the Cathedral more welcoming to all. We’re doing this by renewing many of the facilities and services, that includes the heating, lighting and sound system in the East End, a new cloister gallery, shop and exhibition, as well as new toilets and work to make the building more accessible. Alongside our activity programme that is attracting new and more diverse visitors, we aim to create a wider sense of ownership of the Cathedral for everyone. Day to day, my job involves co-ordination, planning, documentation, meetings, and I especially enjoy climbing the scaffold and roofs to help our contractors.”
What made you choose this job?
“The opportunity to be part of a great team working to renew the building and open up its unique history and treasures to many more people. In particular I enjoy the moment all our hard work comes to fruition and we celebrate together the opening of the next phase and successful delivery.”
What is your favourite thing about the Cathedral?
” How it sits on the city skyline facing east and west to catch the rising and setting sun, reminding you of its permanence, and imagining people centuries ago approaching on horseback or coming up the river and seeing the Cathedral on the horizon in the same way it appears to us now.”
The Company of Tapisers
The Company of Tapisers has worked since 1933 creating stitched items for the glory of God and the beautification of Exeter Cathedral. We asked a few of the ladies who volunteer their time why they decided to do it.
Catherine (93)
“I’d been a tapper woolworker in St Albans Abbey and so that’s what started me going. When I came here, I just asked if I could join. There were no tests, nothing like that, I became a steward, and a tapiser, and helped with the soup – which was one of the best things I ever did – the weekly soup kitchen for homeless people. Everybody here was really talented, and did some beautiful things, but people don’t know this is going on here. We’re hidden away as working in the cathedral for people to see wouldn’t be practical, we need all our equipment! It has been a great sense of fun and I look forward to Wednesdays. I think I am very lucky that I’ve been part of this, and I’ve known a group of people for almost 25 years, shared their happinesses and their sadnesses – we’re really like a bunch of sisters.”
Maureen
“I enjoy doing embroidery and it was something I’d never done before – this STYLE of embroidery, I’d never even heard of it. I came here and started doing it. Loved it, did a couple of courses, and still love it!”
Joanne
“I It’s very simple, I like embroidery and I like coming here to sew! During covid Diana would still send us emails every day and that was really lovely because that made you feel still part of the group. Because so many things shut down during covid, but we didn’t!”
Christina
“I think I saw it on the BBC, when you were doing something for the coronation, and I thought “oh that looks good!” I love sewing so I thought, this is something totally different, and so I’d see if I could find out about it. It took a while but I’m here now! It’s so nice working on such beautiful fabrics.”
Luke Stevenson, Custos
How long have you been at Exeter Cathedral for?
“I have been at the Cathedral since 25 May 2017 (in various roles), so I’m just about to pass the seven-year mark. Google informs me that this is either a copper or wool anniversary!”
How did you end up in the role of Custos?
“I was working in the Cathedral Events department when the job came up. It looked interesting, challenging and rewarding, so I applied and was fortunate to be offered the role. It has been all those things and much more!”
What is your favourite thing about the Cathedral?
“It is very difficult to identify one single thing. There is the building itself, the wonderful team of virgers – who I work with on a daily basis – the superb music that enriches our day, the sense of community across the staff, volunteers and congregations… the list could go on and on. When everything is firing on all cylinders there isn’t a place in the world I’d rather be!”
Why does Exeter Cathedral spell “Virger” with an “I” rather than an “E”?
“In common with other old foundations (e.g. Winchester and St Pauls), at Exeter Cathedral, we spell Virger with an “I” because the job title ‘virger’ derives from the latin ‘’. Virga is usually translated to “branch” or “rod”, and refers to the virges that are carried in processions. These days the virge is mainly ceremonial, but in days gone by, when there were not seats in the Cathedral, the Virgers would use their virges to physically move people out the way of processions, as they made their way through the Cathedral. The Virgers do still occasionally have to (gently) tap people on the shoulder at busy services with them, if they haven’t realised that the service has started.”
Deborah Parsons, Canon Chancellor
How long have you been at Exeter Cathedral?
“I have been Canon Chancellor for two years, though I tested positive for Covid on the eve of my installation so had to wait three months for a new installation date!”
When were you ordained?
“I was ordained as a deacon in 2007 at Exeter Cathedral and as a priest in 2008, so Exeter Cathedral has always had a special place in my heart.”
What made you decide to be ordained?
“I was called to ordination as a teenager before women could even be priests, so it was never a question of “if” for me but of “when.” I sat with the calling for years, then I had a Damascus Road experience when I was a teacher. A revelation from God that I had to do more PASTORAL work. I spoke to the School Chaplain who told me he thought I was being called to ordination. Three people over the next fortnight told me the same thing, and so I knew that it was time to explore my calling and to push on the door and see whether it opened. It did!”
What is your favourite thing about the Cathedral?
“To quote from T.S. Eliot, what I love about the Cathedral is that “it’s still and still moving.” I feel deeply humbled to serve in a place that has been a house of prayer for hundreds of years and a beacon of hope and light in times of turbulence and change. The Cathedral means different things to different people. For some it’s a visitor attraction. For others it’s an events and exhibition center. For others it’s a place of worship and musical excellence. For me it’s all of those things, but above all a place where time stands still, and I discover the Divine in unexpected people and places.”
Do you have a favourite time of year to be at the Cathedral?
“Every day is a delight because I never know who I am going to encounter, but I still feel a child-like sense of awe and wonder at Christmas in a candle-lit Cathedral, when in the depths of Winter, I can anticipate the light of Christ.”
Olivia and Emanuele – Choristers
How long have you been choristers for?
“5 years! We started when we were 8 years old.”
What is your favourite thing about the Cathedral?
Emanuele – “The community!”
Olivia – “The history behind it.”
What do you enjoy most about being in the choir?
Emanuele – “It’s hard work sometimes but when we all put a little bit more in it becomes really fun.”
Olivia – “All of the amazing music that we get to sing and singing in a group with everyone’s different voices coming together.”
Do you have a favourite Psalm to sing?
“We like some parts of Psalm 78! I don’t think we liked it at first, but we sang it a lot practicing for the live broadcasting of BBC Radio 3’s Choral Evensong and it’s grown on us! It has a lot of character.”
Ted, Barista at our Ten Fifty Café
How long have you worked at Exeter Cathedral?
“I started working here in May last year!”
What is your favourite thing about the Cathedral?
“I like the quietness of the nave when I get to work in there. It’s a relaxed place to be so I never feel stressed.”
Do you enjoy being part of the Ten Fifty team?
“Yes, it’s nice! We all have a chat when we’re swapping over shifts and everyone is kind to each other.”
Have you worked in other hospitality roles before?
“Not really, I used to work in a farm shop, so still dealing with customers but in a different way.”
What is the most popular drink?
“I’m going to guess a latte but I’m sure Alice has the statistics and would say I’m wrong!”
David Hird, Steeplekeeper for the Exeter Cathedral Bellringers
How long have you been ringing for?
“I have been ringing for 56 years! I started in 1968 in Chesterfield.”
How did you get into bellringing?
“I was a pupil at Chesterfield Grammar School and a friend of mine was one of ten pupils who were taught to ring. He invited me to come and watch one day and I was fascinated by the whole thing! I also loved being able to see inside the tower, which most people don’t get to do.”
What is your favourite part of being a bellringer?
” My favourite thing about being a bellringer is getting to be part of a team and coordinating together.”
How long have you been ringing at Exeter Cathedral?
“I have been ringing here for 12 years! I moved down here when I retired, it’s a lovely place to retire to.”
What is special about being able to ring Exeter Cathedral’s bells?
“They are colossally heavy! The second heaviest set of bells in the world. It takes a real expertise to be able to ring them because of this, but their size gives them a fantastic deep sound.”
What is your favourite thing about Exeter Cathedral?
“My favourite thing about the Cathedral is that it is a community. It is welcoming and vibrant, and I think that has a lot to do with the wonderful job that the current Dean is doing.”
Ella Barber, Youth Engagement Officer
How long have you been at Exeter Cathedral?
“I have been at Exeter Cathedral for nearly two years now, I started in July 2022.”
What does the Youth Engagement Officer do?
“My role involves engaging 14–25-year-olds with the Cathedral through volunteering, work experience, and our youth panel. This includes working with students and young people from organisations such as Exeter College, University of Exeter, Oakwood Specialist College and secondary schools in and around the city. I am also involved with helping to deliver the Cathedral’s Activity Plan. This includes working on projects such as ‘Team Gaia’ which involved an immersive theatre performance co-created by young people beneath Gaia last February, and future activities such as the Student Takeover.”
How did you end up in this role?
“I had always wanted to work within heritage and engagement. When I saw the role for Youth Engagement Officer which combined the two within such a beautiful and historic building, I knew I wanted to be involved.”
What is your favourite thing about the Cathedral?
“That’s a tough one! There is so much I love about the Cathedral. One of my favourite things is the how there is something for everyone in the Cathedral. We have young people come in who are studying a range of subjects from theology to engineering, and others outside of education who are simply curious to learn more about the Cathedral and want to get involved. Whatever someone’s interests are there is always something that fascinates them. Many of our youth volunteers have also commented on how friendly the staff and volunteers are and how great it is to be involved in the Cathedral community.”
Jason, Mason as Sally Strachey Historic Conservation Ltd
How long have you been doing masonry on historic buildings?
“Nearly my whole career, which spans 25 years. At first, I worked as a banker mason, then a carver, then restoration/conservation.”
What do you enjoy most about the job?
“Good weather is key. When we were in the trenches, putting the pipework in for the new Cloister Gallery, it rained a lot. I would frequently run out of dry gear. But then in the summer we get more sunshine, which makes it more enjoyable. As far as masonry is concerned, I appreciate positivity on work done.”
What is your favourite thing about Exeter Cathedral?
“The people, the team who make it all work. From the cleaning staff to the clergy, from the stonemasons to the groundsmen. In short, the humans who make it. Since I started here in February 2023 everyone has been very friendly.”
Has working on the building made you see the Cathedral differently to how you did before?
“There is a lot of history here, which normally does not really interest me. However, seeing the archaeological discoveries in the ground before we started building made me more aware of the people buried under our feet. So, you could say that the people both above and below ground have changed my perspective on the Cathedral.”
Ellie Jones, Cathedral Archivist
How long have you been at Exeter Cathedral for?
“I’ve worked here for 13 years, but I started as an Archives volunteer in 2007.”
What is your favourite thing about the Cathedral?
“I love that it’s still here after all these years. It’s solid and dependable, yet fragile and ever-changing. I think I get a strong sense of both continuity and change through the centuries by reading all the documents in the Archives.”
Do you have a favourite item in the Archives?
“That’s a very difficult question! Everything from the humblest 20th century picture postcard to the Cathedral’s foundation charter have their place in my heart, and I’m often very attached to the thing I’ve been researching most recently. If I’m really forced to choose one, I’m tempted to go for the 14th-15th century miscellany (D&C 3625). It’s got it all really: a beautifully illuminated capital letter, a calendar of important dates, Cathedral statutes, information about the use of bells and candles, a chronicle of Exeter Cathedral from the Creation to 1394, an inventory of textiles, a will, financial records, oaths, a note about Hildegard of Bingen, and some doodles of butterflies – and much more besides. Ask me again tomorrow though, and I may give you a different answer!”
What is the best part of the job?
“I’m never bored. I get to learn new things every day, and it’s never dull when there’s something new to discover around every corner. The documents in the Archives are endlessly fascinating, and there are always people around to exchange knowledge, information and ideas with.”
What made you choose this role?
“I had spent a lot of time in the Cathedral Archives when I was training as an archivist so, when I was finishing a cataloguing project in Norfolk and the job here was advertised, naturally I had to apply. I was delighted to get the job and return to Devon.”