A stunning 13-meter-long table, made from ancient, fossilised oak will be on display in Lincoln Cathedral from April. Created from a section of the nation’s most significant tree, a gigantic 5000-year-old Fenland Black Oak, the table is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. The Table for the Nation will be installed on St George’s day, before being opened to visitors from Wednesday 24 April. It will remain in residency at Lincoln Cathedral for a year. In 2012, the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, an exceptionally well-preserved section of black oak was found in a field in Norfolk – thi ..read more

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Today we hear that acclamation of hope and joy, proclaimed on Easter morning in churches all over the world. The waiting is over; we celebrate again being a resurrection people, after our journey through Lent and Holy Week. What I love about the post-Easter stories in the Gospel, however, is that they are a very real mix of human emotion: yes, there is joy and new hope, but this often sits alongside or is found only after grief, disbelief, fear, doubt and confusion. Somehow I find that reassuring. It seems to reflect the reality of our journey of faith m ..read more

A word from the editor Welcome to the Spring edition of InHouse. Our latest edition is packed with fascinating information about the Cathedral and its history. Meet Jane Cowan and learn about her amazing work as Head of Conservation, look into 25 Years Guiding in Lincoln Cathedral, and explore the joy that can be found on the Mindful Mile. Download the Latest Edition ..read more

You can collect a print version of In House from the Cathedral, or click on the link below to read the latest issue. A word from the Editor Lent is a season of reflection and preparation, so it is appropriate that the current edition of InHouse is dedicated to some key aspects of the Cathedral and our incredible resources, as we move towards Easter. The treasures of the Cathedral, from our buildings to our vestments, are skilfully and lovingly care for by our knowledgeable staff and volunteers, to the greater glory of God. My thanks, as always, to our devoted team of writers and editors: E ..read more

In a change from the normal spiritual reflection, this Chapter Letter starts with a more institutional focus. This week has seen a small, but fundamental change in the arrangements for the governance and management of the cathedral with the cathedral becoming a registered charity. This is a result of the provisions of the Cathedral Measure 2021 which required every cathedral to revise its Constitution and Statutes and register so that it is dual regulated by both the Church Commissioners (as in the past) and the Charity Commission… Download the Chapter letter – 17.03.24 ..read more

On International women’s Day 2024, we are sharing the stories of just a few of the many inspiration women associated with Lincoln Cathedral and the surrounding close. The stories below are just a glimpse into their lives, which we hope will inspire you to find out more about these great women from history. Katherine Swynford Katherine is probably the most famous woman associated with Lincoln Cathedral. Her fame stems from her position as an important ancestor of the British monarchy. Through her son, John Beaufort and her daughter, Joan Beaufort, whose father was John of Gaunt, Katherine ..read more

I confess that I have only been an Anglican for 20 years but my great-grandmother was a staunch ‘pisky’ (the affectionate term for a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church), a fact I only learned after I was ordained. One of the fascinating features of Anglicanism is that it represents unity with diversity and still manages to be held together as the One Church, the Body of Christ. As part of my academic study leading to Ordination, I conducted a piece of research in West Wales where I interviewed members of rural churches about their beliefs and practices. One participant stands out in m ..read more

On Sunday 25 February, the sad news of the death of Patrick, Lord Cormack, was announced. The Revd Canon Nick Brown, Interim Dean of Lincoln said, “As with so many, I am saddened by the death of Patrick, Lord Cormack.  Beyond his many wider interests and contributions to society, was Patrick’s contribution to the life and work of the cathedral.  Patrick was enthusiastic in engaging others to support the life of the cathedral – especially in his role as Deputy High Steward, a role in which he successfully raised funds for a number of projects connected with the cathedral. “As well ..read more

‘Our care for God’s creation’ For the past two weeks we have been hosting the installation ‘Gaia’ in the crossing of the cathedral (and there is still a week in which you can visit it if you have not yet had a chance to spend time in the cathedral using it as a source for prayer and reflection). It has provided a thought-provoking focus for reflections on both the wonder of creation (of which we are a part), and the way in which creation is marred by our own activity – by our failure to honour the glory of God that is revealed in creation, and to which we are called. It was particularly app ..read more

Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,’ says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:1) When I tell people I live in Lincoln, the response I get is usually a reference to the Cathedral; Lincoln is in many ways synonymous with our wonderful place of worship. It is therefore a huge privilege for me to have been given this opportunity to serve here for a short time and I have gained some unique insights behind the scenes as I have come to appreciate the major contribution of the dedicated teams of staff and volunteers w ..read more