Inverness Cathedral - 12

Here we see The Pilgrims Table and Cathedral Gift Shop set up for morning service - no, not Matins! We are open during the summer months between 10.30 am and 3.00 pm, Monday to Friday.



Here is the food price list:

Filled roll with garnish £2.50
Home-made soup £2.00
Cream scone £1.50
Cream meringue £1.50
Scone and butter £1.00
Pancake and butter £1.00
Caramel shortbread / rocky road £1.00
Sliced cake £1.00
Scottish shortbread 50p
Biscuits / flapjack 50p
Crisps 50p
Fresh fruit 50p
Bread roll 50p
Jam / butter / mayonnaise / mustard 20p

Come, let us join our cheerful songs
With angels round the throne.
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
But all their joys are one.

“Worthy the Lamb that died,” they cry,
“To be exalted thus!”
“Worthy the Lamb,” our lips reply,
“For He was slain for us!”

Jesus is worthy to receive
Honour and power divine;
And blessings more than we can give,
Be, Lord, forever Thine.

The whole creation join in one,
To bless the sacred Name
Of Him Who sits upon the throne,
And to adore the Lamb.

Inverness Cathedral - 11

Here we see the counter at The Pilgrims Table - just before opening time!



These are the beverages which are on sale:

Coffee £1.50
Hot chocolate £1.50
Tea £1.00
Cartons of soft drink 50p
Cans of fizzy drink 50p
Bottled water (still or sparkling) 50p
Glass of milk 50p

We do not have a license to sell alcoholic drinks.

The head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns
The mighty victor’s brow.

The highest place that Heav’n affords
Belongs to Him by right;
The King of kings and Lord of lords,
And Heaven’s eternal Light.

The joy of all who dwell above,
The joy of all below,
To whom He manifests His love,
And grants His Name to know.

To them the cross with all its shame,
With all its grace, is given;
Their name an everlasting name,
Their joy the joy of Heaven.

They suffer with their Lord below;
They reign with Him above;
Their profit and their joy to know
The mystery of His love.

The cross He bore is life and health,
Though shame and death to Him,
His people’s hope, His people’s wealth,
Their everlasting theme.

Inverness Cathedral - 10

Here we see the Old Boys' School which is located close to the new entrance at the liturgical south east corner of the Cathedral.



In summer the Old Boys' School houses the Pilgrims Table and the Cathedral Shop. Here visitors can find refreshments and souvenirs. Across the car park stands the former Bishop’s Palace, Eden Court, now incorporated into the theatre which perpetuates the name of the cathedral’s founder.

In earlier days the building in our photo was the Choir School for the Cathedral. Now the top line of music is sung by female sopranos rather than boy choristers.

Angel voices, ever singing,
round thy throne of light,
angel harps, for ever ringing,
rest not day or night;
Thousands only live to bless Thee,
and confess Thee
Lord of might.

Thou who art beyond the farthest
mortal eye can scan,
can it be that thou regardest
songs of sinful man?
Can we know that thou art near us
and wilt hear us?
Yea, we can.

Yea, we know that thou rejoicest
o'er each work of thine;
thou didst ears and hands and voices
for thy praise design;
craftsman's art and music's measure
for thy pleasure
all combine.

In thy house, great God, we offer
of thine own to thee;
and for thine acceptance proffer,
all unworthily,
hearts and minds and hands and voices,
in our choicest
psalmody.

Honour, glory, might and merit,
thine shall ever be,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
blessed Trinity!
Of the best that thou hast given
earth and heaven
render thee.

Inverness Cathedral - 9

Here we see the magnificent new entrance to the Cathedral which was completed just under 1 year ago. It cost in excess of £160,000.



This entrance, which is located at the liturgical south east of the Cathedral, provides disabled access to the building. It also forms a link with The Pilgrims Table and Cathedral Gift Shop which will feature in future posts.

Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore;
Mortals give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Saviour, reigns, the God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains He took His seat above;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail, He rules o’er earth and Heav’n,
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus giv’n;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

He sits at God’s right hand till all His foes submit,
And bow to His command, and fall beneath His feet:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Inverness Cathedral - 8

We are blessed with a wonderful flower guild at the Cathedral. The members meet on Friday mornings before retiring to the Pilgrims Table for coffee and cake.



Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

Crown Him the virgin’s Son, the God incarnate born,
Whose arm those crimson trophies won which now His brow adorn;
Fruit of the mystic rose, as of that rose the stem;
The root whence mercy ever flows, the Babe of Bethlehem.

Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

Crown Him the Lord of peace, whose power a sceptre sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end, and round His piercèd feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.

Crown Him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou has died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.



I feel sorry for Her Majesty who was obviously struggling with the descant during the final verse!

I now invite you to listen to HRH The Prince of Wales as he delivers a message to the churches of this land. The message was recorded last month.

Inverness Cathedral - 7

Here we see Bert Richardson, the Director of Music at the Cathedral, practicing the organ. The original organ, built in 1869, was never completed according to specification. Several years ago it was found to be in need of extensive repair and restoration, and so the decision was made to replace it with a state-of-the-art digital organ. This was built by Makin’s of Leeds.



With a voice of singing declare ye this, and let it be heard, Alleluia.
Utter it even unto the ends of the earth.
The Lord hath delivered his people, Alleluia.
O be joyful in God, all ye lands,
O sing praises to the honour of his name, make his praise to be glorious.

7th Sunday of Easter

Today we celebrate (for the second time!) the Ascension of Our Lord. We shall be singing our hymn to the Tune 'Llanfair'.



Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia!
to his throne above the skies; Alleluia!
Christ, the Lamb for sinners given, Alleluia!
enters now the highest heaven! Alleluia!

There for him high triumph waits; Alleluia!
lift your heads, eternal gates! Alleluia!
he hath conquered death and sin; Alleluia!
take the King of glory in! Alleluia!

Lo! the heaven its Lord receives, Alleluia!
yet he loves the earth he leaves; Alleluia!
though returning to his throne, Alleluia!
still he calls mankind his own. Alleluia!

See! he lifts his hands above; Alleluia!
See! he shows the prints of love: Alleluia!
Hark! his gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!
blessings on his Church below. Alleluia!

Still for us he intercedes, Alleluia!
his prevailing death he pleads, Alleluia!
near himself prepares our place, Alleluia!
he the first fruits of our race. Alleluia!

Lord, though parted from our sight, Alleluia!
far above the starry height, Alleluia!
grant our hearts may thither rise, Alleluia!
seeking thee above the skies. Alleluia!

There we shall with thee remain, Alleluia!
partners of thy eternal reign, Alleluia!
there thy face forever see, Alleluia!
find our heaven of heavens in thee, Alleluia!



Happy Sunday!