Cantilupe Institute

Visitors to the working library

The Cantilupe Institute, under the direction of the Dean and Chapter, is led by an executive group representing various aspects of the cathedral's life, in consultation with a wider advisory group including members from the diocese, the LEA, and others as specific projects arise. It has a two-fold remit:

1) To provide an on-going programme of courses offering opportunities to explore Christian experience in various forms: spiritual, pastoral, ethical, political, biblical, historical, artistic, commercial and industrial, etc. These are at all levels from the introductory to the scholarly, and of varying lengths and at different times of day, to try to make them accessible to all people, including those with disabilities.

2) To provide a hub into which other work can be slotted to enable partnerships and co-operative working for specific issues.

Cathedrals have a long-standing reputation for being centres of excellence in education, involving a pursuit of God's truth, a wonder for God's mystery and an honesty in approaching our own difficult questions. The rootedness of a cathedral in ancient tradition and worship means we can be powerful in openness of engagement with the issues of contemporary society, and in support and encouragement of the wider church to meet positively and hopefully the challenges of living and proclaiming the Gospel today.

All this requires funding. We desperately need a dedicated centre with proper facilities. However, we have started small and hope to grow, by God’s grace, by successfully meeting a need both to explore and to grow in discipleship.