The Pop-up Café will be open five days a week – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays – from 11am to 2pm - with occasional specials available; made-to-order sandwiches and paninis; and cream teas. Ali and Andy Bowerman were the co-founders of Vicars Café Bistro in Saltaire, and will be bringing back favourites from this time including their delicious home-made soup and their famous carrot cake! The Pop-up Café will be run by Ali Bowerman and a team of Cathedral volunteers. There will also be a very special offer for those visiting on Wednesday 2nd August, with a free tea or coffee with every cake purchased. In-keeping with the Cathedral’s commitments, locally-sourced produce will be used, and the tea and coffee will be Fairtrade, as will many of the ingredients used in the product range. Details of the menu can be found by visiting the Bradford Cathedral website, with more information – including the specials – revealed on the Cathedral’s social media. The Very Revd Andy Bowerman, Dean of Bradford, says:“It’s been an exciting few weeks planning the Pop-up Café and we’re delighted that the opening date is almost upon us. “Already we’ve had visitors this week asking about when we’re starting so we hope this will be a welcome addition for those visiting Bradford Cathedral, with something to eat and drink the perfect way to wrap up a visit to this beautiful space. “We’d like to invite you to the Cathedral this Summer break to discover more about our history, find some time for prayer and reflection, and to explore our amazing windows and monuments. And then you can round it off with a slice of our delicious home-made cakes.” “Our team of staff and volunteers are looking forward to showcasing our famous Bradford hospitality this August. We hope to see you soon!” The Bradford Cathedral Pop-up Café is open from Wednesday 2nd August until Saturday 2nd September every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11am – 2pm. You can find out more – including a menu and any changes to the standard opening times – at bradfordcathedral.org.uk/cafe.
Talks on the Brontë family; astronomer and mathematician Abraham Sharp; and a special Christmas gathering will help round off this year’s programme of Monday Fellowship talks. The monthly Monday Fellowship takes place in the Bradford Cathedral de Lacy Centre on the second Monday of each month, and features a varied programme of interesting speakers and social events. The monthly talk is also followed by refreshments and social time. As we enter the second half of the year, we look forward to the following programmed talks and events: Monday August 14th: Summer Fellowship: Cream Tea at the Deanery Monday September 11th: Maggie Myers: Abraham Sharp (1653-1742) – Bradford’s world-renowned astronomer and mathematician, whose memorial is in Bradford Cathedral Monday October 9th: Mary White: A Brontë Love Story Monday November 13th: Subject TBC Monday December 11th: Christmas Fellowship: Carols, stories, poems, food and fellowship at Christmas So far this year there have been talks on fostering; leading musical worship at the Lambeth Conference; birds; and holy disorders, with the most recent talks being on Bradford’s Nobel Prize winner Sir Edward Appleton, delivered by Diane Excell, and the Revd Canon Ned Lunn talking about his involvement with arts and faith. Maggie Myers, who is Director of Education and Visitors at Bradford Cathedral, says:“Everybody is most welcome to our monthly Monday Fellowship, whether you wish to be a regular participant or just join the meetings from time to time or as a one-off, when the subject interests you.” Monday Fellowship takes place on the second Monday of every month at 2pm in the de Lacy Centre, Bradford Cathedral. To find out more please visit bradfordcathedral.org.uk/monday-fellowship, e-mail info@bradfordcathedral.org, or call the office on 01274 77 77 20 (9am – 2:45pm).
You’ve started as Curate at Bradford Cathedral, for at least the next three years. Briefly, what is the role of the Curate?The full title is “assistant Curate” which gives a clue as to the role – which is to help out the rest of the clergy team. A curate is also a trainee or apprentice vicar and learns by working alongside more experienced clergy.Could you introduce yourself, tell us about your hobbies, and your journey so far in the church?I’m married to Kerry and have three children. Edmund graduated from Durham University last year and is now continuing his studies having worked at St Nick’s church over the past 12 months. Isla is currently studying art at Edinburgh University where she is specialising in sculpture. Emily, who you will get to meet, was born in June.I’ve been a lawyer for many years and part of the work I used to do was to advise charities and social enterprises. I was able to combine this with some of my interests – including food and music – by advising, supporting and acting as trustee or director of a number of organisations. I love cooking – particularly middle Eastern food.You will be involved in the services at Bradford Cathedral. What do you hope to bring to these?That’s quite a difficult one! I hope I can bring my enthusiasms and experience to bear and to help being a small part of what the Cathedral is seeking to become within the life of Bradford.What areas are you most looking forward to in your role?I’m looking forward to learning from the rest of the team – clergy and non-clergy alike and to being a part of the Cathedral’s celebration of Bradford 2025. But most of all I look forward to meeting and getting to know those in and on the margins of the community here at the Cathedral.Duncan MilwainAs part of the role you will preach some sermons. For you, what makes a good sermon?A good sermon should be invitational and not feel like a lecture. It should make people think and make them curious about how they are or might take part in the identification with and development of the Kin-dom of God in Bradford. I also think it is quality not quantity that matters – I’d much rather a short(er) sermon that makes an impact.What do you hope to take away from your time at Bradford Cathedral?I hope to understand better how, within a particular place and context, a church can discern how best to be among and to be with the people around it.What are your plans for the future following your curacy?I’m gradually learning to listen more to God and to plan less myself – so I’m trying to resist too much by way of planning. That said, I do very much hope to be able to continue ministry in the Bradford area.Duncan Milwain undertakes the Bradford Cathedral tradition, and contributes to the Stitching projectIn 2020 you recorded a video for us about transforming food waste. Is that something you’re still involved in?Whilst I’m not currently doing anything directly involving food waste I do see this as part of my ministry. Two of the Five Marks of Mission that the Anglican Communion adopted are to protect the integrity of God’s creation and to respond to human need. I think it is important that the twin issues of wasting one-third of that which God has provided and the injustice of people – both near and far – going hungry in a world where there is sufficient – continue to be raised and tackled.Finally, what message would you give to our congregation as you start at the Cathedral?Please don’t hesitate to come and chat with me or invite me to come and have a coffee or tea with you. I’d love to find out more about the particular people who form the Cathedral congregation. And please do be kind if I forget your names.
