As a child, holidays were always spent looking around cathedrals and ancient churches; these trips were never met with great excitement and within ten minutes of being in the building I would either be moaning or testing the acoustics. These visits were more of a history lesson than a spiritual experience. However, on a recent trip to Chichester I took time out to visit the cathedral and was pleasantly surprised by my reaction to it. I no longer felt that I wanted to be somewhere else; but that this was a place I could call home. I found great comfort in the fact there have been generations of believers that have loved, laughed, wept and sort comfort within the ancient walls. This historic background reminds me that I am part of something much bigger and although in the grand scheme of life my contribution is small, it is also vital as part of the team work which spans many centuries.
Cathedrals have long been places of refuge (and of course, worship!!) but maybe we should also see them as ‘spiritual hubs’, a place where we can draw refreshment and energy from. The spirituality and worship of previous worshippers going back a thousand years can be felt in the air as though the walls have held and recorded their connections with God. Time there can be spent reflecting and praying, and a short visit to the cathedral can be as effective as a short retreat.
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