Canon Adrian DaffernNov 5, 20202 minThe Endless PoetryIt’s widely acknowledged amongst fans of the TV comedy Blackadder that the 4th series, Blackadder Goes Forth, was the most brilliant. My...
Canon Adrian DaffernOct 22, 20203 minGood CompanionsI have been thinking a great deal this week about former Vicars of Great St Mary's. Two reasons: first, on Monday one came to preach;...
Canon Adrian DaffernOct 15, 20202 minWhat the hell is wrong with me?As Shirley and David will confirm (having been the latest of our lot to undergo the process) while ordination confers holy orders, it...
Canon Adrian DaffernOct 8, 20202 minSweet ReasonablenessMatthew Arnold could not be described as an orthodox Christian, or even, possibly, a Christian at all – but he was a significant...
Canon Adrian DaffernOct 1, 20202 minCathedral ThinkingAll are Called It was great to be in Ely Cathedral on Sunday afternoon for David's deaconing. You don't need me to tell you what an...
Canon Adrian DaffernSep 23, 20202 minAll Are CalledThe ordinations this weekend of Shirley Holder (to the priesthood) and David Bagnall (to the diaconate) are occasions of great rejoicing...
Canon Adrian DaffernSep 17, 20203 minSpeaking Truth to PowerI spoke to two members of parliament last week. One, unsurprisingly, was our very own MP, Daniel Zeichner. Daniel, not for the first...
Canon Adrian DaffernSep 10, 20202 minHope without OptimismI am proud to be involved with Centre 33. Centre 33 is an amazing organization that supports young carers in this city, and throughout...
Canon Adrian DaffernAug 18, 20202 minA testing anniversarySome of you will know that this week sees our wedding anniversary, and I am so very touched that so many of you have sent us messages and...
Canon Adrian DaffernAug 13, 20202 minSacred ShadeToday - August 13th – the Church of England remembers someone you may well not have heard of: Jeremy Taylor. Taylor (1613-67) was born in...
Great St Mary's Ministry TeamJul 30, 20202 minThe Long & Winding RoadCanon Adrian is on his annual leave; this week's reflection is from Revd Devin: Today the church remembers William Wilberforce...
Great St Mary's Ministry TeamJul 23, 20203 minMasqueradeCanon Adrian is on his annual leave; this week's reflection is from Revd Devin: By tomorrow, masks will be required for customers in...
Canon Adrian DaffernJul 15, 20203 minSummertime…While I was shaving this morning, Gershwin's 'Summertime' came on on Radio 3, in the classic recording by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis...
Canon Adrian DaffernJul 9, 20202 minHome is where the heart isI began my pastoral letter earlier this week with a Bible verse that often makes me cry (oh, not crying again, I hear you, er, cry) -...
Great St Mary's Ministry TeamJul 8, 20205 minMinistry with Children and Families: Carolynn reflectsCarolynn Pritchard, Great St Mary’s Children’s Minister reflects on a momentous year… I sit down to write at the end of the Children’s...
Canon Adrian DaffernJul 7, 20205 minPastoral letter:The Re-opening of Great Saint Mary's for Public WorshipDear Friends in Christ: 'I was glad when they said unto me: we will go into the House of the Lord' (Psalm 122) Last week it was announced...
Canon Adrian DaffernJul 2, 20202 minWorth the WaitI was expecting to be in Ely Cathedral this coming Saturday afternoon, sharing with the Bishop in the laying-on of hands as Shirley...
Canon Adrian DaffernJun 25, 20202 minWhat's your background?'Adrian comes from a very humble background - born to a working-class family in Wolverhampton, Adrian attended state schools before...
Canon Adrian DaffernJun 18, 20202 minDivine DiscontentI am delighted that Great St Mary's is part of this year's Cambridge University Festival of Wellbeing. As with all such events (illegal...
Canon Adrian DaffernJun 11, 20203 minDiscomfort, Anger, Tears - and FoolishnessDiscomfort, Anger, Tears - and Foolishness: may these be God's gifts to me, and to you, right now. God knows we need them.
