St Nicholas Cathedral : Questionnaire

Introduction
This questionnaire is being given to everyone who engages with the life of the Cathedral. It is designed to help the Dean and Chapter review various aspects of the Cathedrals worship and ministry and to inform thinking and planning about our continuing life. You are invited to complete the questionnaire as fully as you can. Please dont worry if you feel able to complete only some parts of it; that is fine; we welcome your views, ideas and suggestions and thank you for sharing them with us. We do ask, however, that you make a suggestion or a recommendation only if, were it to be pursued, it would be something that you would support by your attendance and engagement. An A4 version of the questionnaire is available on the Welcome Desk if you would find the larger format easier to fill in. Please return the questionnaire to the Dean, Canon Hunt or Canon Harvey when you have written as much as you wish to write. We should be grateful to have responses by Sunday 8th September. Thank you. If you would like to complete the questionnaire online, it can be found on the Cathedrals website www.stnicholascathedral.co.uk. Please return your online questionnaire to Canon Harvey. His email address is: steven.harvey@stnicholascathedral.co.uk. Thank you.

1. Worship
1. What do you find most helpful in your experience of worship at the Cathedral? Please be as specific as you can.

2. What do you find least helpful in your experience of worship at the Cathedral? Please be as specific as you can.

3. Do you regard 10.00am as the best start time for the Sung Eucharist on Sundays? If not, what start time would be better for you?

4. Do you regard 6.00pm as the best start time for Evensong on Sundays? If not, what start time would be better for you?

5. Would you welcome more structured opportunities to engage with preachers about the content of their sermons? If so, how do you think this might best be done?

6. Would you find it helpful if sermons were made available on the Cathedrals website? 7. Would you welcome opportunities to engage with different styles of worship eg Taiz? Please be as specific as you can.

8. Please use this box to make any further observations or suggestions about the Cathedrals pattern of worship (eg style, content, timing, length, etc.). Please be as specific as you can.

2. Education and nurture

1. Please tick if you would welcome one or more of the following: a) Sermon series, at various points in the year, exploring particular themes. b) Bible study group. c) Study group. d) Discussion group. 2. If you were interested in a study group, which topics would be of particular interest to you (eg ethical issues, Christian belief, Church history, etc.)?

3. If you were interested in being part of a Bible study/Study/Discussion group, would you find it most helpful if the group met: a) At the Cathedral? b) At someones home? c) If b), would you be willing to host a group in your home? 4. If you were interested in being part of a Bible study/Study/Discussion group, what time of day would be most convenient for you (eg 10.30am to 12noon; 2.00pm to 3.30pm; 7.30pm to 9.00pm; etc.)?

5. Would you value occasional Quiet Days (ie days for prayer and reflection) at the Cathedral eg during Advent or Lent?

6. Please indicate in this box if you think there are other specific ways in which the Cathedral might be able to help you grow in your faith and discipleship.

3. Welcoming and caring

1. Please comment on how well you think the Cathedral does the following: a) Welcoming and caring for visitors.

b) Welcoming and caring for those who are new to the congregation.

c) Welcoming and caring for children.

d) Welcoming and caring for young people.

e) Welcoming and caring for families.

f) Welcoming and caring for older people.

g) Providing a variety of social activities throughout the year.

2. In relation to 1a) to 1g) above, please indicate if you think the Cathedral could do more. Please be as specific as you can.

4. Stewardship : Time, talents and money

Part of our Christian discipleship involves reviewing how we use our time, our talents and our money to support the worship, ministry and life of the Christian community to which we belong. 1. With a small paid staff, the Cathedral depends to a large degree on those who are willing and able to give of their time and talents in various volunteer capacities. We are immensely grateful to the many members of our community who do volunteer in so many ways. Please tick below if you would like to know more about what volunteering means in each of the following: a) Greeting and welcoming visitors (during the week). b) Greeting and welcoming people (at Sunday services). c) Serving at the Sunday Eucharist. d) Reading at the Sunday Eucharist. e) Leading the Intercessions at the Sunday Eucharist. f) Serving refreshments after the Sunday Eucharist. g) Helping with the Cathedrals ministry to our children and young people. h) Bell ringing. i) Guiding ie leading tours for visitors. j) Conserving the Cathedrals monuments and memorials. k) Embroidery. l) Cleaning. m) Flower arranging. n) Gardening.
5

o) Assisting in the Lantern Cafe. p) Stewarding at events (eg services with a large congregation, concerts, etc.). 2. It is of great importance to the ministry of the Cathedral including to our ability to give some of our income to charitable causes that we are able to rely on a regular and stable income. It is particularly helpful when people a) Gift Aid their contributions and b) belong to our Free Will Offering scheme. Please indicate here if you are not currently part of the Free Will Offering scheme, but would like to know about what the scheme involves.

3. Many churches and cathedrals have occasional stewardship campaigns to encourage people to reflect on the stewardship of their time, their talents and their financial resources. We are considering a stewardship campaign at the Cathedral. Please indicate here if you would like to be involved with such a campaign.

5. Looking outwards
1. Please comment on how well you feel the Cathedral engages with contemporary issues (locally, regionally, nationally and internationally).

2. Please comment on how well you feel the Cathedral responds to those in need in the locality.

3. Please comment on how well you feel the Cathedral publicizes what goes on here worship, music, learning opportunities, cafe, etc. and makes people feel invited and welcome.

4. In relation to 1, 2 and 3 above, please indicate if you think the Cathedral could do more. Please be as specific as you can.

Please use the blank page overleaf if there is more you would like to write. If you are willing to do so, it would be helpful if you would record your name and contact details below. Thank you. Name: Address:

Tel: Email:

Would you be happy for us to contact you by email?

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.