Chapel & Chaplaincy

Dedicated in 1704 (and replacing a smaller 16th century building) the Chapel exists for all members of the College and their guests as a place of worship and prayer. Whatever your denomination or faith, or if you have no particular religious convictions but simply wish to find an indoor space for peaceful reflection and thinking, you are welcome to use the Chapel which is open throughout the day.

Extensively refurbished in the summer of 2009, the Chapel is in frequent use with regular recitation of the Offices, the celebration of Holy Communion and more informal, contemporary and reflective acts of worship. There are opportunities for students to be involved in worship-leading, reading, offering intercessions, stewarding, hospitality and outreach.

St Catharine's boasts a fine musical tradition and the rites of the Church of England are enriched by the excellent contribution of our Choir and Organ Scholars. September 2008 saw the foundation of our junior Girls' Choir, and the introduction of the specially devised and popular evening service of light, 'Luminaria'.

The Chapel's three-manual organ, recently refurbished by Flentrop Orgelbouw, is one of the finest instruments in Cambridge today. The Chapel is a popular venue for recitals and other performances.

The Acting Chaplain (from 1st January 2013) is the Rev'd Margaret Widdess.

Margaret Widdess read classics at Bedford College, University of London, and more recently completed a dissertation on the Latin version of chapters from the Wisdom of Solomon, for which she was awarded an MA by the Archbishop’s Examination in Theology. She has worked in classics education and examining, and since ordination she has been non-stipendiary Assistant Curate/Associate Priest at St Botolph’s Parish Church, also assisting for a year in Caius Chapel as Dean’s Vicar. In joining St Catharine’s for a while, she is crossing the road but staying within the parish of St Botolph’s. She is also Secretary of the Parochial Burial Grounds Management Committee, which manages Mill Road Cemetery on behalf of the city-centre parishes with plots in the Cemetery. She is married to Richard Widdess, Professor of Musicology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and they have two grown-up sons. Her other main interests are music and photography.

From Michaelmas 2013 the Chaplain will be the Rev'd David Neaum.

The Master, Professor Dame Jean Thomas, and the Fellows of St Catharine's College Cambridge are pleased to announce the appointment of the Reverend David Neaum as the new Chaplain of St Catharine's College. He will take up his post at the beginning of the Michaelmas Term 2013, when he will also become a Fellow of the College.

David Neaum was ordained in 2007 after training at Westcott House in Cambridge. He has subsequently served in parishes in Cambridge, Dorset and most recently at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin in Oxford. He was an undergraduate at Trinity College, Melbourne, Australia, and is currently completing his doctorate at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

Speaking about his new position David said "I am delighted to be coming to St Catharine's to serve as Chaplain where I look forward to contributing fully to the life of the College and to supporting the emotional, mental and spiritual well-being of all its members."

Professor Thomas said “ We look forward to welcoming David to St Catharine’s where I’m sure he will quickly settle in and contribute to the life of the College.”

Image by Greg Dickens

Chapel Diary

Click the link below to view the Chapel Diary. Please e-mail the Chaplain if you would like to book rehearsal time or to arrange for another event in the Chapel.

https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=stcatharinescollege%40googlemail.com&ctz=Europe/London

Last modified 14th March 2013