Friends:

Nomination Form for the 2008 Reverend Canon Clinton R. Jones Award

Who are the Friends of Christ Church Cathedral?

Friends of Christ Church Cathedral began as a separate organization in 1984 to stimulate interest in the liturgical, outreach, and cultural ministries of Christ Church Cathedral within the Diocese of Connecticut, the city of Hartford, and beyond. Cathedrals, in addition to being the parish church of the bishop of a diocese, have long had deep ties with the cities and areas in which they were built. In Europe, cathedrals were the center of religious, civic and cultural life of a community. A cathedral exists not merely for our own members, but for those beyond its walls. Since his arrival in 2004, Dean Pendleton has sought to reinvigorate and expand the work and reach of the Friends by more clearly focusing the organization as a way to connect individuals in the larger community to our many ministries. In addition, the Friends can now receive donations that can be designated to a particular cathedral program, such as music, the Church Street Eats feeding ministry, and the ongoing restoration work. On November 5 of this year, we will also announce the formation of the Legacy Circle of the Friends, which will provide a way to invite and recognize those who have remembered the Cathedral in their wills and estate planning. Without the generous bequests of those who worshipped in the Cathedral in generations past, we would not enjoy the range and qualities of ministries that we do today.

Becoming a Friend is one way to be a part of the Cathedral’s history, present and future without necessarily becoming a member – though many Friends are members. It may be an ideal relationship for those who are members of another Episcopal congregation in the diocese, those who work or live downtown, and/or those who have attended a musical or other cultural event in the Cathedral over the years.

Friends receive a gift upon joining, copies of the Cathedral publications, and a ticket at a discounted cost for the annual Friends dinner in November. The cost of annual membership is $25 for a senior or student, $35 for an individual and $50 for a couple.

What is the purpose of the Friends Annual Dinner?

The Annual Dinner of the Friends began in November, 2005 as a way to gather one evening each year with the Bishop and our friends to celebrate our mission and ministry. The cost of the catered dinner is funded through the purchase of tickets and by the donations of sponsoring businesses and other individuals. The evening is not subsidized by endowment income and is not funded from our annual operating budget.