We joined the Parish in 1970 when we came from Johannesburg to teach at St Andrews School. During those early years, Dean Aidan Cross was Rector and the old Deanery was situated where the present Hall is today. The original hall was across the road. A new deanery was built at its present site before the Hall was constructed in its place.
It was during this time that the new Liturgy was being experimented with and many wanted to stay with the old South African Prayer Book. It was also the period when the Charismatic Movement was challenging us to a new spirituality. I can remember Missions to the Cathedral, one especially by Revd Michael Nuttall, father of our Lay Minister, Rick. There were broadcast services and the Dean commissioned plays to be performed in the Cathedral, usually at Christmas, such as ‘The Coming of the Kings’. The Wille family ran a Christian Book Stall in the Hall on Sundays, and Shrove Tuesday was a popular event with Pan Cakes at the start of Lent. During those years Ann Louise was active in the Mothers Union and in the Creche. Bazaars took place regularly as they do today. Fr Rob Butterworth was often the Convenor.
In the early 1980s, after a Mission by the Warden and Students of St Paul’s Theological College, I felt called into full-time ministry as a priest, and by the end of 1982 I resigned from St Michael School, where I had been Deputy Head since 1975, and we moved down to Grahamstown for two years. Ann Louise did not find this easy, as she had to leave behind so much of her interests, friends and her position at the bank. The children were also dislodged for two years while I studied at Theological College.
Towards the end of 1984 I was made a Deacon and in 1985, we returned to Bloemfontein and stayed in Clergy House No.2 on the Cathedral campus, and while completing my Diploma in Theology, I was ordained priest in September, and serving my title under Dean Aidan Cross. It was during this time that the Revd John and Joan Davis were living at the Randjie (now the Diocesan Centre). He was the Archdeacon and my brother-in-Law was a wonderful mentor as I was setting out on my ministry. Incidentally, my parents lived with them here on the Cathedral campus and my mother died while staying there in 1987.
During this time I was Choir master, and Marietha Krige was the organist. The old Hill organ was situated where the steps now lead up into the tower. Those days we used to sing Evensong every Sunday night with a faithful choir, mainly of women. During Dean Paddy’s time the new Tower was built, and a play was produced in the hall written by Fr Klaus Kuhne, in which Ann Louise took a lead together with Fr Rob Butterworth, among others. Musicals were presented by the Sunday School, including one, ‘Psalty’, where our son Geoffrey played the lead on the first occasion and a few years later, produced it again.
In 1987 I was appointed Chaplain at St Michaels School. We still remained parishioners of the Cathedral and in the early 1990s I was asked by Dean Paddy Glover to take over the Choir with Dr Nicol as organist. I remember a T20 Cricket match being played then. There were RSCM (Royal School of Church Music) Festivals each year when sometimes Choir Directors came out from overseas. At one stage there was a regular Three Cities Choir Festival when the choirs of each of the cities of Kimberley, Welkom and Bloemfontein would meet every alternate year in their respective city.
After Paddy became Suffragan and then Bishop and during the Deanship of Fr Michael Bands, the new Allen digital organ replaced the old Hill organ with its attractive pipes. Fr Michael Everitt from Blackburn served here during those years.
After my retirement as Chaplain, having also served as Acting Headmaster of St Michael’s, I became more active once again at the Cathedral and joined the Staff, while developing a Ministry to Seniors in the Parish, and at Old Age Homes. My jobs varied as the years went by, first as the Editor of the Magazine that had become defunct, before passing it on to Fr Andre Hattingh when he arrived. I was also invited to get a choir going again. We managed to enhance the worship by singing the Psalm at each Sung Eucharist.
During that period Fr Simon Aiken arrived as Sub-Dean and as a musician was eventually given the task of Precentor while I concentrated on my Seniors Ministry. Back at the Cathedral Ann Louise became a Reader which she had been in those earlier years. She also assisted in the Soup Kitchen, and making tea after services. We were always active when there was an International Evening and assisted regularly at the White Elephant Stall at Bazaar time. When the Revd Hilary Murphy was with us for two years I was involved in running the Alpha Course with her.
In those years I took responsibility as Convenor of the Annual Bazaar. This I did for three years until being asked by Council to take on the job of Acting Dean of the Cathedral when Fr Don Narraway retired in 2012. I had already served on Council for the past two years and now as Acting Dean my primary task was to improve the finances and to try and marshal the Cathedral Leadership to spread the load of responsibility in the Parish working together with Fathers Albert, Lazarus and Andre.
In 2013 I saw the new Bishop, + Dintoe, enthroned and his Dean, the Very Revd Fr Lazarus Mohapi, installed at the Cathedral. My job as Acting Dean was over and I concentrated once again on visiting the aged in their private homes and in the Homes for the Retired.
It is time to retire finally to Johannesburg to a Retirement Village, close to all our children and their families who live there. So ends 43 years of wonderful association with this beloved Cathedral and its parishioners. Thank you for your love and encouragement and your farewell gift. We will miss you all. Goodbye and God bless you.
Fr David and Ann Louise Tanton.