A Message from the Dean, The Very Rev. Stephen Williams

A Message from The Very Rev. Stephen Williams, Dean of St Peters Anglican Cathedral, Armidale

Welcome to St. Peter’s Garden Tour. My thanks to all who have made it possible: the members of our hard working committee, the generous people who have opened their gardens as well as those who have brought flowers and decorated the cathedral. We are in your debt.

In what presented as a witty account of a recent dinner in honour of Robbie Burns, the writer noted that one of Burns’ descendants began the evening with a grace penned by the poet himself. “Mercifully short”, was the whispered comment by one of the guests before hogging into the smoked salmon and Hebridean crab.

But why should we be short on our thanks? The gardens before us, like the salmon and crab, are gifts of grace. Why should we begrudge giving thanks for them? Not to do so belittles the giver and robs us of our pleasure in the gift. It betokens a meanness of spirit. On the other hand, giving thanks completes our pleasure for it is the response appropriate to the gift.

That is why the Bible exhorts us to give thanks. It is a book that rings with praise, not least for the creation itself. The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us (Psalm 67:6). To give thanks to the Creator for the beauty we see in these gardens is not only right – a debt to be paid - it is a blessing.

I wish you a very enjoyable tour of the Cathedral and gardens.

Stephen Williams