CAPTION: The Rt. Rev'd Dr Mike Harrison, Bishop of Exeter, said he was glad to be back on the ground after abseiling 140ft off Exeter Cathedral
Bishop of Exeter Takes Leap of Faith for Exeter Cathedral Abseil
Bishop Mike Harrison, the Bishop of Exeter, said he was relieved to be back on ‘terra firma’ after abseiling 140ft off the North Tower of Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 9 May to raise funds for the Cathedral ‘Investing in our Welcome’ project.
He said “When you step out at the top, over the turret, all you can see is that it’s a long way down and you are not sure if the ropes are going to be all right. You’re told to push off, which instinctively you don’t want to do, so that’s probably the moment my heart rate was at its highest.
Bishop Mike abseling as seen from the Cathedral North Tower
“I would have crossed myself but I thought the instructor might have thought I was trying to interfere with the mechanics [of the harness] so I decided against it. I’m very glad to have done it. I have a feeling if I did it again I would be able to do it better.
“At one point I was dangling around, facing the gathered throng on the ground, which was on one level encouraging and the other slightly intimidating. Seeing Devon from the roof of the Cathedral you can see it is such a beautiful place to be and such a beautiful place to serve.”
Bishop Mike was one of a number of people taking part in the charity abseil. The morning began with a kit check and safety briefing before they climbed to the top of the tower before descending one-by-one.
The Investing in Our Welcome project is raising funds for the next phase of the Cathedral’s Cloister buildings project, which includes plans for a new permanent café and improved activity spaces.
Bishop Mike said some moments were tricky
Jill Taylor, Director of Development at Exeter Cathedral, said: “Funds raised from the abseil will directly support the development of the Cathedral’s Grade 1 listed Medieval Hall.
“Not only does this part of the project aim to transform the space into a warm, accessible community hub for learning and engagement activities, it also seeks to make the building more sustainable – through underfloor heating aided by an air source heat pump – and to conserve the remarkable original features, such as the wooden beam roof.
“We have ambitious plans to improve the Hall and the Cathedral Cloister over the next five years, and so we look forward to hearing people’s ideas on what activities they would like us to offer in our future, new and improved spaces.”
Bishop Mike said “The Cathedral is an iconic building right in the centre of Devon. It’s a sign of the Christian faith, but it’s also a centre of hospitality for so many different groups. It’s really important that the fabric is taking care of… it’s a thousand years’ old, so it’s really important that we raise money to keep it going.”
Donations can be made via the official JustGiving page.
