The days after Christmas in the noviciate are a time of holiday. The novices for the first time since the noviciate has started can leave for a few days to visit family or friends. The two Dutch novices Michael and Thomas took the opportunity to visit the nice town of Ely, not far from Cambridge with its stunning medieval cathedral. The building has its origins in 672AD when St Etheldreda built an Abbey Church. It was granted the status of a cathedral in 1109.

Brothers Thomas and Michael had a warm welcome from the Very Revd. Mark Bonney, the Dean, who showed them the Lady’s Chapel. Br. Thomas, who is responsible for the beautiful Christmas decorations in the chapel of the priory at Blackfriars Cambridge was amazed and impressed by the overwhelming decorations in the cathedral.