First Nativity at Liverpool Catholic Cathedral Dec 1967

[ALAMO2008]

My Wife apparently played Mary in the very First Nativity that took place in the Catholic Cathedral the year of Consecration.
Presumably there were photos taken.
Anyone any ideas of Catholic Magazines or Newspapers that may have some photos ?

[emeltom]

Have you considered contacting the Cathedral direct. The site is at

www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk

and gives contact details.

Emeltom

[Joney]

I think your best bet is 'The Catholic Pictorial'. Apparently the Archdiocesan archives have copies over decades, including the year you are looking for. Good luck.

[ALAMO2008]

Have you considered contacting the Cathedral direct. The site is at

www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk

and gives contact details.

Emeltom

Great Idea,  never thought of the most logical,
Tried your suggestion and was very surprised and disappointed at the answer from the Cathedral Archivist :-

Thank you for your email, which has been passed on to me.

I’m afraid I can’t find any photographic record of this event.

The Cathedral has a good collection of files of newscuttings, but they don’t include anything on the Nativity in 1967.  Most of these, of course, were cuttings from local and national publications, so the absence of the Nativity may not be surprising.  More surprising is its absence from the pages of the Catholic Pictorial, which was the main publicity organ of the Archdiocese of Liverpool, published weekly at that time.  We have copies of this publication from its start in 1962.  Its December 1967 issues include quite a few photos of Nativities at various churches up and down the archdiocese (with a few dangling over into January 1968);  none of these, however, illustrates the Cathedral’s Nativity.  Presumably they couldn’t feature every church’s service.

I am sorry to disappoint you but wish you and your wife a very merry Christmas

[emeltom]

What a shame - still it was worth a try. Now, at least, you know the Cathedral has nothing re the nativity.

Emeltom

[ALAMO2008]

Found it hard to accept that such a first event was not recorded, indirectly quizzed my wife she stated she was about 15 and played Joseph not Mary. As my Wife was born July 1955 that would make the First Nativity Dec 1970 and not the logical year of Consecration Dec 1967.
Replied to the Archivist with this new info
His reply stated that was why there was no evidence or Record of the Nativity in 1967 since there obviously was no Nativity.
He checked 1970, no joy, only a Carol Service by another school.
Then my Wife's younger Sister stated she was 10 at the time which made it Dec 1969 for the First Nativity in the Cathedral.
Arranging to call in there to view The Catholic Pictorial for that year.

[Blue70]

I had a similar problem dating an event at St George's Hall in the 1950s. The Liverpool Echo were great they found the article/photo but it was a different year than we thought.


Blue

[heywood]

Your story made me smile -our memories are often almost right 

Was the Nativity play organised by the Cathedral or presented there by her school or organisation? If the building was used as the venue, then there may not be official photographs.

[ALAMO2008]

I think it was a school event St Martins