I’ve been thinking all week about the collect which we shared last Sunday in worship at Ripon Cathedral:
“O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: grant to us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.”
We cannot always stand upright. We need to move towards God when we are wobbling. Maybe to avoid falling, we need a sacred space to deliberately and intentionally seek God as a priority.
The first Sunday of a sabbatical is a funny one. Where shall I go to church? Shall I bother? The bed was very comfortable as I rolled over at 9.50am! I’m glad I got out of it as it was good to worship in our cathedral. I’ve underused it due to the pandemic. It’s a gift on our doorstep. The service was celebrating the Queen’s accession and the preacher, a retired Bishop, living in the Diocese, reminded us in seven minutes about the nature of a servant. The Queen had signed a letter to her subjects on the eve of the 70th anniversary of her accession, “your servant.”
The Dean asked how many gathered knew where they were on 6 February 1952. I think about 80% put their hand up! There were some families there as there was a small junior church. Were there any visitors present? It was difficult to tell.
On Sunday afternoon, we went up the A1 to Durham to join in 3.30pm Choral Evensong at the Cathedral. I always feel a huge sense of awe when I go into Durham Cathedral. It has to be for me the most sacred indoor space in the country. It’s been a place of sanctuary for centuries. On Friday 19 January 2007 I went and sat in the nave. After a very bruising experience I had almost decided to leave Circuit ministry. I remember where I sat. I found peace. Fifteen years later I’m still here - just!
The service on Sunday afternoon was another celebration of the accession. I never knew there was a service for the accession of the monarch in the Book of Common Prayer. The Bishop of Durham in his sermon reminded us of the Queen’s faith which has been a comfort and strength to her especially in trouble. I’ve always said the best Christmas sermon you will hear is delivered at 3pm on Christmas Day.
We madly went to a third service last Sunday. Lis went to university in Durham and attended St.Nic’s Church in the Market Square. She had not been in the church for 36 years. I wasn’t sure about going to the service as it was informal worship and sometimes I’ve struggled with conservative evangelical worship done badly with almost theological bullying from the worship leader and a Jesus presented who is sugary sweet and a message that if we are struggling it’s our fault…
There was none of that on Sunday night. The service was gently pastoral and there was a good exposition of 1 Corinthians 2. I only knew one of the songs, but all of them were led by ably by a pianist and a singer so I could enter into them without knowing them.
What impressed me most in this sacred space was it was full of teenagers and those in their twenties, presumably mostly university students. They were all there because they wanted to be and were clearly cared for by the church. There was going to be gathering in the pub after the service for those who wanted it. Mid way through the service a homeless man came into the porch. He was quietly helped by the church warden and the vicar. Various agencies in the city were contacted to get him a bed for the night.
What I learnt from being at St. Nic’s was when a church takes its context seriously it can be alive, and that you really need to enter every sacred space with your heart and your mind open. God will surprise us. I had been convinced I would hate this service! I would like to return…
Monday afternoon saw us take a trip over to Jervaulx Abbey. Jervaulx was once a Cistercian community. It is now a collection of ruins. I didn’t find any atmosphere or sacredness walking round it. I’m sure others might find it helpful. It was wet and miserable. I guess I learnt on Monday, some sacred spaces will speak to you and others won’t, like churches even if you journey expectantly. What a contrast from the night before!
I was back at Fountains Abbey on Wednesday afternoon doing chaplaincy duty. I find my two hour slots really helpful to clear my head. I also enjoy talking to people as I walk round the site. This week I was led to the words of the Desiderata: “Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.” To get away from noise even for a few hours or even minutes every week is essential for a healthy spiritual life.
I spent a lot of my time this week in the Abbey itself. Like at Jervaulx, there would have been an intentional moving towards God by a faithful and prayerful community disciplined to seek God regularly. I wonder whether we’ve lost this in our church life now. Maybe before we do anything in meetings we need to intentionally ask what God is doing or saying. Like I wrote last week about trying to find my spark again, maybe we’ve lost our spark in our churches… maybe we need to seek God in new ways. We are struggling to stand upright. Discuss!
Thursday was an interesting day. We stopped at the church in West Tanfield and the Marmion Tower next to it. I’ve driven past both a lot but have never stopped. The Marmion Tower was built by the Marmion family and was the gatehouse to a long gone Manor House.
The steps were a bit of a challenge!
The church had an awful lot of tombs in it. John and Elizabeth Marmion have pride of place. They lie under a bier, a portable frame with candles on it placed over a cloth over the deceased prior to burial. It’s the only one in the country. There was also a lot in the church about praying for the souls of the dead and purgatory. There were several chantries in the village at one time. I did think the church was more of a museum than a sacred space but perhaps that’s unfair. I did wonder what sort of congregation there is today.
After our Tanfield stop, we ventured into Wensleydale and found some very interesting narrow roads to tackle in the middle of nowhere. We found Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in the country. We didn’t go in as it looked busy which was a shame. Clearly it’s a space that draws people to it. Some people were snowed in for days the other month and enjoyed it! We made do with a spicy sausage in batter from a chippy in Catterick village - a big mistake!
Our final trip this second week of sabbatical exploration was on a very sunny Friday to Whitby and to Whitby Abbey. In 657, Hilda became the founding abbess of the Abbey at the age of 43. She remained there until her death 23 years later. She formed, as she did in Hartlepool (which we will visit another week) a double monastery, with men and women living separately but worshipping together in church.
The church historian Bede tells us of life at Whitby. All property and goods were held in common. Christian virtues were exercised especially peace and charity. Everyone had to study the Bible and do good works. He describes Hilda as a woman of great energy who was a skilled administrator and teacher. She gained such a reputation for wisdom that kings and princes sought her advice. But she also cared for ordinary people. Bede further says “All who knew her called her mother because of her outstanding devotion and grace.”
Finding the sacred in life isn’t just about place it is also about those who led us to the sacred. Saints like Hilda are used by God to lead a wobbling humanity back into his protecting care and love. Like Durham Cathedral, I found Whitby Abbey on Friday to be a symbol of the sacred being there as an antidote to the dangers and frailty of life. Hilda knew the need of God in 657. We need to know our need of God in a largely godless world in 2022. What made the people walking round the Abbey on Friday make the journey? Were they tourists or were some of them pilgrims? It was very powerful to be the last two people there as the site was about to close at 4pm. Fabulous!
So what have I learnt from this second week?
That we need to intentionally enter sacred space to be whole and healthy as people.
That we need to be prepared to have our ideas what might happen challenged.
That maybe God has moved on from some places that were important and now aren’t.
That we need to have familiar spaces that fill us with awe and set us right after being in them again.
And that we need to thank God for the saintly people in his story who draw us back and save us when we are struggling to stand upright.
We don’t use the collect for Sunday enough in our tradition. The one for this past week has really helped me think and focus. I wonder what the one for tomorrow might say… as the old wayside pulpit outside a church once said “if you are feeling far away from God, guess who moved?”
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