London a year on

A year ago today we climbed into the car, braced ourselves for the North Circular Road, waved to the two neighbours and the large group of invisible church members who stood on the pavement telling us they'd see us soon, and headed off to live in London (again).  Being the fifth time in my life I'd moved to London this did not seem likely to yield too many surprises.  It's sprung a few though.  London is a very different city to the one I first moved to in the last century.

INTERNATIONAL:  to anyone who has not been to London in a while it is almost impossible to convey the sense of being at some vast international airport where the nationality of the people you see has little or no connection to the geographical or even historical location.  London has been international since whenever, but this was previously expressed in stories (and communities) of war refugees or emigres or commonwealth recruitment.  Not any more.  All the world is here.  Whether you were to come from Somalia, Malaysia or Bolivia London will seem to belong to you as well.

GROWTH: Those years ago London seemed like a great but tired old city.  Not any more.  It is no exaggeration to say that cities are being built as part of the city.  It feels like a 21st century place.

CYCLISTS:  They are everywhere and they are the city's chief death toll.  To change this roadworks are everywhere, making safer routes for cycling (but not necessarily for pedestrians).

PUBLIC TRANSPORT:  What I remember as an eyes-to-heaven joke - the trains and buses of London - are now anything but.  It is possible to get almost anywhere anytime (for example at 3am the frequency at our local bus stop is every 6 minutes).  And of course, people arrive at bus stops when their app tells them to, rendering shelters somewhat redundant.

HOUSE PRICES:  London was never cheap but now it is simply insane, fueled by an international buying spree that simply offers silly money for almost any London freehold.  This makes normal family life and development in London impossible and makes almost every incomer a transient ("I need to find somewhere cheaper") it seems.

Some things never change and the best of them is that there is never a dull day in London.

Edward Digby

Through a good fortune of survival, now aided by the National Trust, The George Inn in Southwark  still stands.  It is unique as a surviving galleried inn of a kind once common.

For me the most attractive feature of this inn is its part in the story of a young man called Edward Digby.  There were several Edward Digbys in succession in the family, and they were a noble family in the City of London over the River Thames, peers of the realm.  Southwark, outside the City, was associated with ne'er-do-wells of many kinds.  Unsurprisingly then, on the marshes beyond, lay a large debtors prison.  In the style of the eighteenth century debtors were committed there until their debts were paid.  Being there all but guaranteed ones debts would never be paid.

An uncle of the young Digby became concerned that, at holiday seasons, he discarded his City finery and dressed in a blue coat only, disappeared.  He had him followed.  His spies saw him head past Southwark and out to the debtor's prison.  They enquired at the gate as to what Mr Digby was doing.  The gatekeepers confessed to no idea as to the blue-coated man's identity but reported that he came each Christmas and Easter and other auspicious times and paid several inmates' debts.  The gatekeepers informed the investigators that though they might well not wish to enter the prison, the man the sought would always take those he set free to The George Inn in Southwark for a celebratory meal.  And that is where they found him.  

Edward Digby died aged 27 years.  At Communion on Sunday we thought of his story as we remembered the comparable in type but incomparable in scale story of One who left the glory of the City Above to share the place of debtors below to set them free so they could eat with him and he with them.

Baptist Assembly Lite

I haven't been to Peterborough often.  For an FA Cup game years ago, and to visit the Cathedral is about it.  I've felt a little inclined to visit Kingsgate Community Church - obviously because it's an Evangelical honeypot, but also because I've appreciated Dave Smith's biblical ministry.  It's amazing what can be achieved with the Holy Spirit, the Word of God and a heart for outreach.

I gave the Baptist Assembly a miss this year.  It occupied the Peterborough building that Dave and others minister in (though it isn't big enough for them in one sitting).  Soberingly, the Baptist Movement [note our new word] fitted in at one sitting comfortably.  I've been speaking to several friends who went to find out what (apart from gender balance - we won an award, you know) I missed.

First the good news:

1. I didn't miss any preaching and certainly not any Biblical exposition.  Squeezed down from three days to one, some things just have to go.  How about the preaching of the Bible?  I wonder if any of those responsible pondered at all about the symbolism of meeting in a Bible Church that has grown exponentially and ditching the Bible?    Click here to listen to Dave Smith preaching from the Bible for 40 minutes.

2. I did miss the opening (let the Baptist Times describe it) Ed Jones invited three Regional Ministers onto the stage and asked them to place a toilet roll on their heads - and unroll it as quickly as possible. This was to emphasise that the Assembly was intergenerational.  This defies comment.

3. I didn't miss (what I have often found the most moving of things at Assembly) the individual recognition of those who have died, and those others about to be recognised in ministry and mission.  They were, instead, made part of a wall which is a nice thought provided they are also given some individual named space too.  No time for that this year of course.

4.  I didn't miss the joy of meeting lots of people I've not met in years or ever before and spending time talking with them.  No time for that this year of course.

Now the bad news:

And lastly, I really must get to the Kingsgate Community Church some time .  It's amazing what can be achieved with the Holy Spirit, the Word of God and a heart for outreach.

At the top

As Prime Minister David Cameron prepares for the new Parliament we celebrate Ascension Day.

Mr Cameron, it turns out, won a far more complete victory than even he expected.  He secured a majority.

Jesus did not.  He won an absolute victory.  He left sin and death and hell and Satan in his wake.  I'm glad I follow Jesus.

Mr Cameron has indicated that he will not last longer than the next five years (maybe that was before he knew he was going to win?).

Jesus has not.  To the contrary he has begun his heavenly session which is destined never to be diminished, though it includes another visit to earth as reigning king.  I'm glad I follow Jesus.

Mr Cameron expressed his wish to promote the unity of the United Kingdom (in th face of it politically starting to fall apart).

Jesus did too.  Except that he prayed and promised that his people would be perfectly united and for ever with him and within the fellowship with God.  And that all creation will be reconciled and brought to oneness in him too.  I'm glad I follow Jesus.

Election day

Almighty Father,

whose will is to restore all things

in your beloved Son, the King of all:

govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,

and bring the families of the nations,

divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,

to be subject to his just and gentle rule;

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Baby Power

Congratulations to the William and Kate on the birth of their baby girl.

What a reminder it is of the power of a child to bring hope.

While old politicians thrash about trying to offer hope the nation's gaze quickly turns to a baby; the baby has no history of broken promises, has no false postures for the future, says nothing yet speaks volumes.  

When the leading story of this election is the popularity of a party dedicated to breaking up the United Kingdom it is wonderful to find that a baby speaks.

It's almost as good as Christmas!