Amsterdam

We spent time with one of the managers at The Shelter in Amsterdam. This is Corneah who is responsible not just for the day to day operations but also for all evangelism of guests - some 38-40 thousand per year. He was very generous with his time and we were thankful for the time we spent with him.

Amsterdam

We have arrived in beautiful Amsterdam.

Yesterday we spent the day in the hands of a tour guide who took us in and about everywhere.

We spent quite a bit of time looking at the work of 'the Shelter' - they have an accommodation ministry extraordinarily similar to our work at Golden Grove. Only they are for backpackers.

I spent time with the manager there trading ideas and hearing of what they do. Their scale is much larger - they had almost 40 thousand people through their doors last year.

We also saw their partner ministrys: a health centre with doctors and nurses, drop-in for the homeless, and ministry to the city prostitutes amongst many things. Really quite amazing.

The city still had a number of vibrant churches - but Amsterdam is far from the city that was at the centre of Christianity for so many centuries. The city's main church has a Marilyn Monroe exhibition celebrating her 90th birthday and only holds church services when there is a special occasion (so small did the regular congregation get).

Amsterdam is an incredible city... The most beautiful streets I have ever seen sitting beside the the very opposite. Very thankful to have come here though and the privilege meeting some wonderful people.

Ghent

We did a flying visit through Ghent.

A most incredible city that is similar to Brugges but a little less touristy.

We saw a castles and a church that I loved St Baafs. The chocolate waffles were OK as well.

Westminster

I took the opportunity to visit the Houses of Lords and Commons to hear debate on welfare and aid. I would love to show you what I saw but photos were not allowed... They took my camera off me.

Westminster is an incredible building. I saw Archbishop Justin Welby in the House of Lords-he spoke on the topic of welfare.

The London Tube meets the Bible

For those into maps and the Bible.

Cathedral friends

We had a wonderful dinner with former Cathedral members and neighbours of ours at Newtown Micky and Ellie. They are now at St Helen's Bishopsgate.

At dinner was a friend from Sydney, Gav, who was in my year at Moore College and now works for Cornhill and St Thomas North Sydney.

We enjoyed catching them up on the Cathedral. Ellie cooked the nicest meal we've had while traveling. It was a great night. It reminded us how much we valued their friendship when they were in Sydney. It's always the way that you notice something once you've lost it.

Micky explained the excellent Bible reading programme they have at St Helen's... called Read, Mark and Learn.

Kings College Cambridge

A lovely night at Evensong at Kings College Cambridge. Truth told, the taking of this photo may have been against the rules. If you wanted, you could do the rounds moving from College chapel to chapel hearing Evensong. Although I think some no longer exclusively sing BCP Evensong which is sad.

It is amazing that many of these Colleges still sing the words of the Bible every day and people line up to hear them sing.

As a huge Book of Common Prayer fan, it was lovely to attend. Also reminded me how good our choir at St Andrew's is... Ross and the choir sound great on Monday and Thursday evenings in the Cathedral.

Cambridge and the Christian Heritage Tour

If you ever find yourself visiting Cambridge, Sandra and I strongly encourage you to enrol in the Christian heritage tour out of The Round Church. Outstanding!

You get access to the best colleges, a wonderful tour, expert knowledge... And the tour deals with the history of the Reformation (amongst many other things) in a thoughtful and even-handed way.

Christian Heritage is in relationship with St Andrew the Great Church and is a very worthwhile ministry. we both left strengthened in our faith being reminded Christianity's very significant role in the history of the academy in serious thought. I commend it to you.

I hope Sandra and I were able to encourage our guide Martin as he did to us.

England and an uncomfortable Christian heritage?f

Christianity is everywhere in England. Art. History. Monuments.

Yet there is an uncomfortable relationship now. With Christian history in churches of all places, they are almost apologetic.

Two pictures.

The first was a very large flashing neon sign in a window of any exclusive men's store on Saville Row. Perhaps a Christian owner?

The second picture is an orchestra practising carols in a church... Yet every peiece of literature in the church advertised spiritually that was not Christian. Courses on Buddhism. Sermons on Tibetan spirituality etc. This was repeated at so many churches.

Non Christians to England must be so confused. Christians disheartened... Yet take heart. Daniel 4:35.

Holy Trinity Brompton

Sandra and I enjoyed a day at Holy Trinity Brompton. Dear friends of ours have connections at this church and we were glad to take up their invitation.

In the evening they had an amazing Carols Service (actually they held four all ticketed with overflow) with over a thousand in attendance at each.

We heard the Bible read (probably the best I've ever heard it read aloud), sung uplifting carols, and heard a very clear Gospel talk by the minister Nicky Gumbel whom we meet after the Service. At the end of the service he invited everyone to Alpha -their investigating Christianity course... They average 800 pet term.

A big thank you to the many staff who chatted with us through the day - especially Mark R.

St Helen's Bishopsgate

Sunday church again at St Helen's.

Sermon on 2 Timothy 4.

We will miss the fellowship there. We saw a number of friends and others who had visited St Andrew's at various points.

Golden Grove Gap Year Reunion

We were so excited to spend a day with four of our past gap year team... We were missing Barney who was six hours away in Durham.

Jack travelled from Oxford, Jonty from Bath, Harry from Swansea and Sarah from Southampton.

It was such a lovely time with lots of memories. They had lots of questions about the Cathedral and Golden Grove. They are all going really well - as is Barney.

The highlight of the trip thus far.

Temple Church

Earlier in the year, St Andrew's hosted the wonderful choir from the Temple Church London (some of you may remember their visit). Our family hosted the Master of the Temple (thanks Ross Cobb), Robin Griffith-Jones who slept at our home. He was great company in Australia and we were excited to visit him and his church.

One of the oldest churches in England, situated on Fleet Street, this was the centre for the Knights Templar... It is an amazing place of history with the graves of knights and those involved in the writing Magna Carta.

It is now the centre of the legal profession in London with the cities Barristers Chambers surrounding the church. It's an intimating place - the cars in the carpark where amazing.

The church is famous for its round nave which the knights modelled on the holy sepulchre church they saw in Jerusalem. After returning from the Crusades they copied the design.

We spent a lovely afternoon with Robin... He took us to a cafe in the precinct where we sat amongst the leading Barristers and Judges of London.. There we had our first tea and scones in England this trip. We also had a good discussion on the state of the Church of England and its future. I valued getting a different perspective from a friend who shares our faith.

Greatham Old Church

This little church sits beside the manor at L'Abri. It is Greatham Old Church from 1280. For one who has a love of church buildings it was a spectacular bonus to be given a tour by Peter who is involved in its preservation and continued historical research.

Inside the existing structure is a small nave with a communion rail from at the latest the fifteenth century and a white alabaster statue above a sarcophagus from a similar time.

Incredibly in the grave yard is a Templar knight's grave... You can see it in the first photo: the stone set/lying in the ground. It has a long sword running down its length.

The church is no longer used except for an annual carols service (scheduled for next week regrettably) where the community pack into the grounds and drink mulled wine. Across from the church still exists the village green, although the centre of town has since moved a kilometre further down the road and the new church (still positively ancient by Australian standards).

Jim Paul

This is Jim Paul who heads up L'Abri England. A most impressive man. He is a former doctor who has trained at Cornhill and Proclamation Trust before moving to serve at L'abri.

He was very generous with his time meeting with Sandra and I to talk. His humility very much struck us and we felt we could have spent so much more time with him. His lovely wife was the first person we met upon arriving.

I was very impressed with his honesty when speaking about the strengths and weaknesses of his ministry. His work has so manys similarities to the work of Golden Grove... Not the least his responsibility for an old building with a seemingly endless need of maintenance.

While there we sat in on two separate discussions he led on Copernicus and Matthew chapter 5.

You can see from the second photo the timetable for Monday... Prayer, work, study, rest, tea, music and food. What's not to like?

Accommodation is not five star (truth be told it's closer to the other end of the spectrum) and the food is simple (lots of legumes - I must admit I loved every dish)... But L'Abri makes it up and more with the community, learning and opportunity to take time out.

Very thankful to God for the opportunity to spend time at this wonderful place.

Cathedral friends - Peter and Dawn

Another reason for us looking forward to visiting L'Abri was to see Peter and Dawn who attended the Cathedral with us.

They have now been on staff at L'Abri for four years - seems as though they were with us at St Andrew's only yesterday. Their children have really grown... their oldest fondly remembers Kathedral Kids (and her teacher - still teaching each Sunday morning).

Peter and Dawn seem perfectly suited to their work. They have a wonderful home filled with books and period furniture that creates an atmosphere of comfort and learning. They (seem to) have an open door policy for students who come through constantly. Lots of conversation, prayer and board games.

It was lovely reminiscing about their time at St Andrew's Cathedral. It was Dawn who made sure we were able to visit L'Abri - when we first enquired two weeks ago, they had no room... It's who you know.

Sitting in their living room with these two lovely people was a highlight so far for us. They shared with us their work and what L'Abri hopes to do. They don't think L'Abri is perfect but they see first hand the tremendous work it is able to do in the lives of people searching.

Please pray for Peter and Dawn in their work. Also pray for their children and the incredible experiences they have living in such a dynamic community.

L'Abri

L'Abri
We have just travelled to the south of England to spend time at L'Abri. We're having an incredible time and are so thankful to those who encouraged us to visit this gorgeous place.

Described to us (by another attender) as being in equal parts a third seminary, monastery and rehab; it is a place of prayer where you are encouraged to engage with Scripture in every part of life.

This place of retreat is set in a most spectacular location. But it is still much more than an old manor house. It is filled with beautiful people seriously spending time looking at the Bible while praying, taking time out, studying, engaging with thoughts and ideas, working (physical chores each day) and encouraging one another.

There's lots here to remind me of Golden Grove, the Wednesday Healing Service and the Cathedral.

Thanks to Claire and in particular Tonn (whom I work with) who strongly encouraged Sandra and I visit. We're so very thankful being here.

Sunday Church

Sunday Church.
We were certainly missing our own church family on Sunday (Advent Sunday - we missed a Bach Cantata at St Andrew's). But we were greatly encouraged by visiting St Helen's Bishopsgate. It was fantastic.

The Rev Nigel Styles preached on Isaiah 40 where God speaks "comfort" to his people. It was of great encouragement to us. I suggest you read the passage yourself. His preaching was very clear-he worked hard on the congregation seeing the enormity of God. We also enjoyed the times of fellowship before and after the Service.

We got to say hello to friends Dick Lucas (former Rector at St Helen's) and Brian O'Donohue (church administrator) both of whom have spent time with me on previous trips. Dick encouraged us to sit by him through the service but it was above a heating vent... with jet-lag we were nearly asleep as soon as we sat down so we moved to a cooler spot.

St Helen's has a great community and made us feel very welcome. We were again thankful that as a Christian you can be on the other side of the world and yet feel like you're at home.

Arrived

We've made it.
After a long but somewhat relaxing flight (what's not to enjoy?), we landed not long ago and are riding the Tube into church as I type this. We're very excited to be here safely.  The weather is cold (although we were watched by so many before leaving, it's still a real shock after leaving Sydney's heat). But it was great to hear "mind the gap please" on the Tube.
We are staying not far from Borough Markets in the home of another Minister, a location I've stayed at before.

Dear friends,
Sandra and I are planning on keeping this page up to date with details of our trip so that you may follow us and hopefully be encouraged.
Chris and Sandra