Rector's blog

Waking up this morning in Amman I see a different kind of light.  Our hotel overlooks a main road into the centre of the city, so the noise of the rush hour is familiar.  The buildings opposite are typical of a modern city – a Marriott Hotel, tower blocks, and each house has a satellite dish and air con. unit on its roof.  But the light is different – it’s a dusty chalky white.  It has the feel of becoming a brilliant day – but not the sort we have in a good summer in England; and it feels different from the clear piercing light of a South African day.  I am not sure yet how to describe it, nor what will be revealed – but perhaps the dustiness is a token of Jordan being still a desert country.  However much Amman is displaying itself as a modern city, it is still only a short distance from being in the desert.

Our journey was safe and uneventful.  The awkward moment came after we had collected our luggage at Amman airport.  To ease our way through passport control, we had all handed our passports in to the McCabe representative who had met us there.  We were fast-tracked through to the luggage carousel, picked up our bags – and then nothing.  The rep had disappeared.  And we suddenly looked at one another wondering – was he really from McCabe?  Perhaps he has gone off with 26 English passports.  Eventually we found him, after a slightly nervous phone call from me.

Pilgrimages require trust – trust in the people you are travelling with, and trust in the people you will meet.  There is trust, also, that you will see things in a different light.  As we boarded the bus in Guildford to take us to Heathrow, I encouraged the travellers to have in mind that we will return as different people – touched by new experiences, shaped by good friendships, able to see things differently.

Friends at home are very much in our minds.  So this blog comes with our greetings and thanks for your prayers.

Each year for a couple of days before the October half term I have attended an In-Service training conference with the staff of Holy Trinity School at The Haven Hotel in Poole. It is located in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. From my bedroom window you can see the Isle of Wight and the old Harry Rocks. It is magically beautiful both at sunset and sunrise. Part of the conference is always held out on the sand dunes. It is a tough life but someone has to do it!

As I drive down here I often wonder why I am doing this (apart from the pleasure) when my diary is so busy – is this really a good use of my time? But each year I experience the same thing: spending quality time at a leisurely pace with others strengthens friendships and helps you understand each other so much better. During the last Ofsted Inspection I was often asked in my role as Chairman of the Governors “How do you know?”… The answer is because I have spent time with the Holy Trinity staff and I know them well individually and as a group so I can help guide the school to make good decisions because I know what it is like to walk in their shoes.

I will be thinking of you as I walk along the beach tomorrow morning at 7.00am before my cooked breakfast. Please think of me working very hard.

Sharron and Don have said, yet gain, how much they are enjoying and appreciating all that is happening during this visit. Strong friendships are being formed, which – even if we are separated by thousands of miles – will continue to encourage us in all that we have to face in the years ahead.

After a full day in London myself, I managed to catch up with Sharron and Don at suppertime. They had had a really splendid day out, first visiting Guildford Cathedral, then Windsor. This day therefore included the third Royal Palace that they have seen: Buckingham Palace, Hampton Court and now Windsor Castle. They experienced there what any visitor can: beauty, safety, sanctuary, a living tradition and a rich heritage. It’s the combination of these that is awesome: a thousand years of duty, service, prayer, leadership and ceremony. Of course, England and its monarchs have had it dark moments, and there have been many rascals on our throne. But there is a quality about the British understanding of royalty that – without romanticising it is very important, and consonant with our spiritual tradition.

‘Sacred Kingship’ is the phrase scholars use – practised in the Old Testament period, introduced into England from the 9^th Century, and re-formed (occasionally, being purified of  more grandiose ideas) again and again throughout the following centuries. A sacred monarchy includes (at least) public recognition of the charisma of the leader, a profound sense of duty, and self-confidence in those ruled so that they do not see themselves as dominated by the monarch – rather (and this is key) somehow we are more ourselves, we are a better nation, because we have a monarch on the throne. It’s a high ideal but one worth maintaining and celebrating.

Two highlights from Thursday:

The Mayor of Guildford received Dumane, Cebo, Stella and Vinet (with Sharron and Don) at the Guildhall for tea. Terence Patrick, the Mayor, did a superb job, greeting them kindly, welcoming them and putting them at their ease. He told them a bit about the history of the town and Guildhall. But what was very exciting for the children was being allowed to hold the various treasures.  The Mayor showed them the original mayoral chain, made out of solid gold and about 400 years old.  Even more exciting was being shown the javelin that the steward who processed in front of the Mayor used to carry to protect him.  Also they loved hearing about the Mace – now used in ceremonies, but originally it was a weapon.  This was history coming alive – and all done with a great smile.  The tea and cakes were pretty special too!

Then they are visited the Girl Choristers for choir practice.  The children from South Africa will be singing on Sunday morning.  It was so heart-warming to see our girls learn the piece from our visitors so quickly, picking up on the actions too.

The common language of kindness and music is recognisable across many boundaries.

The Common Language of Football

I arrived at the Palles-Clark’s house last night for supper with our South African guests to find four very happy children. They were out in the garden playing football with the children from the parish. All differences of culture and language are set aside when you can do something enjoyable together. That’s the common language of football.

Also that evening the children were icing cakes to take into school: lots of pink icing with chocolate sprinkles on top! Everyone was enjoying that too: the common language of food! Stella, one of our guests, is spending today at Guildford High School with Grace Palles-Clark – and it’s Stella’s birthday. So the cakes were needed to honour the tradition that, on your birthday, you bring in something to celebrate with the whole class (and not just your friends). That is a lovely tradition that mixes up expectations of giving and receiving. The birthday girl is the giver of cakes (not the receiver); the class mates receive a gift on someone else’s birthday – yet thereby they become gives of friendship and thanks. Throughout our preparations for this visit, I have been aware that we are both constantly giving and receiving. Our visitors from South Africa are blessing us with their presence – they do us honour by visiting, and we will learn from them. As well as that, we as hosts are giving hospitality and kindness.

This mix is what we also experience – the Eucharist. We receive blessing – yet we do have to provide the gifts of bread and wine that are required. If we only give and never see ourselves as recipients, we may become patronising and embittered. It is truly blessed to give and receive – together, at the same time.

I look forward to Stella’s birthday tea party today.

More news tomorrow….