An 'Outstanding Evening of Inspiration and Humour'
A report on the latest Conversational Evensong at St Nicks
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Those of us who were lucky enough to attend the Conversational Evensong at St Nicholas Church on Sunday 21 st February had the privilege of hearing a deeply Christian and inspirational Dominican Friar.
Fr. Timothy Radcliffe is an outstanding Roman Catholic Priest and prolific author. His book “What is the Point of being a Christian?” won the Michael Ramsay prize for religious writing in 2007. He gave us a talk which was simple and easily understood, but of great depth. He is a former Master of the Order of Preachers and his theme in all that he said concerned the pursuit of truth. Fr. Tim is based at the Blackfriars Community in Oxford from where he goes out to work and support Missions to Syria, Iraq and many other places. Social justice has always been at the base of what he believes and he is a member of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace.
He told us of how he became a priest and was greatly influenced by his great uncle who always insisted that religion should be about joy and freedom. Fr. Tim, as his favourite item, showed us a small chalice given to him by his great uncle, with the names of all the battles in WW1 when he had attended soldiers suffering on the battlefields. However, Fr. Tim said that he himself had been a “bad boy” at school when he was found smoking and reading “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”. “I was nearly thrown out!” he said.Fr. Tim talked about what he considered was a good Lent. He insisted that one needed to be light-hearted rather than weighed down over all the serious situations in the world. It was a time to shed books, habits and too much drink! One should experience the joy of being a Pilgrim. Jesus, he said, was someone who believed in overcoming problems. This is something, Fr. Tim felt, could be helped by finding beauty in so many areas of life particularly music. His choice of Bach’s Double Concerto for Violins he thought would bring tears to the eyes of most people. We should, he said, take more joy from music and also from paintings, films and nature.
He talked about the need to be with those who mourned. You don’t need to say anything, but just be with those suffering distress. He also spoke about the need for equality in difference and, in answer to a question from the audience about the different religions, he replied that we should delight in difference. There is a danger of too much control in life and within the ChurchThis was an evening few of us will forget. We all felt that we were in the presence of a deeply Godly man, but also a man of great humour, compassion and common sense. He must have touched the hearts of all of us in many different ways.
I am sure I am endorsing the views of many when I say how grateful we are to Fr. Andrew Downes, the Curate at St Nicholas, for arranging so many inspiring and fascinating talks. He has given us all something very special for many months. I feel certain that the Parishioners of the Church in Sunbury. where he will shortly become Vicar, will find that he brings the same inspiration to them.
Simon Rodway
February 22, 2016
