Thanksgiving Day for Spurgeon's College

5th September
Like many others, (especially those taking part,) I’m preparing for this event (17th September). Our time at Spurgeon’s was for Sarah and I, probably one the happiest times in our lives. (Many Students over the years have said the same.)

We had the privilege of being one of the last full time residential year groups with an amazing Principal and lecturers, and office, caretaking and housekeeping and catering staff, and the deep friendships we forged have lasted a lifetime. It was a time of intellectual exploration and growth, (though I didn’t really start thinking properly until I came up against a mad fundamentalist in one of our churches. So mad, he ended up on a BBC Panorama episode!)

When I’ve retired I may write a book entitled “Nutters I have met.” There have been a few in the wilder shores of evangelicalism!

There have also have been so many more wonderful people who inhabit the middle ground of Christianity whose faith has made them more humane, grounded and compassionate.

But Spurgeon’s gave me the foundation to start a lifetime’s journey of going deeper into Biblical Studies, (my love affair with scripture’s complexities and at its best in the words of Jesus, masterly simplicity, continues to deepen and grow together with my understanding of tradition, liturgy, sacrimental Ministry and theology.

I’ve travelled a long way on my personal discipleship and spiritual journey, many of the things I thought were the answer to the problems of the Church, I now realise have their problematic and shadow side.

Many of the things, I thought were the problems, I now value and practice. But none of this journey would have been possible without the foundation laid at Spurgeon’s College.

So as we gather to give thanks, but also to lament and simply be together at this momentous time; I pray for the presence of the Spirit of Jesus whose presence sustains every part of the holy, catholic and apostolic Church to be with us.