I said goodbye to the folks from school as they headed to Scotland today. I, in the meantime, travelled to Cambridge. I arrived too late to catch the Christian Heritage walking tour, but walked a very, very long way around the town and outlying areas. I'm disappointed that I didn't make the trip to the Madingley American Cemetery, but it wasn't in my budget.
Cambridge was what I'd hoped England would be: old and beautiful. Last year the university celebrater 800 years (OK, technically some of the colleges are that old). That's nearly 600 years longer than there has been an America. I could feel the seriousness with which these students take their studies, it was a big contrast to London, at least the London I've experienced. In a strange way I can't explain, being here made me want to study harder.
Several of the colleges were open for tours, but I decided against paying to walk around. Instead, I snapped pictures of the massive buildings and beautiful gardens. I even found a hydranga identical to the one transplated from my Mamaw's house in Monterey, KY.
I walked just outside the city proper to meet with Sir Fred and Lady Elizabeth Catherwood this afternoon. Lady Elizabeth is D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' oldest daughter. I spent a lovely hour having a traditional English tea and listening to them recount the Lloyd-Jones' marriage. I left with the desire to be a better husband and father, having learned not only facts about history and a key preacher, but coming to know the heart of a wise man of God.
The Catherwoods drove me back in to town in time for me to go to King's College's Evensong service. Evensong is the evening service of the Anglican Church, the second part of the Church's daily ritual. Now, in a colloquium last fall, I read throught the text of an early edition of the Book of Common Prayer, the church's "script," or order of worship. I must say that the majority of the text is theologically sound and a beautiful expression of biblical Christian doctrine. The chapel was one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen. I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside, but I'm sure you can find some on the web. The men's choir sang the service and their voices were simply stunning. It was a great experience, but the fact that we were spectators, hardly participants, left me reminded that this piety, if divorced from personal study and meditation on Scripture is deficient.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI am looking for information specifically about Bethan Lloyd-Jones, because I admire D. M. Lloyd-Jones so very much and I want to dress up as Bethan, so I can share some of that at a historical costume party. What I have heard of Mrs. Lloyd-Jones is wonderful, but I don't have hardly anything on her.
I was looking for pictures of her and found your blog here--I am thinking of buying the book she wrote, or Iain Murray's book on the early years, but if you have time, I would appreciate it!
Thank you!
Elizabeth
Here is our family website in case you would rather not write in the comment section: untaintedbytheworld.com
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Elizabeth