A Night in Oxford

I like Oxford. It's a mini-city. With a population of 150, 000 residents, massively swollen in term time by a large number of students, it's really only the size of a large town. However, it has a university and a cathedral, either of which used to confer qualifying status for a city. And Oxford has both.

Along side Cambridge, Oxford has an international reputation as a place of higher learning and those two universities can pick the cream of the crop in terms of intellectual talent. Thus, the student population is extremely international in character. Which makes Oxford much more than an ordinary town, or even small city. It's a fascinating place. Very old buildings, some almost a 1,000 years old may delude you into thinking it is staid and old-fashioned, but Oxford is a hive of technical and scientific innovation, learning, thinking, a hotbed of debate and very cosmopolitan in feel. We go to church in Oxford on Sunday evenings, as well as our local church in the mornings. It gives Jamie and I more of what we crave in a church: ideas, intensity, visiting preachers of international renown and excellence.

But last night, we were in Oxford for another reason. We had been invited to Christchurch Cathedral to be present at the ordination of a friend. He was being made Deacon, the first stage in becoming an Anglican Minister. It will be another year before the next part of the process, during which he will be working as a curate, or assistant minister. Tim already has a full time job, so his vocation to the ministry will be as a part-time, non-stipendiary (unpaid), minister. What a wonderful commitment!

The cathedral was gorgeous, the choir fantastic, the acoustics GREAT, the bishop and archbishop, John Sentamu, impressive, and the wording to the ancient rites moving and powerful. The moment came, the laying on of hands, Bishop to Ordinand, and Tim was given his Bible and told to preach the Gospel faithfully. I know he will.

Afterwards, we stood out here on the lawn, chatting with old friends from our time in Chesham. What a privilege to witness this. Even the kids were semi-impressed, though they were complaining of their stomachs growling and looking forward to eating chips (fries) as we walked through the darkening city towards our bus-stop.

Yes, that's what out evenings out in Oxford consist of. A combination of Ancient Liturgy and Fast Food.

We like it that way.