It Is Not Just The Houses

Yesterday I attended a conference for those who work in community ministry projects in the inner city parts of London. Titled 'A Passion for the City,' the conference took place at the church of Basil Jellicoe (BFr 1912), S Mary's Somers Town. The work and example of Fr Jellicoe was very often adduced by all the participants as we considered how we work in the inner city today.

Jellicoe insisted the new flats in Somers Town should have community spaces where neighbours could meet and talk, and public art. These coloumns are for clothes lines. These principls inform puplic housing design to this day. 

There are many themes. Internally, the focus on the inner city and its needs which was so much part of the life of the church in the 1980s in the wake of the Faith in the City report, has somewhat waned. The Bishop of Stepney reflected on the reasons for this and what we should be doing about it.

Fr Caster and the tour of the S Pancras Housing Association blocks materminded by Jellicoe

One of the fruits of that report was the Church Urban Fund, which is 25 this year, moving to renew its grant making capability and continuing to work to provide start up funding for innumerable community projects run from and by our churches. Tim Bissett, Cheif Executive of CUF was there.

The Diocese of London, whose churches are growing in attendance and in number has over 700 community projects running in our 400 parishes. Jellicoe recognised the pressing urgent need to do something about the physical condition of his parishioners who lived in some of the worst slums of the day. But he would say 'it is not just the houses.' The physical needs were only a part of the needs of the whole person and Jellicoe was at least if not more concerned with souls. The Bishop of London preached at the Mass in the middle of the day, celebrated where Fr Jellicoe himself  brought the physical and spiritual needs of his people together in the simple meal in which body and soul are fed.

The Magdalene Club at S Mary's, home of a drop-in lunch club replaing a provision which has been cut by the local authority. Fr Jellicoe's portrait looks on

Over lunch there were walking tours in which Fr John Caster, Fr Jellicoe's successor as priest in charge of S Mary's showed us the results of the work of slum clearance by his predecessor.

Today government is taking the church seriously as a partner, but the 'Big Society' is, no more than any other political system, entirely without challenge for the church or subject to questions from us. Jellicoe looked to the building of the New Jerusalem, and that is not, ultimately, a Kingdom of this world, though it requires us to work to make this world a better reflection of the Kingdom of God. A panel in the afternoon helped us to reflect on the Government's agenda and our response to it. Chaired by Fran Beckett OBE, it featured Paul Goodman of Conservative Home, Francis Davis fellow of Blackfriars in Oxford, The Rev'd Dr James Walters , chaplain of the LSE, and the Bishop of Stepney.

Man of the Match

What a splendid surprise to be given an envelope yesterday with a note from Nick Courtney (M 1960). Robin Bishop (Staff 1985 -) (General Secretary) passed it, still sealed and with the contents a mystery, to John Palmer (E 1962) (Chairman of the Trustees) with the instruction to shake my hand and offer congratulations. John did so, both he and I mystified. When I opened the envelope there was a note and a medal, announcing that the Haileybury Veterans' Rifle Club have made me Man of the Match for the shooting at Bisley in July.

Thank you Nick - I am not sure I have ever been Man of the Match for anything before, and I am honoured and chuffed. Everyone else shot straighter than I did, but it was great fun to be included. Thanks also to Humphrey Nye (Staff 1961 - 1994) who guided me to Bisley and showed me round.

There are some pictures of the day here, and in the Haileybury Society News 2011, my copy of which arrived today.

Thanksgiving for Rodney

There was a fine Haileybury turn out for the Thanksgiving service for Rodney Galpin (M 1945, President OHS 1987-88) this afternoon. Past Presidents Michael Freegard (BF1947), John Palmer (E 1962)  and Donald McLeod (A 1950) were there, as was Edward Walker-Arnott (B 1952). Jean Ross, Chairman of the Education Committee of Council (and Donald's wife), was also present, as were the General Secretary, Robin Bishop (Staff 1985 - ) and the Assistant General Sceretary, Roger Woodburn (Staff 1978 -). The Rev'd Chris Briggs, (Chaplain 2000-), was with us, together with Paul Wilkinson, the Bursar, Debbie Wright his deputy, and Pauline Cassidy from the Haileybury Society Office. (I hope I have not missed anyone.)

S Peter's Church Knowle 

Edward Walker Arnott and John Palmer both wore the 'town' OH tie which was Rodney's choice. He never, apparently, wore the bright magenta or the Hearts and Wings ties.

It was a fine thanksgiving and the church, of which Rodney had been both churchwarden and treasurer in his time, was packed. The balcony where many of us ended up gave a good view, but while the seats were beautifully designed to kneel to pray, they were a bit cramped for sitting.

Our prayers for Syliva and the family and for all those who mourn Rodney.

Haileybury was mentioned as just one of a great number of Rodney's interests and commitments, but on the back of the service paper were printed the words from The Pilgrim's Progress which are round the dome in Hall:

"My sword I give to him who shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles, who will now be my rewarder." So he passed over, and the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.

Best Shooting Ever?

Mr Massey worked at Haileybury for a couple of years on a scheme from the University of Virginia. He was a House Tutor in Highfield so I knew him a bit. Rooting around on the web I found this video. He is very good at basketball!

(For older OHs this is all going on in the Sports Hall on the end of XX Acre)




For those who feel this is a rugby term (correct) here is a clip of a Junior House rugby final on Terrace. It says 'unfinished,' which it is - the annoying music goes on for some time after all the Rugby has finished. I should turn the sound off if I were you!

We Know The Answer, But What Was The Question?

Yesterday at match tea after the Saturday games there was quite a Hailey reunion. Peter Ansell (Ha 1976) was there with his sister and nephew who is at Merchat Taylors and who had been playing in the matches against Haileybury. Also there was Peter's father, John, (Ha 1945). We showed the chaps from Merchant Taylors that, yes, you can speak into the corners of the Hall and be heard by someone standing in the diagonally opposite niche, and reminisced about the New Guv's test.

Pete remembered a question about the obelisk. Something about 'where will you find a needle?' Neither of us could remember what the question was, but were sure the answer was the Boer War memorial. Can anyone remember the question?