Gladstone's Library

William Gladstone (1809-1898) was arguably one of Britain's greatest statesmen. A parliamentarian for sixty-three years and four times prime minister, few politicians have achieved as many lasting reforms as Gladstone. He was a pragmatic political leader with an incessant concern with history, literature, the classical world and theological disputes.

Gladstone was a voracious reader having devoured more than 20,000 books. In 1889, he established a library to create 'a congenial society for the pursuit of divine learning'. He sought to bring together scholars from all disciplines for solid and serious work for the benefit of mankind. A truly unique residential library in operation today, one can drop in, stay a night or several months, lingering amongst Gladstones' collection. It is located just three hours from Newbold College at St Deiniols in Hawarden, North Wales.

Gladstone believed that where there is truth, there is God. Oh, may we also become miners for truth and discoverers of the Divine.

Dinner at Windsor Castle

Last evening the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting at Vicars' Hall, Windsor Castle. While the evening's conversation focused on pursuit of business opportunities in India, my attention turned more toward having dinner at THE Castle.

There was so much to absorb - such as the motto of the English Order of the Garter posted on the wall. It read, "Honi soit qui mal y pense" which translated means "Let he who thinks ill there be shamed." This statement supposedly originated when King Edward III was dancing with Joan of Kent. Her garter slipped down to her ankle, causing those around her to snicker at her humiliation. In an act of chivalry Edward placed the garter around his own leg, saying "Honi soit qui mal y pense" and the phrase later became the motto of the Order.

The Vicars' Hall itself is simply stunning. It was constructed in 1415 as part of the lodgings and common dining room for the vicars and other junior members of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Evidently, in the 1550s, after the Reformation, the building was turned into schoolmasters' lodgings and then, in the late 17th-century, into a library, a lecture room and concert hall.

The warmth of the fireplace, the grand piano, the historic paintings, the remarkable architecture, the endless shelves displaying an eclectic range of book titles and the most scrumptious dinner (goat cheese and watercress salad, vegetarian Wellington, root vegetable mash, green beans, pecan & chestnut pie, creme anglaise, and peach compote) must surely make residents of Windsor Castle feel like royalty. It surely had that affect on me having been granted the privilege of one evening in such environs.

Thanks, Your Majesty, for having shared such elegance with this humble American cousin.

Annual Civic Service

This past Sunday, dignitaries from the Bracknell Forest Borough gathered for the Annual Civic Service, led by Mayor Ian Leake and Mayoress Enid Leake. The affair was held at the Binfield All Saints Church in the Parish of Binfield, in the Royal Country of Berkshire.

Reverend Duncan Leake based his address on readings taken from Daniel 1 and Romans 13.The Vicar shows how Daniel faces the challenge of living as a stranger and an alien in Babylon. In some cases he cooperates and seeks to bring blessing to the Babylonians by serving them faithfully. In other cases, he refuses to compromise his faith. In many ways our own situation is like that of Daniel, concludes Leake, calling upon government officials and citizens alike to pursue justice, dispense mercy and walk humbly before God.

This moving ceremony concluded with our singing, 'I Vow to Thee My Country'. The words of this great English hymn were written in 1918 by Cecil Spring-Rice with music added three years later by Gustav Holst. This hymn was composed after World War I, the first verse referring to England, the second to Heaven. This piece of music was made famous when Princess Diana requested it for her wedding and it was sung at her funeral. In national polls 'I Vow to Thee My Country' placed among the contenders to replace 'God Save the Queen'.

Just consider these stirring words accompanied by most majestic music -

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above;
entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love.
The love that asks no question, the love that stand the test,
that lays upon the alter the dearest and the best,
the love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
the love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

And there's another country, I've heard of long ago;
most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know.
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King.
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering.
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase
and her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.

All I can contribute to this is to say, Amen.

Battle of Hastings 1066

King Edward III of England died on 05 January 1066 after a reign of 23 years. Leaving no heirs, Edward's passing ignited a three-way rivalry for the crown. The political intrigue culminated in the 14 October 1066 Battle of Hastings.

The history of this battle is amazingly recorded on the Bayeux Tapestry while the event is fully staged each year by English Heritage at the Battle Abbey. (You can view the event by going to YouTube and typing in 'Battle of Hastings - English Heritage'.)

Although one knows the outcome - the Normans win, Harold is killed, William becomes king - still this on-site, re-enacted battle makes one more acutely aware of the true costs extracted when we allow anger, jealousy or thirst for power to govern our lives. May God forgive what we politely term 'man's inhumanity to man' and deliver on his promise to remove our hearts of stone and give us, instead, a tender heart like his.

Free Houses

During my time in England, I've not driven through a village that doesn't have at least one pub. Perhaps that is why the writings of Samuel Pepys describe the pub as the heart of England.

Regrettably, today the number of pubs is in rapid decline, perhaps due to competition from chain restaurants and hotels (the landowner's wife having offered cooked meals, nights lodgings and simple entertainment such as chess games, skittles, billiards and darts in addition to functioning as a bar). Another explanation for the closing of pubs might be that modern society is finding its identity more with continental coffee shops springing up throughout the land. A third explanation offered by pub owners for having left the business was the April 2006 ban on smoking in all enclosed public places in England.

The ambiance that this part of British history provides would be sorely missed should pubs give way to international shops - one such feature being their decorative signs. It was in 1393 that King Richard II required pubs to erect signs outside their premises. The legislation stated 'Whosoever shall brew ale in the town with intention of selling it must hang out a sign, otherwise, he shall forfeit his ale.' This was in order to make pubs easily visible to passing inspectors, borough ale tasters, who would decide the quality of the ale they provided. William Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare was one such inspector. Another reason for the decorative signs was that during the Middle Ages a large percentage of the population was illiterate and so pictures on a sign were useful as a means of identifying a public house. Later, pub names (such as the Lakeside Pub, the Nutshell, the Olde Fighting Cocks)were derived from the illustration on the public house's sign.

Formerly, pubs were controlled by breweries and so the publican (manager of the pub, employee of the brewery) was restricted in the variety of brews on tap - known as a 'tied house'. But some entrepreneurs ventured out on their own - selling alcohol produced by competing breweries. These establishments became known as 'free houses'.

Perhaps the best representation of pubs is carried by the theme song from that 1980s American television programme, Cheers. 'Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got; Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came....'

My heartfelt wish is that you have such a place in your life - a place where you are known and where they are glad you came.

Traffic Calmers

Imagine creating a perfectly passable road - with proper asphalt, curbs and lighting, then placing obstacles purposefully along the way. My British driving instruction manual refers to these impediments as 'traffic calmers' - intended to slow the speed of vehicles, to deter those who would drive with too heavy a foot through a neighbourhood or other speed-sensitive area.

All too often we speed through life, unaware of the special gifts that present -dramatic autumn colours, the true flavours of lunch, instantaneously accessing information via the internet, hearing friendly voices from across the pond. What I periodically require in my day is a 'traffic calmer' - something that encourages me to do more than speed throughout life. I discovered 'traffic calmers' in everyday problems that require me to pause; in the prose written by an ancient king, 'Be still and know that I am God.' Psalm 46.10.

Strange as it may sound, rather than cursing 'traffic calmers', I have come to give thanks.

Secret Places of Significance in England

Recently, I was invited to lunch with the local Rotary Club. We met at a local pub, the Old Manor, in the town centre of Bracknell. In this private dining room, beside the chimney, was what one member pointed out to be a 'Priest hole', yet another feature from English history, unfamiliar to me.

'Priest hole' is the term given to hiding places for priests during the period when Catholics were persecuted by law in England, from the beginning of Queen Elizabeth I reign in 1558. This Act prohibited a member of the Roman Catholic Church from celebrating the rites of his faith on pain of forfeiture of property and position for the first offence, a year's imprisonment for the second offence and imprisonment for life for the third offence. Records reveal one priest being hanged, in December 1591, for having said Mass.

Search parties would bring with them skilled carpenters and masons, trying every possible measure and sounding to physically tearing down panelling and pulling up floors. It was common for a rigorous search to last two weeks.

The construction of many priest holes are attributed to a Jesuit lay brother, Nicholas Owen, who devoted the greater part of his life to protecting persecuted priests. He sometimes built priest holes as an offshoot from a chimney or incorporated into water closets. Owen would never disclose these places to another. He alone was both the architect and the builder. No one knows how many he made. Some may still be undiscovered.

You can learn more about these secret places of significance in the History of Roman Catholicism in England.

Let's hear it for the Nicholas Owens of this world - those with courage to stand against popular opinion.