I moved to Newman House last week, and I haven’t had a chance to post since then. It’s great to be here after all the anticipation of the summer. Things are pretty quiet, in the sense that most of the students have not arrived for the new academic year yet. There is a handful of medics (those who have begun their clinical training start at the beginning of September), departing students from last year, and summer guests. The rush of the new year begins properly in about two weeks.
It’s a fascinating part of London to live in. Euston and Regents Park to the north; Bloomsbury, the British Museum and all the university colleges to the east; the hubbub of Covent Garden, Soho and the West End directly to the south; and the high energy of Tottenham Court Road (and the restaurants of Charlotte Street) to the west. I’m having great fun exploring the local streets, working out where to get my hair cut, where to post a letter, which cafe is good for reading or meeting or surfing the net.
And above all, I’m beginning to get my head and heart round what it means to be involved in university chaplaincy. I’ll report back in a few months…
The local landmark is the BT Tower. Not a pretty building, but one that seems to hold its place in the affections of Londoners, if for no other reason than that in its Dalek-like way it has always been there (i.e. been there for most of our lives). You can see the top of the tower from my bedroom window. (The photo is from the street round the corner). Now I get a thrill whenever I see it from some distant part of London and think ‘that’s my home!’
Bridges and Tangents 
My daughter will be one of those new students to descend on London in the next few weeks. I pray that she will ‘touch base’ with the local chaplaincy team.
She will be very welcome. I hope she settles into London life and finds a home for her faith.
It’s good to hear that you have moved Father Stephen. I hope your move went well and without ant hitches. It seems you’re enjoying finding your way around your new home. Enjoy! :)
I’ll be interested to hear how things go with the Chaplaincy teams I didn’t go to University as a teenager so never experienced the life of a student in the conventional sense.
I was a postgraduate student in London over 40 years ago and got to know the chaplaincy well. Fr Stephen, you’re following some well known predecessors (including Bruce Kent) who have had a major impact on countless young lives. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you in your new role, helping you to tend to your young flock with wisdom and drawing others to seek Jesus.
Thanks for the prayers Roger – much appreciated. Yes, there is a wonderful history here – we are coming up to the 50th Anniversary of Newman House in 2016.
Read your post this eve, then read some of Chesterton’s Orthodoxy ready for up and coming church spiritual reading book group and this line made me think of you …’The moment his mere reason moves, it moves in the old circular rut; he will go round and round his logical circle, just as a man in a third-class carriage on the Inner Circle will go round and round the Inner Circle unless he performs the voluntary, vigorous, and mystical act of getting out at Gower Street.’ :0)))
It’s nice to know that Gower Street has such a significant place in Chestertonian thinking!
Absolutely, and may it be (on occasions) voluntarily vigorous and mystical! Tee Hee x
Father, great post! It’s filled me with awe and a reminiscing spirit – I miss London very much! New Zealand is a great place to call ‘home’, but London will always have a special place in my heart! Say hi to the Pure in Heart gang for me!
God bless,
Cheryl and Cameron
You have moved?!?! I thought you were in Scotland still. That’s great news. Pure in Heart have moved to Kenginston Square, but I’m sure some of the students are still involved. Best wishes.
Lovely blog Fr. Stephen. I’m actually as staff member at Warwick Uni but I really value our university chaplaincy. During term time I can go to weekday masses and in the quiet vacation times, it’s a place of peace that I can go and find calm amidst a bus working day. I feel blessed to have it available to me.
Although as a staff member I think I’m a lesser found ‘species’ in the chaplaincy but staff are welcomed as well as students. There is a breakfast on a termly basis for all Christian staff which I thought was a nice touch.
From meeting you Fr. Stephen (briefly one Saturday morning mass in Southam) I have no doubt that you will be a wonderful chaplain to students and staff alike in providing faith, pastoral care and a welcome in a place of warmth and kindness.
That’s what I find in our Warwick Chaplaincy.
Thanks Jules – good to hear from you, and about Warwick. It’s great things are working well.
Great to find this blog. Wishing you all the best with your new chaplaincy! God bless you and your students!