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Preaching last night in Durham Cathedral
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Preaching last night in Durham Cathedral

Adrian Holloway on March 15, 2011 with 0 Comments

Last night I preached in Durham Cathedral. “Arguably the finest free-standing building in Northern Europe” – that was the verdict of “Bridey” – one of my friends at university, as we stood on the station platform twenty years ago, waving goodbye to Durham Cathedral, which had dominated our skyline for the previous three years. Of course, it is really “half church of God, half castle ‘gainst the Scot.” I have never been entirely convinced that the reason why those medieval monks chose the spot was because “Cuthbert’s bones got heavy.” Cuthbert’s bones do seem to have “got heavy” at the most superbly defensible position on high ground surrounded on three sides by a river. But anyway, last night was a dream come true for me, preaching in Durham Cathedral at the university CU Easter Service. I had a tie mic, so I was preaching right at the front of the nave, which was mostly full. My title was “Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?” and I looked at four pieces of evidence, starting with the testimony of Tacitus, the non-Christian Roman historian, and I took a largely evidential approach. All the other items in the service were excellent, and it was great to have a drink afterwards with the CU exec in Castle Bar.

I arrived in Durham the previous Saturday and was interviewed that evening at CU Central in St Nicholas’ church, which had not changed at all. I felt a flood of emotions as I remembered so many great Saturday nights there.

On Sunday morning, I was back amongst old friends at Emmanuel Church. It was to see at least 10 people who I first met in October 1988, who are still there 23 years later including Alan & Sandra Bell, William & Karen Bing, Andy & Isla Biggs, Andrew Dowsett and Andrew & Jane Westerman, And the unique thing about Emmanuel is the family feel. Ten minutes before the service started a coach load (literally) of students arrived, and I’m sure it’s the ‘family’ dynamic that makes the difference. I also met a lady called Katriona afterwards, who said that she was starting a job in London at Slaughter & May in February 2012, and was hoping to come to Christ Church, London.

I had lunch with the students who I spoke to briefly, and then had a long catch up with Alan Bell, who leads the church, and has been a rock. He told me the amazing story of how they had purchased the warehouse where the church now meets in its first ever permanent home – and turned it into The Durham Centre, which is used all week round as a conference facility. I continue to be amazed at how many newfrontiers churches have given so sacrificially to buy and convert warehouses. The Durham Centre is one of the best.

I also preached in the evening at “737” the Emmanuel Church student meeting on the peninsular in Arlington House. That was on the title of “Feeling Adenturous” which prompted a string of hilarious stories about witnessing successes and failures whilst a student there myself. I was hugely encouraged by the group of 30 or 40 students who were there, including a former Christ Church, London gem Hannah Gregory.

I also met up 1 on 1 with various people in the church, who asked for time with me, including an astro-physicist called Stu, and a reporter on the Northern Echo called Mark.

Yesterday I had lunch with Hamish Sneddon, who is the UCCF worker in Durham, and we got on really well. The Christian scene in Durham in hugely encouraging with at least 4 churches who have flourishing student works, including around 200 students at Christ Chruch, Durham, which is a Church of England plant out of the old URC building in Claypath.

I am tremendously grateful to Ian and Anne Portwine and their children, Daniel, Robert and Shauna, who hosted me for the weekend and were very generous to me in so many ways.

 

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about the author

Adrian is married to Julia. They have four daughters. He is based at Everyday Church in Wimbledon, and has written two books, "The Shock of Your Life" and "Aftershock," which tackles the strongest objections to Christianity in the form of a novel.