Category: Uncategorized

Pigeon and Pulpit

St. Eata’s church in Atcham is the ONLY church in the UK dedicated to St. Eata, who was Bishop based on the beautiful Northumbrian island of Lindisfarne from 681-685 A.D.! And how appropriate that this pigeon posed for me recently, on the pedestrian bridge at Atcham.

Nature speaks so clearly in Shropshire – as it does all over the world. St. Francis of Assisi preached to the bird – he was in touch with the natural world. Perhaps churches today can help call us back to nature – creation – like this pigeon did for me today!

Seasons of The Wrekin

The Wrekin is an iconic, landmark hill in Shropshire, and can be seen for miles and miles around – so is a familiar sight and is much-loved by local.

Locals use phrase “Going all round the Wrekin” to mean “Going the long way round / into too much detail / all over the place” – it does take about two hours to walk round its base, and it is a strenuous climb to go to the top and down again!

Transcendence and Endless Horizons

“We are made for transcendence and endless horizons”

Richard Rohr

From hills and mountains, beaches and harbours, you get that sense of “endless horizons”, that draw us out of ourselves. Shropshire has plenty of the first, and none of the rest!

This photograph of Corndon Hill was taken from the ridge of Stiperstones, and the cloud creates that sense of endlessness.

And there is something transcendent, also, I think, to the experience of being on top of a hill.

You have that sense of a changed perspective from ordinary life, even a sense of special connection with nature, the universe, with God.

It expands my sense of being human – made for transcendence and endless horizons.