Issue 42 Autumn edition 2018

InHousethe Journal of the Community Association Bomber Command RAF100: memorial Remembering heroes Page 6 Page 8 Meet the Assistant Curate, Rachel Revely Elaine Johnson

Born and brought up in Newcastle, for training for ordained ministry, Rachel Rachel did a music degree at Newcas- moved to Westcott House in Cambridge tle University followed by an MMus for three years. During this time she stud- which specialised in musicology and ied theology through the Cambridge Di- composition. vinity Faculty, and completed a Bachelor After that, she worked in music for of Theology for Ministry. After complet- two years, teaching singing and leading ing training Rachel was appointed to Lin- choirs, which took her around the north coln Cathedral, where she was ordained of and Scotland. She led a com- deacon on 30th June this year. She is very munity choir in Edinburgh, which fo- glad to be serving her curacy here and is cused on using singing for wellbeing and excited to be part of such a vibrant, wel- fun in a respite centre for people with HIV coming and faithful community. and Hepatitis C. Rachel’s three-year curacy and housing Whilst exploring her vocation, she took in the Cathedral Close are funded by the a post in the North Group of parishes as a pastoral assistant for a Welcome to Lincoln Cathedral, Rachel. year. After successfully being selected We are delighted to have you with us!

The Cathedral’s ‘RAF100’ Dinner was held on 10 August in the presence of the Lord-Lieutenant of and 400 guests. Pride of place was taken by a full-size replica Spitfire Mk 1a, in the colours of 611 Squadron whilst at RAF Digby in 1940. The aircraft fought over Dunkirk and in the , and was later flown by Sergeant (later Group Captain) Wilfred Duncan Smith, a highly-decorated fighter pilot and father of Iain Duncan Smith, past leader of the Conservative Party. AVM Paul Robinson 2 Woodbine Willie Muriel Robinson The purple poppies project at Heck- wrote poetry about his experiences ington, with its commemoration of which are still in print in ‘The Unuttera- military chaplains, reminded me of ble Beauty’( I have my father’s copy if an- Woodbine Willie, whom my father yone would like to borrow it). Many are used to talk about with admiration. very long narrative poems but others are Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy was nick- short and punchy, and would have spo- named Woodbine Willie by the troops ken powerfully to a wide audience, such he supported as a chaplain in World War as this one: One, whom he did his best to keep sup- A Scrap of Paper plied with cigarettes (still at that time Just a little scrap of paper seen as a health benefit!). Studdert Ken- In a yellow envelope, nedy, an Anglican priest with a parish in And the whole world is a ruin, Worcester, volunteered as a chaplain at Even Hope. the outbreak of war when he was around Although initially a supporter of the 30. His ministry included such an act of war, Studdert Kennedy’s experiences bravery that he was awarded the Military in France changed him and by 1918 he Cross in 1917, the citation reading: was a Christian Socialist and pacifist. IN For conspicuous gallantry and devo- the 1920s he went to work for the In- tion to duty. He showed the greatest dustrial Christian Fellowship and toured courage and disregard for his own safe- the country, dying after being taken ill ty in attending to the wounded under on a tour in Liverpool. The then Dean heavy fire. He searched shell holes for of Westminster refused him burial at our own and enemy wounded, assist- Westminster Abbey because he was ‘a ing them to the dressing station, and his socialist’ though in fact Studdert Kenne- cheerfulness and endurance had a splen- dy belonged to no political party. More did effect upon all ranks in the front line recently the Church has recognised his of Army chaplaincy in Amport House, trenches, which he constantly visited. contribution as a chaplain, including Hampshire, but also as a preacher and During the war, Studdert Kennedy by a significant display at the Museum poet; his feast day is March 8th. Purple poppies? What’s that about? Muriel Robinson I was intrigued a few weeks ago to see whop have suffered in all conflicts, from a notice in my local wool shop (Number the apparently millions of horses who Four, in Burton Road- well worth a visit died in World War One to modern day by the way!)asking for us to knit or cro- mine sweeping dogs, and including ‘ci- chet purple poppies for for vilian’ casualties such as the thousands of the commemorations of the centenary family pet dogs put to sleep at the begin- of the Armistice this November. ning of World War Two in England follow- So I asked why- and was given not just ing a government pronouncement about an explanation but a sheet of patterns. the unavailability of pet food under ration- For this they need 10,000 red and purple ing. There are pictures online of celebrities project, the poppies will be displayed in poppies, and when I left Lincoln for the and their dogs wearing purple poppies St Andrew’s Church, Heckington from summer they had already got some 6,000 and attempts in Australasia to establish a October 27th to November 11th. Current from knitting and crochet groups across national day of remembrance. Heckington thinking is apparently to have artwork of a Lincolnshire. are also using the purple poppies to re- horse surrounded by the purple poppies. The purple poppies are to commem- member the 5,000 military chaplains, 179 If there is enough interest, we could look orate the animals who died in the Great of whom were killed during their ministry at organising a little trip to see these as an War- especially dogs, horses and carrier and all of whom must have been scarred LCCA outing? And if we time it right, ru- pigeons. Increasingly purple poppies are by that experience, I’m sure. mour has it that Heckington Windmill has being recognised as being for the animals If you want to see the outcome of the an excellent tea rooms. 3 Thankful Villages in Lincolnshire

Margaret Campion

The term ‘Thankful Villages’ was Great Wars all returned home again. why that was. The answer, of course, was coined in the 1930’s by Arthur Mee to The first Thankful Village we discov- “We are a Thankful Village” and that was describe a village which the Great War ered, quite by accident was Bigby, right the first time I heard the term. had left unscathed, or, at least, every- up in . It is recorded The first doubly thankful village we one who went off to war had returned that ten men enlisted in the first war found was , also in North although some must have been trau- and four in the second but although all Lincolnshire where 36 men enlisted in matised by the experience in one way returned home from the first war, there the first war all of whom returned; I have or another. was one fatality in the second. We had not discovered how many enlisted in In Lincolnshire four villages are in this noticed that there was no War memo- the second war but apparently all who category and two of those are described rial in the village or churchyard and it did so returned. There is a window in as ‘Doubly Thankful’ since all those who was this fact that caused me to ask the the church commemorating the Doubly enlisted in both the first and second charming man who opened the church Thankful status of the village. Sadly, of course, in 1974 there was a dreadful ex- plosion at the Flixborough Oil Refinery when 28 men lost their lives so perhaps Flixborough today no longer feels either thankful or lucky. and are two vil- lages near to ; Minting is a tiny village with a church and pub and all the 14 men who enlisted in the Great War re- turned home and I hope the village gave them a great welcome with free drinks in the Sebastopol Inn, which itself is a reminder of the equally brutal Siege of Sevastopol in 1854. High Toynton on the way to is our second doubly thankful village. They waved goodbye to 14 of their men folk in the first war and five in the second and joyfully wel- comed them all back home again. There is another tiny hamlet, also very near to Horncastle called Wadding- worth which consists of a farm and a tiny church (now privately owned) from where 2 men enlisted and both returned home but, because of the size of the hamlet, it is not considered a village and is therefore not included in the lists of Thankful villages, although I am sure the farmer and the men employed on the farm were equally pleased to welcome their sons home again. 4 Bishop , 1910-1919

Muriel Robinson

We are all familiar with the signed from the presidency of name of Edward King, but I con- the Church League for Women’s fess to not having been aware of Suffrage in 1919 when they vot- his successor, another Edward, ed in favour of admitting women until recently when I was in the to the priesthood. Edward King House Chapel and The First World War, just be- noticed three memorial plaques. fore which Hicks originally As far as I could make out in my pleaded for British neutrality rusty Latin, one was to one of Ed- when preaching on the sands ward Hicks’s sons who died as a in on August 2nd soldier in the First World War, and 1914, brought about a chal- the other two were for the Bish- lenge to his long-held pacifism, op and his wife, neither of whom particularly when his eldest son had lived much longer than was killed, although he contin- this son. I was inspired by these ued to argue for a peace to be plaques to find out more. Sadly brought about by international his Wikipedia entry is very brief, mediation. As you might expect, but what I could read intrigued the Bishop sheltered Belgian ref- me. Thanks to the help of my ugees in the Bishop’s Palace. He editorial colleague Elaine, who hoped that war might lead to po- was able to access a much longer litical change, being sadly disap- entry in the Oxford Dictionary of pointed when instead peace led National Biography, I now know to a swing to the Conservatives far more, and what I found out was fas- parish priest in the city he worked to im- in the December 1918 General Election. cinating. prove living conditions for his parishion- After a stroke in early 1919, the Bish- Hicks was the son of an unsuccess- ers, criticising slum landlords. Hicks was op announced an intention to retire in ful Oxford tradesman. His parents were opposed to the war with South Africa September of that year. Sadly he died in well-read low church evangelicals and and a sermon he preached on this topic August, but even in death he held to his Liberals. Edward went to private schools, was printed and circulated widely. forward-looking views, being cremated winning a scholarship to Oxford where These radical views did not make Hicks in Golders Green Crematorium. His ashes his first class degree led to his becoming popular with church authorities and as a are interred in the Cathedral. the first layman Fellow of Corpus Christi result it was only in 1910 that Asquith So- a scholarship boy made good, an College in 1866. overruled the Archbishop of Canterbury enthusiast for reform, a supporter of Ordained deacon in 1870 and priested to make Hicks Bishop of Lincoln. His di- women’s suffrage and of temperance, an in 1871, Hicks became a country cler- ary as Bishop shows an energetic man, anti-materialist who worked to improve gyman, keeping up his study and con- visiting parishes and evangelizing en- the lot of the working classes, a keen scientious in parish duties. His reforming thusiastically. evangelist and a pacifist whose views background showed as he supported In his homelife Hicks was unusual in were softened by personal tragedy. Such local agricultural workers campaigning wanting his daughters to have the same an interesting Bishop, and yet we seem for land reform. Struggling as a clergy- educational opportunities as his sons. to talk about him very little. Next time man with no private income, Hicks had These views led him to encourage his you are in the Cathedral, look for his ash- to give up the living and to move to be younger daughter, who went to Somer- es, and if you are ever in the chapel in Ed- Principal of Hulme Hall, Manchester in ville College, to make an active choice ward King House, look for the memorial 1886. He became a Canon of Manches- between pursuing a career or staying plaques and say a prayer for him and his ter Cathedral in 1892 and was active in at home. He was an early supporter family. He’s yet another Bishop we can promoting Church Army Missions. As a of women’s suffrage, although he re- be proud of. 5 The Service Chapels Margaret Campion

The Soldiers’ Chapel is the first the visi- tors see as they enter the series of three small chapels in the North Transept. LCCA takes The entrance is surmounted by the carved figure of King Alfred the Great with Henry fifth and the Black Prince on either the heat out side and just below him thus emphasiz- ing the ancient lineage of the military in of summer the British Isles. The chapel was allotted by Dean and Chapter in 1914 and all mil- itary (specifically army) memorabilia was for young moved here and the chapel dedicated to St. George, Patron Saint of England, at that time. All the local Regimental Colours people dating from the oldest, 1685 to the most The Airmen’s Chapel has the most re- recent, 2010, are displayed here and to- cent history covering the brave fliers in Elaine Johnson gether with the windows representing their flimsy planes who took part in the Old Testament figures who are themselves later stages of the first Great War to the either soldiers or in some way involved in heroes of the Battle of Britain and Bomb- conflict, it makes for a very sombre chapel. er Command in the second. Lincolnshire After the end of WW1 It was decided to is very much RAF territory and it is well that the two neighbouring chapels should known that the sight of Lincoln Cathe- be dedicated to St. Andrew for sailors and dral’s great towers guided many a falter- St. Michael the Archangel for airmen. And ing pilot in a damaged plane back from in 1946 all three chapels were renovated missions over France and Germany and and designated as the Services’ Memorial the cathedral as seen from the air, is de- Chapels. picted in the New Zealand window over The Seamen’s Chapel is very much a the altar. The Bomber Command Window reminder that we are an island race and depicts an RAF cadet with his dog; the Air dependent for much of our history on the Sea Rescue and Engineering branches are sea and specifically that narrow channel all depicted above and around the plan of of water separating us from the continent RAF at the base of the window. of Europe which has helped to maintain Just outside the chapels in the North our independence. Our seafaring history Transept are two interesting memorials; has enabled our brave ancestors to trav- the first to Field Marshall Sir William Rob- el to the ends of their world to discover ertson from who was probably new lands and new ways of charting the the only soldier to fulfil the old quotation endless seas for succeeding generations “In every soldier’s pack there is a Field of navigators. The windows in this chapel Marshall’s baton” He enlisted in the 16th give a pretty comprehensive geography / Lancers in 1877 , rising to Field Marshall in history lesson for visitors and include Mat- 1920. thew Flinders, John Bass, John Smith, John The second and most poignant memo- Franklin and Joseph Banks who between rial is to the Burma Campaign 1941 – 1945 them covered a great deal of the globe on which bears the inscription their voyages of exploration. There is also “When you go home, tell them of us The Lincoln Cathedral Community As- a representation of Lady Arabella Clinton and say ‘for their tomorrow, we gave sociation paid for the safe installation of Fiennes whose family financed a fleet of our today” the children’s play house at the Women’s ships to carry her and other Puritan set- which I think is a fitting tribute to all Refuge in Lincoln. We are told that ‘The tlers to from Boston Lincolnshire to Bos- those men and women throughout our children have been loving playing on it ton Massachusetts to become amongst history who have given their lives for and it’s been a great shelter from the sun the first settlers in America. those of us who are here today. in all the heat!’ 6 Lincolnshire’s International Bomber Command Centre

AVM Paul Robinson

Readers hardly need reminding why we live in ‘Bomber County’. Lincoln- shire hosted 27 of the Command’s 50 airfields; twenty within 20 miles of the Cathedral. Each airfield held 2,000 personnel: if the weather were bad, our pubs would be full of youngsters aged 22 on aver- age, from 64 countries across the World. If the forecast were good, around dusk the roar of 400 bombers would echo along Lincoln’s streets. As they climbed eastbound, their last sight of England was often the Cathedral; seeing its tow- er some 6 hours later meant they were nearly home. Many didn’t make it. German defences were fearsome: Waddington alone lost 346 bombers and 2,100 aircrew. 55% of bomber crews were killed during their first ‘tour’ of 30 operations: a higher was born. Sadly, Tony died in November letters and other documents. Its casualty rate than WW1 infantry officers. 2017, two months before the Centre wel- Losses Database, accessible at the The Cathedral’s Bomber Command Rolls comed its first guests. Fundraising has, as Centre and through the IBCC web of Honour record the 25,611 aircrew lost ever, been challenging: £10.5m of the re- site www.internationalbcc.co.uk, from Lincolnshire’s airfields; nearly half quired £12.5m has been raised, with the provides information on each of the Command’s total. Recognised by balance funded through a loan. casualty, and which Wall records the award of 23 Victoria Crosses, these Overlooking Lincoln from Hill his/her name. The Archive is free volunteers showed astonishing courage and surrounded by its Peace Gardens, to use. to keep flying in the face of such odds. the IBCC comprises three elements: The Centre will be self-funding once Yet, post-War, they were unfairly stig- • The Memorial. Impressive and the loan has been repaid. Entry is free, matised due retrospective political guilt symbolic, the names of all 57,871 bar small charges made for car-parking over the area bombing of industrial cit- aircrew and ground staff who lost and access to the exhibitions. Conces- ies. Inhumane in hindsight perhaps, but their lives are cut into its 270 Walls. sionary discounts are available, and the it was born of necessity: there was no The Spire is 102 feet high, a Lan- facilities can be hired for concerts, con- other way of attacking Germany; and caster’s wingspan, and the frame- ferences and receptions. the Germans themselves had already work which joins its two aerofoil The IBCC is a tribute to those who demonstrated its effectiveness during sections reflects the fuselage. served and suffered on both sides of the the Blitz. Besides, it did not diminish the • The Chadwick Centre. Named af- conflict. Most importantly, it is the single sacrifice of those whose duty was to fly ter the Lancaster’s designer, this point of remembrance for a courageous the missions, not decide targeting policy. contains lecture rooms, a shop band of young people who fought and Tony Worth, our Past Lord-Lieutenant, and restaurant, and three exhibi- died for us 75 years ago. Visit soon, and held a vision for a local centre to com- tion halls. These use interactive prepare to be moved. Per ardua ad astra. memorate these young people and to technologies to tell the Com- Paul Robinson is a retired RAF air inform future generations of the sacrific- mand’s story. vice-marshal, a lay canon of the Cathedral es they made, and in 2013 the Interna- • The Archive. This is a digitised col- and a member of its Chapter, and he sits on tional Bomber Command Centre project lection of interviews, log books, the IBCC Management Board. 7 Abandon rank all you that enter here Margaret Campion

These stirring words are to be found years and after the over the portals of Toc H buildings war ended the around the world and refer to the mis- Revd Tubby took sion of the Revd. Tubby Clayton who the movement began the movement during the First home where it World War. continued to In 1915 Tubby Clayton was able to thrived and is purchase a house in the village of Pop- now an interna- eringe, to the rear of the area of Ypres tional charity. where fighting was most intense. He The Toc H Lamp was instructed to do this by his senior became an integral chaplain, Neville Talbot and the house part of the movement was named ‘Talbot House’ after Neville’s when in 1925 the Toc H brother Gilbert who had been killed Australia held the first World earlier that year. The house was to be Chain of Light, a 24 hour vigil where an ‘Everyman’s House’ where all soldiers lamps were lit around the world – a tra- Photo of Toc H founder blue plaque were welcome regardless of rank. It was dition that stills holds true today. by Spudgun67 on Flickr, https://www. a specifically Christian house but its The Toc H is a valued Christian organ- flickr.com/photos/24701549@N07/ motto was ‘to spread the gospel without ization today and I have been helped with/16936467758/, reproduced un- preaching’ and that ethos remains true in this short article by two friends who der Creative Commons licence. today. belonged to the movement during their The name ‘Talbot House’ was soon National Service. I have also discovered branch of Toc H assisted in the resto- shortened to ‘Toc H’ which is of course an interesting connection with the ration of the crazy paving in the orna- how it is known today. The movement Park Restoration project here mental garden on the site of the old grew and prospered during the war in Lincoln – the Barton on Boultham Hall!

General Synod in York: see page 13 8 Squadron Leader E.R. (Ronnie) Abbott DSO DFM* Many of our readers are old enough to remember the second world war either at first hand or from what our parents told us. The father of two of our congregation (Michaela Philp and Lindsey Sutton) was a bomber pilot, and here Lindsey tells us a little of his story. Lindsey Sutton

Aged 27 when war was declared, Fa- camp of 10,000 prisoners was given an his log books and citations found, so ther flew 58 missions in twin-engined hour’s notice to leave as the Russians this account is based on the few mem- Hampdens from RAF Waddington were closing in, so began the infamous ories he shared and entries in his Flying with 50 Squadron, February 1940 to “Long March”. Force-marched for six days Log. After the war he suffered repeat- October 1941, including many bomb- in temperatures as low as -22C, many of ed bouts of illness which placed him in ing raids over Germany. His first the men, incarcerated for four years and hospital, including surgery for TB on his forced landing is recorded returning living on 600 calories a day, died or were return. Scarred for life by his wartime from Leuna, August 16th, 1940, his left behind during this abominable trek. experiences, my sister remembers him 30th trip. They reached Lubeck in April and were shouting as he “baled out” night after A week later his first crash is recorded liberated on April 28th. Repatriated on night. returning from a raid over Leipzig. The May 3rd, Father was eventually reunited Shot down aged 27, Father had sur- starboard engine was shot up over Em- with his wife and family, including his vived 57 missions but lost so many den, the port engine stopped two miles son born in 1942. Post-war he was pro- friends. For those who flew during the east of . Mentioned in des- moted to Squadron Leader, remaining war, the Bomber Command Memorial patches, he was awarded the D.F.M. and in the RAF until retirement in 1956. is long overdue. We owe it to all those gazetted Pilot Officer, November 1940. Dying peacefully in his sleep on May incredibly brave young men, flying out Between operations there were test 3rd, 1992, the 47th anniversary of his night after night and dying in huge flights, bombing formations, local return from prison camp, his ashes were numbers. We owe it to the families, who flights and searches for missing aircrew. scattered, at his request, over the North lost fathers, sons and brothers. We also The log for April 20th reads: “Dinghy lo- Sea, which had so nearly claimed him owe it to those who survived, but never cated, and apparatus dropped OK.” returning home from those many mis- really relinquished the terror. They re- October 13th, 1941 was the 58th mis- sions. built their lives as best they could; they sion, a bombing raid over Cologne. At- Father rarely spoke of his wartime survived but gave more than anyone tacked by an ME 110, hit in the port wing experiences. Only after his death were could ever know. and tanks, the rear gunner was wound- ed. The crew baled out near Brussels but Flt/Lt. Abbott, as he was by then, landed in a tree, breaking both legs. After time in hospital he was transferred to Prison Camp, Stalag Luft 111, famous for “The Great Escape”. There until January 1945, he made scenery and equipment for the productions in the highly success- ful theatre. He also said that he helped make wire cutters and forge German papers. Awarded the DSO, October 24th, 1941, the citation reads: “His value to the unit has been inestimable. His qual- ities of leadership and his morale are of the highest order and he sets a magnifi- cent example to all.” On January 27th, 1945, the entire 9 Hidden homes

Margaret Campion

Any tourist walking past the south side of the cathedral would be in- trigued by the imposing heavy wood- en gate surmounted with three he- raldic shields, marked ‘Vicars Court’ and very firmly closed with a ‘Private’ notice on the front. What could be be- hind the closed door? Invited through the gate by a resident, you are viewing a scene of medieval peace and tranquillity – a spacious green area surrounded by the stone and brick of genteel homes, now mostly lived in by cathedral staff but once the dwell- ings of the vicars whose function was mainly to sing the Offices and continue the cycle of prayers round the cathedral and in the various Chantry Chapels. The houses vary in style and size; the steps down to the galley kitchen which the Minster both within and without one we were privileged to visit was is level with the pavement outside, a the Close Wall. The first mention of the quite quirky – a small but light and airy cellar below this and above on the sec- buildings was in the time of Oliver Sut- ground floor with a very high ceiling, six ond floor, three rooms, bathroom and ton, Dean between 1275-80 and Bish- a landing cleverly turned op in 1280 until his death in 1299. He into an office space. There had started these buildings during his is also an unexplored attic Bishopric but they were not completed and an outhouse which by the time of his death and in his will was once – probably – the he left instructions for his executors to Porters lodge. There are complete the kitchen and hall. Since intriguing arches, blocked then, of course, they have been con- windows and doors, love- stantly altered, divided, repaired, and af- ly stone work patinated ter the Civil War and other major events, with the fading remnants probably left in fairly ruinous conditions, of previous layers of paint reconstruction making it difficult to fol- and an overall atmosphere low the original layout. It is thought that of light and happiness – the home we saw was part of the orig- also coolness on a hot day inal kitchen range, later separated into but which in winter is ap- ground floor and first floor apartments parently surprisingly warm before conversion into a house, where and cosy. the outline of the first-floor door can still There have been several be seen in the wall. There is also a very surveys of these ancient pretty alcove with an ogee arch lead- houses and these inform ing directly off the present sitting room us that originally Vicar’s which is – again probably – evidence of Court was a series of dwell- a medieval latrine! ings for senior vicars such All in all, it is a delightful place to live, as the Succentor; the less- full of history and with a shared garden er vicars were accommo- and seat conveniently situated to watch dated variously around the sun setting. Almost perfect in fact! 10

Woods and Water Lillies – LCCA summer walk

John Harker

It was a scorching hot sunny day in mid July and the main challenge for the Cathedral Walkers was keeping hydrat- ed. However, the six walkers were well prepared and having confirmed everyone had water bottles we departed from Will- ingham Woods car park in fine spirits. After a short walk along the roadside hedge that obscured the water lily pond we en- tered the unusually named Dog Kennel Wood and walked past Dog Kennel Farm (don’t ask). The dappled sunlight shining on the forest’s ferny floor was probably best in Wood where the tree canopy was less dense. Legsby Wood comprises mixed woodland including oaks and other deciduous trees unlike the other two woods that are mainly pinewoods. The walking was punctuated by the search for shade and regular intakes of water. We ambled across field paths, with an interesting view of Racecourse and soon directly across about two miles of the Woods. The final stage reached the suburbs of the town. The good lunch in the Ad- of the walk included a forest path with a footbridge over a vocate Arms, with its wide menu range, was exceeded only by crystal-clear stream. Here, three children had removed their the excellent conversation. shoes and socks and were paddling in the cool stream with The route after lunch included the flood relief fields and their mum in close attendance - timeless. Shortly afterwards bulrushes on the outskirts of Market Rasen, before reaching we reached the water lily pond – imagine Giverny minus the the woods. Willingham Woods is a large complex of pine- bridge – the car park and finish was a short distance further. woods managed by the Forestry Commission and includes It was a lovely walk with three woods and a lily pond, and we leisure facilities such as cycle paths and walks / trails. Happily, were blessed with beautiful weather, majestic trees and con- the Lindsey Cycle Trail (Blue) enabled the walkers to traverse vivial conversation.

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Editor and Editorial Policy The current editor is Muriel Robinson, supported by Elaine Johnson and Margaret Campion and with photographs supplied by the editorial team, Jim Newton and authors, or printed under a Creative Commons permission. Decisions on content are made by the editors for each edition of InHouse. Submissions of short articles are welcomed though it may not always be possible to use all pieces as space is limited; articles are also commissioned to address identified issues. We reserve the right to edit submitted articles. Copy for the next edition should be emailed to the Editors at [email protected] by November 15th 2018 in Word format; accompanying photographs are also welcomed as JPEG files. Advice for contributors is available – please email for a copy. Regrettably it is not possible to accept hard copy as we do not have any secretarial resources. If you do not currently receive InHouse by email and would like to do so, please email your address to us at [email protected]. The electronic version has full colour photographs and is distributed ahead of the print version, so there are advantages! PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS ABOVE, WHICH IS PART OF OUR APPROACH TO THE FORTHCOMING CHANGE TO DATA PROTECTION LEGISLATION! 11 A Reader for 50 years - pt 2 John Davies

An important part of my Reader Ministry has been my own personal reading, study as well as attending training days and, in the past, leading educational sessions. Lately the writing of our former Arch- bishop, Rowan Williams, and of R.S. Thomas have been invaluable. The work of Gordon Jackson, Lincoln’s famous yet unknown Christian poet and translator, has been a companion for years. Poetry and music in life and worship are very important. The Bible is full of them. Rosslyn Miller was our first woman leader, Sally Buck is the first Diocesan Warden of Readers to be a Reader. Re- cent wardens have overseen a period when other forms of lay ministry have emerged. Our selection, training, our continuing ministerial education and regular review and renewal of licences have given us a new edge. Readers can be pastors in diverse contexts – at least two in our Diocese have been involved in the prison service. Readers’ life and work experiences, their laicity should complement and support the work of those dedicated in the latter, ambassadors for Christ in forward. I have loved being a Reader. professionals, the Clergy. Many of us the home and the workplace. Have you considered such a role for have found a Reader identity has been In the first part of this piece I asked if yourself? At the end of the Eucharist, we useful at work. Readers near the end this article should be reminiscent, ret- often say “Send us out in the power of of their ministry, as I am, may have rospective, but actually I am looking the Spirit to live and work to Your praise thoughts and insights to offer on ageing and glory.” This should be the prayer of – but we don’t want to be ghettoized - all Christians. Readers try to carry it out and the church definitely needs more in particular ways. As for time and retro- new Readers, in all their diversity, be- “Many of us spection, as the Psalmist says “the faith- cause being lay women and men, they fulness of the Lord endures from gener- form – indeed live – a connection be- have found a ation to generation.” tween the secular and the sacred. They are not sawn off clergy. Reader identity Note from the editors: Within their roles as practical lay the- If you feel inspired by John’s challenge ologians and members of the everyday has been useful to consider a ministry as a Reader, then world, they make and are connections, you might want to talk to Sally Buck. moving both into the church and out at work” The Warden of Readers. Sally works in again into the world – like all lay people Edward King House and her email is – but licensed to preach, teach and help [email protected] in the former and living most of the time 12 A word from the editor Muriel Robinson get our new email address of inhouse@ under the revisions to the constitution We hope you enjoy this themed edi- lincolncathedral.com approved last year. We may even have a tion of InHouse, with many of the ar- By the time you read this, autumn will contested election, who knows? We will ticles reflecting the close connection be on the way- hard to think of that as I sit also be looking to elect a couple of new between our county and the armed in France with the relatively cool house committee members. If you are interest- forces as we approach the commemo- at 27 degrees and outside a fair bit hot- ed in either role then talk to June Pallister ration of the Armistice and as we en- ter- and with autumn will come both the who can provide you with more details joy the various events reminding us of Harvest Supper and the LCCA AGM. The and with a nomination form, or email the centenary of the RAF. Harvest Supper is on October 16th and [email protected] . It’s the first time that this editorial the AGM is on November 5th, an auspi- And finally – apologies to those of team has done a themed issue and we’d cious date for a lively evening, we hope! you who enjoy our electronic edition. be interested to know what you think of Please do make an effort in particular to The last edition was the first where we the idea. We hope you will also enjoy the attend the AGM- everyone on the Cathe- have tried to use the new mailing list other articles. dral Roll is a member of the LCCA and en- to send you the link. The electronic ver- We have decided to stop routinely titled to attend. It may not be the most sion is on the Cathedral website but we including a list of forthcoming events jolly of our gatherings but we do try to have struggled to crack the new system in the Cathedral. These are now so well make it interesting and this year we have to create a group list and then send the publicised everywhere that it feels like asked the Chancellor to speak. This year link out. We are still awaiting more help an unnecessary burden to ask the events you will also need to elect a new Chair, from the Chapter Office on this but hope team to produce a list just for us. Again, as I will be stepping down after four to get it sorted for this edition. Thanks for feedback is always welcome. Don’t for- one-year terms, the maximum allowed your patience! Which Bible?

Paul Overend, Chancellor

Part 1: Sources. (The second half of this article will appear in the next edition. )

To the question, ‘which is the best bible?’, the answer is, ‘best for what?’ The issue of translations is not simple. Translators drawn on many sources and have in mind a target audience, before de- ciding how to translate. Sources It is helpful to know that NO English bible translations are from an 'original' source text. All Bibles involve translations of copies of copies of the lost originals. What is surprising is that, in spite of editorial errors that creep into these hand-written copies (missed verses, repetitions, editors additions and “cor- rections”, changed spellings, and so on), there is still remarka- ble consistency in variant copies. The chart here shows something of the tree of editions, which until the 20th century were dependent on either a Jew- Modern translations draw on recently discovered manu- ish Rabbinic Masoretic text (Hebrew and Aramaic books of scripts, both biblical and non-Biblical Books. For some words the Old Testament, c.6-10th century), or on the Vulgate (Lat- that occur only once in the Bible, their meaning has only be- in Bible, c. 5th century). The Vulgate had more Old Testament come clearer from seeing uses of that word in other literature. books than the Masoretic text, and those became known as These recently discovered manuscripts have shown that the the 'apocrypha', or secondary writings, if included in Protes- King James Bible is not always the most accurate, significant tant Bibles. though it has been for our language! 13 General Synod Muriel Robinson

As usual the General Syn- process intelligently. od met in York for its July On Saturday afternoon we had meeting and we had a full workshops and seminars, many and varied agenda, with of them led by those working on some key debates and the Human Sexuality teaching some of the usual tensions. document. I was impressed by We started on the Friday the calibre of the academics in- afternoon with the Business volved and by the efforts to get Committee paper which ba- our views through the seminars. sically explains the agenda As ever we went to York Minster and allows us to question on Sunday morning which was that, although it’s pretty a lovely occasion (though of much a foregone conclusion course not as good as Lincoln!). that it will be accepted. The There was a full programme first day finishes with Ques- of fringe events, as ever, and I tions; questions have to be particularly enjoyed getting to submitted some ten days know Jarvis the guide dog who ahead and the answers to was supporting the Disability & these are written and pub- Jesus group (and tweeting all lished just before we start, week, impressive paw work!). but supplementary ques- The Cathedrals Group event was tions are allowed. This year very helpful, and the one led by there were over 80 questions Christian CND was memorable but we actually got through not least because they had an all the supplementaries, actual Nobel Peace Prize with partly as a fair number were them! The Lincoln team for the ruled out of order- not some- quiz night (augmented by vari- thing everyone was happy ous waifs and strays from other with! dioceses) did respectably and a On Saturday morning the good time was had by all. And agenda proper started, and in the gaps at the end of the between then and Tuesday evening, it was good to spend lunchtime we dealt with time with the other Lincoln such major issues as safe- tion does what we want it to do. The reps and others from across the guarding, the sustainability of the NHS, final formal business was the report of country- and to discover that we are the the ’s policy on in- the Cathedrals Working Group, of which favourite conference of the York Uni- vesting in fossil fuels, and our stance on we shall hear much more. For me this versity team, although they do have to the 2017 UN Treaty on the Prohibition was significant as I was finally called to order in extra gin for the bars.. and even of Nuclear Weapons. We also dealt with make my maiden speech, and asked to so, I was told, they’d run out of Tanquer- an immense amount of church legisla- make it as the opening speech in the ay by the final evening. tion on matters as varied as pensions, debate- no pressure there, then! For If you’d like a more formal account, legal fees, mission initiatives and clergy Lincoln Cathedral this is an important do go to the Church of England website of other denominations taking parts report, although the good news was where you can find full details of all de- of CofE services. Such legislative work that the key issues for us were raised bates and decisions. Disability & Jesus can feel tedious but it is how we move and recognised and that the pace of have just launched an online version of forward and we are fortunate to have change has been slowed down. I was the daily office which they encourage us some General Synod members who particularly impressed by the Third Es- all to follow, not just those who would see read such papers extremely carefully tates Commissioner; she spoke both at themselves as disabled. Search online for and pick up on possible confusions and the fringe event and in the debate in a An Ordinary Office for details as to how to contradictions so that the final legisla- way which suggested she will lead this sign up. 14