New College Bulletin 2011 Shadows of the Divine Inside INTERNATIONALLY IM- Bulletin “Shadows of the PORTANT ART WORKS Divine” art exhibition 02 | New Head of COME TO NEW COLLEGESchool 05 | Princi- pal’s message 08 News 09 | Tributes 11 | Wode Psalter Project 15 | Alumni updates 19 NCBv10.indd 1 16/09/2011 17:46:30 The Centre for Theology and Public Issues Founded in 1984 by Duncan Forrester, the CTPI aims to keep academic theol- ogy and public life in dialogue with one another. Its interests are various – in past and present, these have included Religion and Ethics in the Making of War and Peace, and Theology in the Public Square, a two-year project on theology and public policy in Scot- land since devolution. Its outlook has always been both global and local. Currently, under the directorship of Professor Jolyon Mitchell of New Col- lege, the CTPI is launching a three- year project on Peacebuilding through Media Arts. This project has been The Supper at Emmaus – Ceri Richards generously funded through the Binks Trust. The Shadows of the Divine Ex- hibition marks the start of that project. To date, the CTPI has published Shadows of the Divine 14 books on topics such as hu- man rights for the child, citizen- ship and the internet, and most re- INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT ART WORKS cently, education for citizenship. COME TO NEW COLLEGE For more information about the Friday 13 May was lucky for some: The Methodist Church Art Collection work of the CTPI, see the New Col- it marked the opening of the inter- is one of the most important collec- lege website under ‘Research’; nationally significant Shadows of the tions of modern Christian art out- or look up its Wikipedia page Divine art exhibition at New College. side the Vatican. It includes works http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_ This selection of outstanding works of by Graham Sutherland, Georges for_Theology_and_Public_Issues modern religious art was brought to Rouault, Craigie Aitchison, Elisabeth New College through the combined Frink, Peter Howson, Patrick Heron efforts of the Centre for Theology and Eric Gill, among others. The and Public Issues, and the gener- exhibition was further enriched by osity of the Methodist Art Collection, works from Scottish-based artists. and was on display in the Martin Hall from May 14 to June 11, 2011. New College Bulletin 2010 | 02 NCBv10.indd 2 16/09/2011 17:46:30 Pink Crucifixion -- Craigie Aitchison “This is one of these occasions In his time, King James sought where you can’t quite believe through this translation to what you are seeing,” remarked make peace between conflict- Scottish artist Paul Martin in ing religious groups, just as his speech at the opening re- the modern visual artwork on ception. “It is a wonderful thing display also reaches across for these paintings to be in the divides. In this way, the exhi- public domain, and to be seen bition explored how both picto- again, and to be seen in Edin- rial and literary creations can . burgh.” represent and even contrib- ute to peacebuilding. As the In this anniversary year, the curator of the exhibition, Mo- exhibition also included a dis- nique Sliedrecht, commented, play of a rare first edition of the “Lovers of great art as well as 1611 King James Version of church people will learn much the Bible, supplied by the New and will, I am certain, go away College Library. Thus visual from the exhibition hugely art and the written word were stimulated by what they will displayed side by side in their see.” respective representations of the Christian message. New College Bulletin 2010 | 03 NCBv10.indd 3 16/09/2011 17:46:32 Message from the Head of School There have been massive changes in Theology, which we hope will provide our community since 1976. While our international leadership in this vital field. buildings have not changed much, the content of our teaching and the com- position of our community have been I could go on. But let me simply ob- transformed. There is now a great di- serve that we have gone through all versity among our academic staff, and these changes with confidence and an openness in our community to dif- collegiality, and without losing our ferent forms of religious belief. Our historic identity. Indeed, as we ex- student numbers have grown, and are plore new paths, take on new initia- several times larger than they were for- tives and embrace new traditions, it ty years ago. Along with our traditional is important that we remember our teaching of Biblical Studies, Christian beginnings. We were shaped by the Theology, Christian Ethics, and Chris- Protestant tradition, and it has been Prof Stewart J Brown tian History, we have greatly expanded a source of strength. We were espe- our study of other religions. Our Reli- cially reminded of this during this past It is an honour to have been invited gious Studies programme, which was year, as members of our community to return for a second term as Head just beginning in the 1970s, has steadi- played leading roles in the events com- of School. And as I do so, permit ly grown under the inspiring leadership memorating the 450th anniversary me to begin again where I had left of Professors Frank Whaling, James of the Scottish Reformation, and the off, with my farewell message as Cox and the late Alisdair Kee, and 400th anniversary of the King James Head of School in December 2003. has attained international distinction. Bible. Moreover, Professor Jane Daw- In that message, I had reminisced son’s ‘World of the Reformation’ proj- about how much the School had ect has highlighted, through musical changed since I first arrived at New We continue to diversify and expand. performances and a major exhibition, College as a visiting postgradu- Through our Centre for Theology and the rich cultural contributions of the ate student in 1976. Physically, Public Issues, founded in 1978 by Pro- Reformation. We must not lose sight New College then looked much as fessor Duncan Forrester and now un- of what was positive in our Reformed it does now—the Rainy Hall, the der the able leadership of Professor tradition, including its emphasis on the Library, the Martin Hall, the rabbit- Jolyon Mitchell, we have been working importance of learning, the eternal val- warren of halls and passages, the in fresh ways for inter-religious under- ue of each individual, the need for each portraits and busts of serious-look- standing. Our vibrant Centre for World of us to realise our full human poten- ing old Presbyterian gentlemen. Christianity, led by Professor Brian tial, and belief in a transcendent truth. But its character was very different. Stanley, explores the interactions of There were far fewer students, the Christianity with other world faiths. We When I gave my last message as large majority were men, and most have initiated new projects on religion, Head of School, the memories of Sep- were training to become Presby- conflict and peace-building, and in the tember 11 were still raw. I had closed terian ministers. All but one of the spring we held our first major art exhibi- that message by observing how our academic staff were men, and most tion, Shadows of the Divine, temporar- world desperately needed ‘people of were ordained ministers. Many ily transforming the Martin Hall into an open and magnanimous minds, who lecturers still wore traditional black art gallery to launch a new project on seek understanding, mutual respect clerical gowns, and opened each ‘Peacemaking through the Media Arts’. and reconciliation, and have an abid- lecture with prayer. There was a We will soon welcome the distinguished ing sense of the human potential for warm collegial atmosphere and Muslim scholar, Mona Siddiqui, as our good’. We are now ten years past a sense of common purpose, but first Professor of Islamic Religion and September 11, and the need for open- also a certain narrowness of vision. Inter-Religious Understanding. Un- der the leadership of Professors Da- ness, understanding, mutual respect vid Fergusson and Michael Northcott, and reconciliation is greater than ever. and with generous assistance from the We have monumental tasks before Templeton Foundation, we are launch- us. We also have the potential, in ing a new inter-disciplinary taught our New College community, to make Masters programme in Science and a real difference in a troubled world. New College Bulletin 2010 | 04 NCBv10.indd 4 16/09/2011 17:46:32 Message from the Principal I have spent much of this year in the We had a healthy intake of Church of implementation of the merger of the Scotland candidates in September and University with the Edinburgh College we hope to maintain a similar level of of Art, an experience that has given me recruitment later this year. Discussions renewed appreciation for the support- with the Church of Scotland on the future ive work of the university administra- of ministerial training are taking place. tion. One consequence of my tempo- rary absence, however, is that I have been heavily reliant on the work of Dr We remain firmly committed to offering Frances Henderson as Assistant Prin- the traditional BD degree, as well as to cipal. She has organised New College developing more opportunities for con- worship and the annual study tour – this tinuing professional development while year to Jerusalem – very effectively, and also identifying ways in which new I am personally indebted to her for tak- forms of provision might be offered ing on these additional responsibilities. Prof David Fergusson New College continues to benefit from the generosity of previous genera- The past session has provided tions.