Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Monday 12 March 2012

Oxford Oratory builds for the future


Yesterday morning after the Solemn Mass at the Oxford Oratory a lot of the congregation picked their way round to the site of the building work which is due to start today to add more accomodation and parish offices as well as preparing the new library.This is th next phase of the Reaffirmation and Renewal Campaign and has been long awaited by the Oratorians and by the congregation.

Once we were on site, and were all gathered together, there was a short service of blessing and Fr Daniel, the Provost, symbolically turned the first spadeful of earth on the project. This was, of course, a photo opporunity - and not just for the professional photographer making a record for the Oxford Oratory Appeal website.

My friend Irim Sarwar was snapping away with her mobile phone and has posted her photographs and comments on Facebook. She has very kindly send me the link which can be found at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150605195041297.378423.589506296&type=3&l=101df47ab4

If you look carefully, and indeed want to, you can see me on at least one of the photographs.

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