Sanctuary of the Soul by Foster Richard J.;

Author:Foster, Richard J.; [Foster, Richard J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780830869039
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2011-07-11T00:00:00+00:00

Rather than return to London, Glandion and I decide to take a train north to Northumberland, specifically the small island of Lindisfarne. In the early days of Celtic Christian mission penetration into the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Lindisfarne served as the nerve center. In fact, the stories of mission exploits emanating from here so impressed the popular imagination that eventually Lindisfarne began to take on another name, “Holy Island,” and so it is called to this day.

Holy Island is forever linked to the names of St. Aidan and St. Cuthbert. Aidan was the first great missionary leader, coming from Iona on the west coast of Scotland and establishing Lindisfarne on the east coast of England as his base. The most dramatic feature of the island today is the large statue of Aidan holding in his outstretched hand the torch of the gospel while a Celtic cross stands like a wreath behind his head. Cuthbert eventually followed in Aidan’s footsteps and, having grown up in the region, he in some ways made an even more dramatic impact than Aidan. I stand on a rocky promontory on Holy Island and nearby I can see a much smaller island known as St. Cuthbert’s Island. When the tide is low a land bridge connects Holy Island to Cuthbert’s Island and this was where Cuthbert would retreat to when he was seeking complete solitude.

On earlier trips I had gotten to know the Northumbria Community, a vigorous expression of Christian faithfulness in Northumberland that has arisen in recent years. I always feel at home and refreshed anytime I can be with this unique group. The Northumbria Community is a gathering of folk from eclectic backgrounds: Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, unchurched and others. They consciously seek to embody “the ancient paths” of Christian faithfulness that seem to be etched into every stone and rise out of the soil of the Cheviot Hills of Northumberland. They attempt to find a practical modern expression of a new monasticism rooted in the vows of “availability and vulnerability” and hold an uncompromising allegiance to the imperatives of the Sermon on the Mount.

The Northumbria Community is, by intention, a geographically dispersed community. However, the nerve center is close by at Hetton Hall, a sprawling house with a stone-enclosed prayer garden, two tiny “Poustinias” for private prayer, and the community chapel. Hetton Hall is where Glandion and I stay for the next few days as we wait for international travel to resume. I relish especially the large kitchen area with its weathered wooden dining table that could probably seat two dozen if need be. There is always work to do at Hetton Hall . . . and ample opportunity for conversation and prayer.

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