View from the Vicarage

July/August 2008

My dear friends

Warden pie

I’m going to relate a sorry tale! It comes from the period of the Reformation in the sixteenth century, when religious differences in this country led to persecution and sometimes death. In 1522, a young man, by the name of John Quinby, came up to Oxford as a scholar at New College. These were times of intellectual and spiritual ferment. In Germany, Martin Luther was beginning to challenge some of the traditional religious practices of the Catholic Church, such as the purchase of indulgences to reduce the number of years a soul might spend in purgatory. As well as teaching at the university, Luther was also capturing the popular imagination with such works as The Babylonish Captivity of the Church and The Liberty of a Christian Man. Luther’s writings, brought across the North Sea by travelling merchants, found their way into the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge and John Quinby seems to have been deeply influenced by his revolutionary ideas. The college authorities, especially Dr John London, Warden of New College, regarded Luther as subversive and John Quinby found himself locked up in the college bell tower, until he should change his views. John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs records the unfolding events graphically. ‘He desired his friends that came to see him that he might receive the Lord’s Supper in both forms, but it would not be granted. [Receiving ‘in both kinds’, that is the communion wine as well as the bread, was a Reformation touchstone.] He was asked of his friends what he would eat; and he said that his stomach was gone from all meat, except it were a warden pie. “Ye shall have it,” quoth his friends. “I would have two wardens baked,” quoth he; “I mean our Warden of New College and our Warden of Winchester [the college’s sister school]; for such a warden pie might do me and Christ’s church good.” Thus jesting at their tyranny, through the cheerfulness of a safe conscience, he turned his face to the wall, and so, after his prayers, slept sweetly in the Lord.’ It is said that if you walk through the cloisters of New College as midnight strikes, you can faintly hear from the bell tower, a voice calling, ‘Warden pie; warden pie.’ I confess that in all my years there, I never managed to hear it!

Warden pears

Quinby was, of course, making a savage joke. He knew very well that a ‘warden’ was in fact a variety of pear. What he may not have known is that this pear had its origin at Warden Abbey, the Cistercian monastery south-east of Bedford. ‘Wardens’ used to be on sale in Bedford market and no doubt there are trees surviving today in the locality. There is a recipe for ‘Warden Pie’ (made with pears!) on page 4 of this magazine.

Persecuted for their faith

Both Protestants and Catholics suffered for their faith at the time of the Reformation. The persecution of Christian believers continues in our own time. As I write this, the news bulletins are carrying accounts of the harassment of Christians in Zimbabwe. The open practice of Christian faith is denied to many groups in Egypt, the Sudan, parts of Nigeria, Pakistan, India, China, among other countries in Africa, and the Middle and Far East. The vibrant faith of such Christians in the face of danger, punishment and death is an inspiration and encouragement to us all. Pray for them.

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Car Park Resurfacing - Disabled Driver Spaces

Security Lighting and Cycle Racks

The Resurfacing of the Car Park has been finished and is again open for use.

A temporary sign has been erected for "Disabled Drivers" adjacent to the double doors. We are going to study how the usage of the Car Park works out before finalising the number of Disabled Spaces and whether we need to put white lining down to mark out parking bays.

Also, quotations have been sought for the provision of additional Security Lights for the Car Park. This project will also include sensors which will trigger both the new Car Park lights and the Pathway lights to the Church Centre Rear Entrance, whenever, during the hours of darkness, a pedestrian leaves the Rear Entrance and when a vehicle or pedestrian enters the Car Park from St Alban Road. It is hoped that this will allow the Car Park and Rear Entrance to be used with greater confidence.

Cyclists please note that as well as the new racks at the front of the building the racks that were in the car park are still there and are now more easily accessed with the new hard surface approach. The rear entrance to the Centre is open on weekdays between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm.

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