Ha Ha

I've learned a new word today. While walking back from taking photos of the sheep on the hillside, I met up with one of my fellow scientists. He mentioned that they were restoring the "ha ha." I, being a very puzzled American said "huh?" or something to that effect. It turns out a ha ha is a reverse fence. A picture of which you see to the left. Instead of putting a fence around a terrace or garden which might spoil the view, the English put in a ditch to keep the sheep or cattle from messing up the pretty garden area. The one here at Launde has a herringbone brick pattern up the wall. It's quite pretty, but looks like it would be costly to put in.

Launde Abbey

I found the spot at the Abbey that has wi-fi. It's useful for me to cut down the number of e-mails I would encounter if I wait until I get to a hotel tomorrow evening. Launde Abbey is a lovely place. The Abbey sits in a low spot in hills of grass with grazing sheep. Thomas Cromwell took the Abbey as his own home when Henry VIII closed the Abbeys for their revenue. There is a pond with ducks flitting in and out of the reeds with their chicks and the grounds are planted with wonderful flowers. A walled-in vegetable garden is a short walk up a path.

The meeting so far is quite interesting. Aside from praying the Daily Office and eating meals together, we have had two talks of about a half-hour by John Polkinghorne, followed by silence and then we divide into groups of 12 for discussion. It is quite wonderful to be able to talk theology and science with people who are engaged with ideas and concepts such as the interpretation of Scripture in light of scientific knowledge (yesterday afternoon) and today with the concept of the afterlife. Our small group discussions allow us to get to know each other better and of course so do coffee and tea breaks and meals together. There's also lots of time for silence and just walking around the grounds.

Yesterday there was quite a bit of rain. Today is cooler and mostly cloudy, although it looks as though we will get a shower soon.

Peterborough, England

I've settled into the Bull Hotel in Peterborough. I arrived about 5 pm and after getting into my room I discovered that Evensong at the cathedral here was at 5:30. I heard the bells go off so I dashed off and got there just as the choir and clergy were processing, so I couldn't sit in the choir stalls, but enjoyed it none the less sitting by myself in the nave. The only thing I found odd was that in the Anglican Cycle of Prayer the Diocese for today was Pittsburgh and they prayed for its bishop "Robert Duncan" whereas the official ACP says The Rt. Revd Robert Hodges Johnson. What does that mean?? What side is Peterborough on?

Earlier this year we prayed for the Diocese of Maine, and +Chilton was still listed even though she retired in October. +Steve was listed as the Suffragen and he's now the Diocesan, but Pittsburgh is a different matter— Robert Duncan is NOT a bishop of the ECUSA.

I found this bit of history interesting. More information may be found on sacred destinations web site.

The current Anglican cathedral stands on the site of a monastic church founded by King Peada of Mercia in 655.

The monastic settlement was destroyed by Vikings in 870, but was revived in 972 by Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury. The town surrounding the abbey was eventually named Peterburgh after the saint to whom the abbey was dedicated.

Although damaged during the struggle between the Norman invaders and local folk-hero, Hereward the Wake, the church was repaired, and continued to thrive until destroyed by fire in 1116.

This event necessitated the building of a new church, which took a total of 120 years to complete, and was consecrated in 1238.

For the last hour they've been doing change ringing at the cathedral and I can hear it very clearly from my room with the window open. That is so great. I love bells. It's much too warm to shut the window, so it will be open all night, rain or no rain.

Tomorrow morning I leave for Launde Abbey near Oakham for my retreat with the Society of Ordained Scientists.