From ‘Queen of the Sciences’ to ‘Pawn of the Sciences’ Theology was known as the ‘Queen of the Sciences’. The Roman Catholic Church transformed the cathedral and monastic schools into universities, starting with Bologna, Italy in 1088. It sought the highest form of learning, to provide an intellectual and spiritual foundation for all other […]
Holidays On this Sunday we are in the middle of our summer holidays. It’s good to know that we still use such a deeply religious word ‘holy days’ to describe this period of fun and relaxation! The idea of a holy rest goes very deep in the Bible. In fact it goes back to […]
Gethsemane There’s a gospel story that I’d miss if it wasn’t there. I’m thinking of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane. The story shows Jesus flinching at the prospect of the cross, while the disciples slept. My prayer is often like Jesus’ prayer; a struggle between my will and God’s. “Father”, Jesus prays, “if it is […]
Just beyond the east end of Buckfast Abbey—Devon’s active Benedictine monastery—lies the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Completed in 1966, this modern space is anchored by a striking stained glass window that towers over the sanctuary (an image of this is inside this window). The window was designed by Dom Charles Norris, a resident monk who became […]
Children’s Prayers A child’s world creates thoughts and wishes expressing beliefs, desires, questions and doubts. Wise, naïve, reverent or not, they are addressed to God with hope and trust: Dear God, I would like all the bad things to stop Are you real? Some people don’t believe it. If you are, you better do […]
We take the safeguarding and care of children and vulnerable adults very seriously at St Stephen’s.
