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.


Thursday 9 April 2015

Anniversary drinks


Today is the liturgical, as opposed to the calendric, anniversary of my reception into full peace and communion with the Church in 2005. To give thanks I booked the 6pm Mass at the Oratory for my intentions and gave a small drinks reception afterwards in the parish centre. This was a way of expressing my thanks and gratitude to the many friends I have made in the Oratory community here in Oxford. Unfortunately quite a few of the people I hoped would be there were unable to make it, but it still proved to be an enjoyable occasion.
One friend took some photographs of the party:

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The Provost of the Oxford Oratory and the Clever Boy in conversation

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An assortmemt of friends

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Images: Irim Sarwar

As I said to my guests I had no wish to be the centre of attention, but it was a way of giving thanks for the grace of being called into full membership of the Church and for the spiritual graces and those of friendship which have flowed over the past decade.


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