2012 Annual Report - Jesus College - University of Cambridge

68 COLLEGE NEWS I Jesus College Annual Report 2012
The Chapel
John Hughes, Chaplain and Dean Emeritus Fellow
T he year in Chapel began with a series of sermons in the Michaelmas term on
‘Questions about the Bible’ which enabled us to celebrate the 400th anniversary of
the King James Bible while also responding to some of the more basic questions that
today’s students ask about the Scriptures. Old Jesuans were well represented amongst
these preachers, with former Dean Christopher Rowland speaking on The Bible and
Politics, Dr Peter Williams (1989) asking Why do we need the Old Testament?, Fr Ian Paton
(1975) exploring The Bible in the Church, and Steve Midgley (1980) discussing Is the Bible
culturally irrelevant? They were joined by Judith Lieu, the Lady Margaret Professor of
Divinity, and her predecessor Professor Morna Hooker speaking on questions of
historicity and Christian origins, and the Master of the Temple Church in London,
Robin Griffith-Jones, on the popular topic of The Missing Gospels. The series can be read
online on the Chapel’s webpage.
Other Sunday guest preachers this year have included the Bishop of Norwich, the Dean
of St Edmundsbury, the Abbot of Downside, Dom Aidan Bellenger (1969), Professor Tom
Greggs (2004), Fr Alban McCoy (the Roman Catholic Chaplain to the University), the
Van Mildert Professor of Divinity from Durham, Mark McIntosh, Dr Ian Wilson, Fellow
in Chemical Engineering, and Kelvin Woolmer, Chaplain to the Olympics.
Those students who attend Chapel services come from a wide range of Christian
traditions (in addition to those of other faiths or no religious background) so questions
about differences between Christians often come up in conversation. It seemed good
therefore to hold a weekly discussion group in the Lent term exploring recent
ecumenical approaches to questions which have previously divided churches, such as
justification by faith, the Eucharist, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Easter term this
ecumenical conversation continued as the group looked at ways in which faith might be
applied to questions in the world and our own lives, including questions of justice and
poverty, environmental and sexual ethics, war and peace, career and vocation. Students
from very different positions listened very graciously to those of other opinions, making
these discussions easier than I might have imagined.
The annual ‘Exploring the Christian Faith’ course in the Lent term led to two finalists,
Oliver Holbrook and Frances Harris, being confirmed at the University Confirmation in
Trinity College, and both gave excellent nanosermons telling the story of how they came
to this decision. This tradition of ‘nanosermons’ (of no more than five minutes) during
Tuesday Evensongs continues to provide many students (and others such as Dr Rebecca
Weir, Fellow in English) with space to share their own religious opinions and musings
with their peers, often with considerable skill and moving openness.
There has been the usual round of glorious offerings of worship, with accompanying
dinners and parties, to celebrate the various points of the academic and ecclesiastical
year, creating a friendly atmosphere for the whole College community. Ascension Day
Mattins from the roof of N Staircase and the end of year Eucharist in the Fellows’ Garden
were particular personal highlights. The termly more informal Corporate Communion
services with supper have been well attended this year, as have the magical late night
Complines followed by port and cocoa. There were three Evensongs for matriculating
students, one for graduands, and two for old members’ reunions, as well as special
services for Remembrance Sunday and the Commemoration of Benefactors.