• Sermon preached earlier on Mary and Martha

    I preached this a couple of weeks ago but forgot to post it here too.

    So, there I was, walking down Whitehall on holiday a few days ago. I had a ticket for the theatre in my pocket and I was in a hurry to get to the show.

    And I was thinking those happy thoughts that you have when you are on holiday. I was thinking – “Why did I think it was a good idea to come to London in July… in a heatwave”

    But anyway, I was on holiday and apart from melting like the tarmac all around me, I was happy.

    On I went. Downing Street on my left. The Cenotaph on my right.

    The Scottish Office. Banqueting House.

    I was on my way to the old Whitehall theatre, now masquerading under another name.

    Walking up Whitehall is something I’ve done countless times. I often stay in Westminster when I’m back in London. I know the sights and sounds well enough. I don’t consider myself a tourist when I’m there – after all I used to live down there.

    And then suddenly, something caught my eye. Something pulled me up short. (more…)

5 responses to “To Castle Douglas”

  1. Stewart Avatar

    With out looking at a map I can think of three:

    Belfast;
    The Cathedral of The Isles, Millport; and
    Carlisle.

    I am not sure if there are others, the next two which are probably further than Glasgow are Newcastle and St Mary’s Edinburgh

    1. kelvin Avatar

      No, I don’t think so, Stewart. Partly right and partly wrong.

  2. Andrew Swift Avatar
    Andrew Swift

    Greetings from Cowal & Bute.

    Carlisle Cathedral must be closest to Castle Douglas.

    I suspect that St German in Peel, diocese of Sodor & Man, is next closest as the seagull flies – the radio reception from the Isle of Man is extraordinarily clear down there.

    Cathedral of the Isles on Great Cumbrae and Glasgow – pretty similar I would have thought, Calmac notwithstanding. Your poor horse would need waterwings to get over there, and your gaiters would have to fully waterproof.

    1. kelvin Avatar

      I’ve travelled from the Isle of Man to Kirkcudbright, but in a yacht. Without the horse.

  3. Beth Avatar
    Beth

    As the crow flies, I suspect that both Newcastle and Durham are closer than Glasgow. Of course, in practical terms, the Irish Sea does rather get in the way. Having spent four weeks living somewhere that is not quite so far south as Castle Douglas and yet still does not get BBC Radio Scotland, this wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

    St Mary’s is closer than the Cathedral of the Isles, but only by about a mile and a half.

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