Welcome to Christ Church, Middletown
the Episcopal parish in Middletown since 1702
90 Kings Highway
Middletown, NJ 07748
732-671-2524
the Episcopal parish in Middletown since 1702 90 Kings Highway Middletown, NJ 07748 732-671-2524 |
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Just below Berwick-on-Tweed, which is on the border with Scotland, is Lindisfarne or the Holy Isle. It is (as the Irish would say) a "thin place" and was made famous by the Saints Aidan and Cuthbert in the 7th century. This early Celtic Church, which spread from Ireland via Iona, was based on monasteries. They where simple buildings made of wood, wattle and daub. The monks, and their saintly abbots, walked through the countryside spreading the Gospel to everyone they met, regardless of rank or position. The message was simple, "Do as I do, and worship Jesus Christ".
Pilgrims pause for a photo op with Pastor Dean Henry at a statue of St. Aidan . Photo by Jordan Sisolak
Since Constantine gave Christianity his official approval (312 AD), the main Christian Church was based in Rome and took on features of the Roman Empire. It was organized in Dioceses that were based on cities. It had a hierarchical structure and effective administration. Interestingly the two churches had different ways of calculating when Easter should be celebrated. The King of Northumbria and his Queen celebrated it a week apart. This led to a conference at Whitby Abbey in Yorkshire, and more worldly Roman Church won out. One result was the magnificent stone cathedrals, castles, abbeys and monasteries, built by the Normans, that the pilgrims will be visiting. However the hallmarks of the Celtic monks and saints (simplicity, community, and the goodness of creation) never really went away and strands of their beliefs run through the Episcopal Prayer Book. The pilgrims will explore Northumbria and the Tweed Valley getting to know the lands the two saints helped Christianize. As well as going to Lindisfarne, they will take a boat trip to Farne Island, now a bird sanctuary, where Cuthbert spent a number of years as a hermit. A day will be spent exploring the ruined abbeys (Kelso, Dryburgh and Melrose) along the Tweed River in Scotland. At the same time they will learn about the effects of the 500 years or so of border warfare that ravaged the area. This started when the English Norman kings decided that the Scottish kings owed them fealty, and did not stop until the two crowns were joined in 1603. The results include castles, shattered abbeys, bastles (simple fortified farmhouses), Vicars Peles (fortified Churches), bloody battles, and very over romanticized tales of the "Border Reivers". Sir Walter Scott was a particular culprit. In reality they were very unpleasant thieves and thugs, as the pilgrims will learn. Hopefully they will ponder on the contrast between the work of the monks and the later border raiders. Two side trips that have a more up to-date connection are a visit to Rosslyn Chapel of "The De Vinci Code" fame, and a trip to Alnwick Castle where the Quidditch games in the Harry Potter films were shot. One branch of the family that now lives in the castle gave the original funds to found the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. Click on the photos below for a larger image.
Rosslyn Chapel. Photo by Jordan Sisolak When the Vikings raided Lindisfarne the monks took their most sacred possession, Saint Cuthbert's body, and fled. Eventually it was buried in Durham and a magnificent Cathedral was built to house it. The pilgrims will follow. On the way they will visit Bede's World to learn about England's earliest (he lived in the 8th century), and one of it's greatest, historians "The Venerable Bede". Durham cathedral and castle are perched on an outcrop of rock that is surrounded on three sides by the River Wear. They will attend services in the Norman Cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and later explore it, including seeing tombs of Saint Cuthbert and Bede: they are both buried there.
A moment's rest at Holy Island. Photo by Jordan Sisolak The last stop, after visiting the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey in the foothills of the Yorkshire Moors, is the medieval town of York and the magnificent Gothic Minster. This is where Constantine was first declared Emperor of Rome 1700 years ago. After walking the walls, worshipping in and visiting the Minster, and doing any last minute shopping, they will fly home. Will they be changed, different? Not that anyone will admit to! But if the previous pilgrimages are any guide it will be a trip on which they discover a lot about themselves, the world around them, how similar human beings are, and, even, a bit about God and the foundations of their faith.
Devin hiking on the road to Yeavering Bell. Photo by Jordan Sisolak. more photos of the pilgrimage are in the scrapbook O God, our hope is in your promise that in your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we share in his resurrection life forever. So we are those who would follow him by faith as he leads us into abundant life. Be with Elyse, Katie, David, Kevin, Amy, Fran, Onyi, Jordan, Becky, Devin, Amanda, Tyler, Lauren, Dean, William, Vicki, and Betty as they go to a strange land. As they pilgrimage through the land and among peoples who are our forebears in the faith of Christ may they see that you, your Son, and your Holy Spirit are ever present there and in their own hearts. Bless these pilgrims with protection, strength, and a spirit of joy and peace. And Heavenly Father, return them home to us safely, and then bring us all to the end of our earthly pilgrimages to be with you as you have promised in glory everlasting. We ask this in the name of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
by Becky Truscott, J2A Pilgrim Alnwick Castle. Farne Islands. Yeavering Bell. Warkworth Castle. York Minster. Durham Cathedral. Rosslyn Chapel. Holy Island. In the beginning of June, these places were just words on a page, destinations after a two year journey. A journey of anticipation, excitement, and hard work. Now, each of these places holds a special place in the hearts of seventeen Christ Church pilgrims, they are memories, and part of our faith. The hostel at Seahouses was our home for our first week in England. It was a really wonderful place, and as it turns out, the perfect place to start our pilgrimage. In that setting we were able to get closer, share chores and bathrooms, to learn to live with other people, and, in the end, build a sense of community. We set out each day looking forward to new adventure and ended each evening with prayer and reflection. There isn't enough space or time to describe everything we saw and did, and no words to describe it wholly. However some of my most vivid memories are of Holy Island. Holy Island is only accessible at low tide. We were able to make the journey by foot before the waters again surrounded Holy Island. It was here we met a truly spiritual man who touched us all, Friar Damien. Here was a man who has given up all worldly possessions and wealth, things that are so passionately pursued in the world we live in today. And yet, his joy in life is so evident and genuine and pure. His love of God is infectious and his enthusiasm contagious. His passion lifted our spirits and we couldn't help but smile at his adoration for life itself. On our last night in Seahouses, Dean asked each of us if we found God and where. To be quite honest it was hard not to find God in those "thin places". The responses were as different as we are. Many saw God in Friar Damien, others while we walked up Yeavering Bell, and others still saw Him in the beauty and simplicity of that little fishing village. Yet, we all found God in our community, in being together and learning to love each other despite our quirks. This pilgrimage has been a long journey for all of us, but most definitely a memory we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Thank you Vicki and Bill, thank you Father Henry, and most of all, thank you Christ Church for giving us this opportunity and for helping us find God and strengthen our faith in Him.
Blessing The Pilgrims’ Aiding God be with thee in every pass, Jesus be with thee on every hill, Spirit be with thee on every stream, Headland and ridge and lawn;
Each sea and land, each moor and meadow, Each lying down, each rising up, In the trough of the waves, on the crest of the billows, Each step of the journey thou goest.
Bamburgh Castle. Photo by Phil Bickerton. by Bill Cuff Kelso is a delightful town along side the River Tweed in the Borderlands of Scotland. It grew up along side the Abbey founded by King David 1 of Scotland (Dabid mac Mail Choluim), or Saint David 1 in the Twelfth century. It was rather severely treated by King Henry VIII’s troops which left in ruins, which are now an integral part of the town. Kelso is the home of Ian and Elizabeth Hird who own the Kelso pottery which sells their work. Ian specializes in making beautiful simple, practical, smooth pottery intended for everyday use. This description does not do his work justice as it is a joy to use and see. It is richly decoration reflects Ian’s impressions of the ever changing colors and light of the Borderlands. His use of a range of different colored local clays is one way he achieves this. Another important influence is the ever living Celtic heritage of Scotland and the Northern Islands. Ian and Elizabeth have traveled extensively to absorb and learn about it, going as far north as the Faroe Isles. Ian has studied the firing techniques of firing pottery used in Japan, Korea, Portugal, and Crete to see how they affect the surfaces of pottery. Based on this he designed and built his own out door pit kiln. It is little wonder that when both the 2006 and 2004 Pilgrims visited the Kelso Pottery they were delighted with what they saw. Many of you are lucky enough to own samples of his work. It is also not surprising that when a Chalice, and other items of a Eucharistic set, was discovered that they became a gift to the parish in thanks for their support of the trip. The beautiful, simple Chalice and set was officially donated to Christ Church and consecrated at the September 10th 10’o’clock service. They will be used in the Old Church when services are held there again. Read about Youth Pilgrimage 2004.
A Brief history of St Aidan and St Cuthbert St. Aidan Oswald, a member of the royal family of Northumbria, spent several years on Iona after his family had been chased out of Northumbria. When he returned and became King he asked for a monk to come and be Bishop of Northumbria and Christianize it. St. Aidan talked himself into the job when he pointed out the shortcomings of the selected candidate. He left Iona and founded a monastery on Lindisfarne (now known as the Holy Isle) a promontory of the east coast of Northumbria. It can only be reached during low tide as the sea sweeps over the road during high tide. St. Aidan spent most of his time evangelizing the Northumbrians. He established Christianity so successfully that no matter what happened, and a lot did, the faith always remained. St. Cuthbert Mythology has that one night when he was a Shepherd (or protecting the sheep from raiders) in the border hills Cuthbert saw a star ascend from Lindisfarne into heaven. He was sure that it was the soul of St Aidan who had just died. Next morning Cuthbert rode to the monastery at Old Melrose and became a novice. He rose through the ranks there and at Ripon until he was the Abbot. He was then persuaded to go to Lindisfarne as Prior and later Bishop. He was much loved and continued St. Aidan's work in building the church. Like many monks at that time he was at heart a hermit so he resigned and went to live as a hermit on Farne Island, which is just south of Lindisfarne. After a number of years and several attempts the King of Northumbria persuaded him to return to Lindisfarne, where a few years latter he died. He was buried on the Island. Then in 749 AD the Viking raided Lindisfarne and kept returning to devastate the area. The Monks took their most treasured possession, Cuthbert’s body, and fled. They had no plan or idea where to go so for several years they wander around. Finally a church was built for them at, what is now, Durham. The spectacular Cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage site) was built by the Normans in the 12th century. Because it was St. Cuthbert’s burial place it quickly became an important pilgrimage site.
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Christ Church is accessible to persons with disabilities. updated November 18, 2008 |
