Day 04 - Woolsthorpe / York: Woolsthorpe Manor House and Science Center, York Minster Cathedral

We started with a reflection: Is God near or far? And how do we experience Him personally? 

And church-wise, are you in a “high” church setting of formality and tradition where God seems far, or in a “low” church setting of informality where God seems near?

Can you imagine the best of both at the same time somehow - a welcoming, informal environment that upheld the glory and holiness of the infinite and almighty God?

Reflections concluded at the end...

We started the tour at Woolsthorpe Manor, Sir Isaac Newton’s homestead. Newton is significant to Christian Heritage, as he is perhaps the greatest scientist of the second millennium, and he himself argued that his science didn’t compete with his faith, but rather fueled it. Prov 25:2 says, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, it is the glory of kings to search it out.” And Newton believed in an intelligent God, who created an orderly creation with his glory built into it, so his role as a scientist is to search out the glory of God in the discovery of the order of His creation. 

Newton was “lord of the manor by age 8, and was raised a devoted Christian believer. 

Some of his personal journals were on display, where he recorded his “list of sins" at age 19:

#40: Fearing man above Thee

#42: Caring for worldly things more than God

#43: Not craving a blessing from God on our honest endeavours

#44: Missing chapel

#46: Peevishness at Master Clarks for a piece of bread and butter

*I guess missing chapel can cause peevishness!

We went from Woolsthorpe to the historic city of York, an ancient city with a lasting legacy of Christian heritage. In 313 AD, Constantine legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire, and in 314 York sent three bishops to the Council of Arles - meaning Christianity had been active in York for at least a generation under the Romans. We began our visit at York Minster, the magnificent cathedral that has stood as a beacon of Christian witness since 627 AD when the Anglo-Saxon King Edwin of Northumbria was baptized there. Strolling beneath its soaring Gothic arches and stained glass windows, we individually reflected on the countless generations who have worshipped in that same space. 

After exploring the Minster and crypt (with it’s Roman foundations!) we walked through the medieval town center, where winding streets and ancient walls reflect centuries of pilgrims, merchants and monks. The highlight was a stroll down The Shambles, a narrow, cobbled street lined with timbered buildings that date to the 14th century - and they served the best Yorkshire puddings and fish-n-chips!

We returned to the Minster for the 4 PM Choral Evensong service. Evensong is a centuries old tradition to finish your day with a gathered service of hymns and Scripture and prayers. In Revelation 7, John describes a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, tribe, people and language, worshipping together before the throne of God. At 4 PM today we joined the saints from nearly 1400 years of continuous worship - and this is our day to keep the faith, to keep lifting our voices, to join the other believers there and lift one voice up to our Eternal God while we live and until we meet God face to face. 

To conclude the reflection above: As we sat in the Evensong Service, we couldn’t help but notice the Minster is soaring, with a monstrous and powerful pipe organ that filled the space with thunderous chords echoing God’s eternal glory, power and honor. This reminds us that God is “far" - holy, perfect, glorious, infinite, almighty. But also, as we entered the Evensong service, the Reverend Canon Tim Goode welcomed us with genuine warmth and interest about our visit setting us immediately at ease. At the opening of the service, the presiding minister, the Dean of York (second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury) the Very Reverend Dominic Barrington (!) was equally warm and welcoming - representing well the near and loving fatherhood of God to us all. Blending these elements of near and far - was reading familiar Scriptures, reciting ancient creeds, and hearing the choir sing historic hymns. It was a beautiful and powerful worship gathering - and an honor to participate in a 1400 year legacy of faith!