Ray's Blog
Scam, Peacocks And Valleys
I am the victim of an email scam. Many of you have received emails purporting to be from me and asking for your help. Please do two things: 1) Look carefully and you will see that the email is not in fact identical with mine. 2) Put it into scam...
God's Kiss And Mars Bars
Three of us went by car to Ian Davidson's funeral at Edinburgh's Morningside Church. A crowded church and robed choir saw Ian off. Six community members came from Yorkshire, Northumberland and Scotland. Some knew him when he was warden of Scargill House, others when he was chaplain of Edinburgh Fellowship...
White House Working Holiday
My sister Sally and I are having a working holiday at White House, Holy Island.
I have hacked and weeded three years' growth to create a mountain of weeds.
Each day we attend four services. Each day I have met up with an old friend who is staying on the island.
The Community...
Pilgrims From Thames To Forth Bridge
What a joy to celebrate Sally Steen's seventieth birthday with her family and friends from her Burmese charity work and The Community of Aidan and Hilda. We embarked at Westminster Pier on an Edwardian cruiser, saw London's sights accompanied by musicians and a delicious lunch. One guest got me a...
Norwegian Vows On St. Cuthbert's Island
Frode Felbraten led a group of clergy and church members from the Lillesand Deanery in Norway to walk St. Cuthbert's Way and learn at The Open Gate more about the role of the Medvandrer (soul friend). We accompanied Else to St. Cuthbert's Isle where I received her vows as a...
Do Not Cause Others To Stumble By Our Use Of Social Media
Luke's Gospel tells us (9:51-62) that many people wanted to follow Jesus and his call to live for God's kingdom, but because they had never examined their own unspoken priorities these hi-jacked them from remaining followers of The Way.
I am deeply saddened when someone in our world-wide community, who, before...
Annual Gathering - The Next 25 Years
I joined seventy others at the Annual Gathering of The Community of Aidan and Hilda at Yarnfield Centre, Staffs., to celebrate our first twenty five years. Representatives from Ireland, Norway, South Africa and USA joined us. I gave a power point presentation starting with my visit to Holy Island...
A New Fire Of London
Last Thursday I accompanied 17 clergy from Kristiansand deanery on their coach and lectured, and celebrated Holy Communion with their dean at St Aidan’s Bamburgh, facilitated by the new vicar Louise. Then they walked the island pilgrim posts and got to know the Open gate staff.
On Friday I met with...
The Way
I have been unwell - hence there was no blog last week.
Yesterday I accompanied 16 clergy from Kristiansand, Norway and we celebrated a Eucharist at St. Aidan's Church, Bamburgh, where Aidan died. Haken Borgenvik, the leader of our (Anamcara) community in Norway led the group. Today they walked the Holy...
A Pilgrim Guide
I have agreed to an unusual request: to be a pilgrim guide by email to someone who takes a three month sabbatical visiting pilgrim sites in UK and emails me questions. Here are four examples.
1) My pilgrim starts at the tomb of England’s King Edward...






