LONDON DIARY: Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans and Other Observations
LONDON DIARY: Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans and Other Observations
Church of England is in such massive decline that within 25 years it will cease to exist as an institution
By David W. Virtue in London
www.virtueonline.org
April 29, 2012
"He who grows tired of London grows tired of life" opined Dr. Samuel Johnson. But that was in the 18th Century. Dr. Johnson would not recognize London in the 21st.
Walking through central London, about 20 minutes by fast train from my hotel in Wandsworth, (south London) one feels suddenly isolated and alone. Virtually nobody speaks English as a first language and often not at all. Almost everybody I saw or passed on footpaths or crossing London's celebrated bridges was a foot shorter, gesticulating and babbling in a foreign language, flashing iPods and cameras while pouring thousands of pounds into England's ancient tourist attractions, foremost among them being Westminster Abbey where tourists fill the coffers to keep the doors open and the ancient sarcophagi of kings and archbishops dutifully polished.
It is a place where choral services, concerts and organ recitals can be heard but not much gospel proclamation according to my friend JR. While thousands of tourists from all over the world pour into the church seven days a week, on any given Sunday a mere 200 or so turn up to worship.
Read the full story at www.VirtueOnline.org
Church of England is in such massive decline that within 25 years it will cease to exist as an institution
By David W. Virtue in London
www.virtueonline.org
April 29, 2012
"He who grows tired of London grows tired of life" opined Dr. Samuel Johnson. But that was in the 18th Century. Dr. Johnson would not recognize London in the 21st.Walking through central London, about 20 minutes by fast train from my hotel in Wandsworth, (south London) one feels suddenly isolated and alone. Virtually nobody speaks English as a first language and often not at all. Almost everybody I saw or passed on footpaths or crossing London's celebrated bridges was a foot shorter, gesticulating and babbling in a foreign language, flashing iPods and cameras while pouring thousands of pounds into England's ancient tourist attractions, foremost among them being Westminster Abbey where tourists fill the coffers to keep the doors open and the ancient sarcophagi of kings and archbishops dutifully polished.
It is a place where choral services, concerts and organ recitals can be heard but not much gospel proclamation according to my friend JR. While thousands of tourists from all over the world pour into the church seven days a week, on any given Sunday a mere 200 or so turn up to worship.
Read the full story at www.VirtueOnline.org
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