...rather attractive in the dusk of a November afternoon, and a cheery History Walk with a friendly group. We ended up at Allen Hall, and a warm greeting from the Rector....
On to Birmingham by train...to Maryvale where I was to lecture as part of the BA (Div) course. Another warm welcome, a sense of belonging...and then followed a tiring but immensely enjoyable weekend, with lectures and discussion and more...
One is woken in the morning by the gentle sound of the Brigettine Sisters singing their morning prayers: the chapel is just beneath the bedroom area where I sleep. Mass will follow in half an hour, and there is just time to wash and dress etc...then a good breakfast. They used to have instant coffee but much pleading and the acquisition of a cafetiere have resulted in good coffee as we gather at the breakfast tables...
Letters and notes from St John Henry Newman are on display in the hall, and there was of course a large Maryvale presence at the canonisation in Rome...
The Birmingham that JHN knew has of course largely vanished beneath concrete and steel. The city is, alas, in general very ugly and especially so in the case of the area around New Street station with the odd "steel bubble-wrap" building looming in a vaguely menacing way. A bus ride away, Maryvale still holds its atmosphere along with its lawns and reassuring trees - an odd, comfortable, solid old house with its sloping stairs and hidden chapel and its own special chapters of English history...
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