How the 1300th Anniversary of Evesham Abbey provides inspiration for Baptists!

I was among dozens of folk from around the country who came together in Evesham on Maundy Thursday for the Northumbria Community Easter Workshop. It proved to be a renewing experience and I was grateful that this event, normally held on Holy Island (Lindisfarne), was so close to home!

The strong historical connection between Evesham and Northumbria may not be obvious at first but is both intriguing and inspiring. An early significant event was the consecration of Bosel as the first Bishop of Worcester in 680. Bosel came from the great Celtic monastery in Whitby, presided over by Abbess Hild and it was one of his successors, Egwin, who founded the Abbey at Evesham in 709. Of particular interest, however, is the pilgrimage of three monks - Aldwin (Prior of Winchcombe), Reinfrid and Elfwy – who travelled from Evesham to the north east in 1074.

In order to subdue the north after the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror had ordered the destruction of food, crops and herds “so that the whole region north of Humber might be stripped of all means of sustenance” (Orderic Vitalis). More than 100,000 people died of hunger and among those who fled were some who found their way to Evesham, seeking help from the Abbey. Inspired by this human tragedy and also stories of the Celtic saints, the three monks travelled north and set about restoring monastic communities such as Whitby, York, Durham and Lindisfarne.

Much of the inspiration for `Easter in Evesham’ came from Sarah Pillar, a leader in the Northumbria Community whose husband Edward is Minister of Evesham Baptist Church. Sarah’s patience, hard work, and cheerfulness were an encouragement to us all – not least because of the daily battle she faces with multiple sclerosis. Her love for Evesham and vision for the renewal of Christian faith there are fuelled in part by links with Northumbria.

I was struck again by the power of a connecting story, a deeply-rooted sense of place, a shared journey, common prayer, new horizons, fulfilled dreams, strangers becoming friends and hospitality inspiring hope – all echoes of the Easter message heard again in Evesham through a very special weekend.

In this Anniversary year for Baptist churches may we, too, discover a renewed love for the places in which we are called to serve and renewed life together as communities of disciples.

Keith Judson