I went on a visit to Ripon College, Cuddesdon, which I thought seemed lovely but there was something not quite right for me, and I looked at Westcott. I looked at two other colleges before accepting a place there. It is 40 years this year since I arrived at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield.

They have specific problems and I am keeping them in my prayers but there is the wider issue the church has to face about the fate of residential training. Flicking through this week’s Church Times there are a number of articles about the problems being faced by Westcott House in Cambridge. This one is all to do with training for priesthood. The Church of England is facing a crisis, another crisis. It’s a film similar to the St Trinian series, set in an out of control Public School, and stars Alastair Sim and Margaret Rutherford and is completely devoid of violence, horror, blood or suspense. But one of my favourite films is the 1950’s classic, ‘The Happiest Days of Your Life’. And I have watched ‘The Two Popes’ – I thought that was great – honest, moving, heart-warming (never I thought I’d say that about watching anything to do with the contemporary church!). While I was staying with her and her family after Christmas they made me watch ‘The Hunt for the Wilderpeople’. I do, however, trust my sister’s choice of films. I like what I like and I know what I don’t like – violence, horror, blood, suspense, things like that. I often make the ridiculous statement ‘I can only watch a film I’ve seen before.’ People, rightly, look at me with incredulity. I have a strange relationship with films and those who know me well would agree with that.

One of the happiest days of my life