The similar phrase 'Worldly Christianity' is one used by Bonhoeffer. It's J Gresham Machen that I want to line up most closely with. See his Christianity and culture here. Having done commentaries on Proverbs (Heavenly Wisdom) and Song of Songs (Heavenly Love), a matching title for Ecclesiastes would be Heavenly Worldliness. For my stance on worldliness, see 3 posts here.

Aber Conference 2026

I'll be getting into Aber for the EMW conference shortly. The website with all the info is here. More anon.

For the videos try here and here.

Thames Path South 8-13 More Pics


Golden Hinde reconstruction

Cannon Street Railway Bridge

Shakespeare's Globe

Cardinal's Wharf Bankside

Tate Modern

St Paul's from the southbank


Blackfriars Bridge Underpass


The Vase, etc



Somerset House from the southbank

Sir Laurence Olivier

Westminster Bridge

Thames Path South 8-13 (Westminster Bridge-Tower Bridge)

HMS Belfast
Last Saturday I returned to Westminster tube, walked across Westminster Bridge and resumed my walk, covering a large chunk of the Thames Path south, six sections, although it is a similar distance wise to the previous walk. This walk took me through familiar and crowded walkways. Being a sunny Saturday in August it was especially busy. It is hard to believe there are so many restaurants, shops, theatres, etc, in such a confined area. I passed at least ten bridges and some iconic places. Enjoyed a coffee at Caffe Nero at the end and then a meal in the Leon near London Bridge Station.

Tower Bridge in the distance
Millennium Bridge

Shell Building

London Eye

South Bank Lion 1837

County Hall


Lord's Day August 9 2026


These are unusual days as I preach my final sermons in Childs Hill. Yesterday, I preached in the morning a fresh sermon on Song of Songs 2:4 and then in the evening a refreshed one on I John 4:16. The family were all in Aber where I plan to join them and others were away too so the morning congregation was not large and by the evening we were down to seven. We had three Iranian visitors (just people staying in the area), an Iranian new to the area who has been in the UK over 15 years, other regular Iranians (about three of them, could have been a lot more), a late arriving Iranian who we have met before plu our refugee friends, a visiting grandparent, Marissa from KL who came last week and Corneille from Benin (they both kneeled to pray before we started - unusual).

Florence Nightingale Museum


My recent walk along the Thames landed me near the Florence Nightingale Museum, a museum I have known of and wanted to visit for a while. It is small and specific but very well done. I timed it right to catch a woman performing (convincingly) as Mary Seacole for half an hour. That added to the experience. Evryone should know about Florence Nightingale and the museum helps us to that end well. Musea today are eager to cover all the bases and so it was good to see that ion the bookshop they not ony had Mary Seacole's story but that of Betsi Cadwaladr too.

Thames Path South 4b-7 More Pics

Modern Marriage, Embassy Gardens

Tideway Village Housboats, Vauxhall

Tarra Ludi, Nine Elms


Gazebo, Albert Embankment

Lack's Dock or Effra Quay

"The fountain of filth"

St George Wharf Tower

Thames Path South 4b-7 (Nine Elms Lane-Westminster Bridge)

American Embassy

Mary Seacole Statue

Houses of Parliament

Tower Big Ben with fountain near
St Thomas's Hospital in foreground

I spy with my little eye

Violet Szabo Memorial

I had a rest Wednesday but Thursday I was back to it at a pace, covering three and a half sections and at the end grabbing some lunch in Lower Marsh Street before heading to the Florence Nightingale Museum. More anon. I took the Northern line from Golders Green to Nine Elms and took a coffee at Sendero's. After a little difficulty I found the path again and walked from the new American embassy to Westminster Bridge. Sights on the way included Vauxhall Bridge, St George Wharf, MI6, Effra Island, Lambeth Bridge and Palace and St Thomas's Hospital with Parliament on the opposite bank, of course. Lovely weather but not too warm.

Thames Path South 2-4a More Pics

 

Thames Path South 2-4a in reverse (Battersea Power Stn-Wandsworth Bridge)






I found it difficult to get back on to the path Tuesday. After a coffee on the Finchley Road I got a train to Victoria again and then a bus to the Chelsea Gate, Battersea Park. I then walked beyond Battersea Power Station before deciding to walk backwards to the Wandsworth Bridge where I had left off the day before, seeing New Covent Garden, the cats and dogs homes, having a lovely walk along the edge of Battersea Park (eventually) and also passing the Albert and Battersea Bridges and seeing the heliport (just missed one taking off) and St Mary's, Battersea, where I failed to locate the grave of Benedict Arnold. Having walked in reverse I could revisit the MacDonald's I had found and catch the bus to Victoria once again to head home. Warm weather though it actually rained at one point.