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I have already mentioned that I was first attracted to the London Bible College because of my regard for the principal, Ernest F. Kevan. As time has gone on and throughout my long association with the College I have come to have an increasing regard for that institution. I propose therefore to give some personal reminiscences of my connection with it.
The condemned house at 19 Marylebone Road retains many memories for me of the early days of the College. I will mention some of those which have a particular interest to me in recalling those days, especially while I was a student. The house was in far from pristine condition. Since it was due for demolition there was understandably little point in doing too much in it. It was made reasonably habitable, but there was a notable absence of modern conveniences. One room served as a lecture hall and this was capable to accommodating about a hundred students at one sitting. This however meant balancing text books on knees and writing on laps. There was no room for tables. I cannot remember how the timetable was fitted into one room, but after a brief time two small basement rooms were assigned for teaching purposes. Sometimes the minute library also served the double purpose of a lecture room, which meant that the studious types (not too many of them in those days) were forced to wait until the lecture was over.
It must be realised that my first year at College was the year following the cessation of the war, which meant that there was still a shortage of many essential commodities but there was also a supply of mature people who were joining the College as students. Most of my fellow-students had had experience in a wide variety of walks of life. Yet not too many of them were academically qualified. I was surprised to learn that out of twenty-three students only four of us were entitled to matriculate in the University. For some reason best known to himself Ernest Kevan, who as already mentioned was a man of considerable dignity, wanted those entitles to be undergraduates to wear undergraduate gowns. The four of us concerned did not take kindly to this, but since the gowns were provided for us we had no option but to comply. This meant at once the undesirable creation of an elite group which seemed to me to be quite unjustified, but while it was later discontinued I lasted beyond the duration of my course as a student.
The winter of 1947 stands out in my memory. It was the second term of the academic year and it turned out to be the severest winter I can ever remember. Around the Elephant and Castle where we lived the snow persisted to such an extent that walls of it more than six feet high were stacked along the gutters. Attempts to clear the roads were so unsuccessful that the surfaces resembled icy switchbacks rather than roadways. Traffic almost come to a standstill and the underground trains became the only safe way of moving around. The lack of transport created a particular problem at the College for deliveries of coke failed and the antiquated boiler ceased to function. That boiler was a constant source of worry to the student who had been assigned the task of stoking it. It was temperamental in the extreme, but usually managed to provide some warmth. But when the coke ran out arctic conditions invaded the College. On more than occasion students crammed for warmth into the principal’s study with its one electric heater.
The lack of facilities were at first striking. I spent half of the first term as a resident while we were waiting for the flat in Walworth to become available. We were invited to bring our own chairs for the bedroom as the College possessed no chairs for this purpose. I happened to have a collapsible canvas chair and thought this would be most suitable. Yet when I arrived I found the room which I had to share with three others was so small that there was no room to stand the chair. It turned out to be fortunate that it was collapsible since I was able to put it under the bed where it stayed until I moved out.
The best furnished part of the building was the chapel since some donor had given a nicely carved oak communion table and three carved chairs. There was a collection of about thirty chairs for the congregation all in reasonable condition. The chapel had two exits, the one at the back into the corridor and the one at the front into the library which itself had an exit into the corridor. It was possible therefore to do a circular tour in and out of the chapel. It was the custom for the principal or his deputy to stand at the door after evening worship and shake hands with each student and wish them good night. On one occasion the students conspired to use the circular route and the tutor concerned had shaken hands with considerably more than his original congregation before he realised he had shaken one students by the hand at least three times. Fortunately he had a great sense of humour and frequently recounted the story against himself.
In the early days student capers were at times quite adventurous. I remember on one occasion I was consulting the principal about some matter in his study, when we were both astonished on looking out of the window to see someone’s legs descending past the top of the window. Soon the whole person came into view suspended from the flat roof by means of ropes. I never discovered the object of the exercise. It was certainly not an abseiling exercise nor was it practice for some climbing expedition for the equipment used was totally inadequate for such a purpose. It was probably no more than an act of bravado to relieve the monotony of being cooped up in an old building too small for requirements and lacking in any of the luxuries of life. It was typical of our dignified principal that he took such escapades in his stride. He mildly remonstrated about the dangers involved, but no more was said.
There was great rivalry between our College and Spurgeon’s College. The football matches were regarded as rather more than sporting occasions. It was a regular feature for the visiting team (in both directions) to return home with some belongings of the home team which had been surreptitiously seized. It was all done in good fun and the missing equipment was always restored in due course. Our home matches had to held at Regent’s Park, but the visiting team always came first to the College. On one such visit I noticed some commotion in the College yard and looking out of the first floor window I could see an improvised boxing ring. Inside the ropes were two students equipped with boxing gloves having a sparring match. But it was not this that particularly caught my eye, but the appearance of the two students involved. One was an Irishman whose head was not well thatched and would bore some resemblance to our worthy principal who was decidedly bald. His opponent was a stocky South African who sported a brown beard and brown hair and bore a tolerable resemblance to Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Sine this was a display put on by our College students for the benefit of the visiting Spurgeon’s team, there are no prizes for guessing who won. The dramatic climax came with poor Spurgeon slumping over the ropes. I never ceased to marvel at the ingenuity of the students in creating escapades.
Those which took place between students at the College did not always spare the feelings of the victims. Because of the lack of living accommodation at the old house, for some years the College rented some hostel accommodation from the London City Mission at Victoria which was surplus to the Mission’s requirements. It was rudimentary to say the least and the students were not too partial to it. Some students kidnapped one of the Victoria residents in his pyjamas and transported him by car to the Marylebone area, leaving him to find his own way back. They knew their man was a good sport but he was not a little embarrassed at having to hail a taxi during the night to get back to his bed. I rather think that some student had his own back on the main culprit by assuring him that an important person was interested to see his children’s visual aids, which were certainly quite remarkable. The students transported him to the Dorchester Hotel with all his visual aids and told him to report to the commissionaire. He sat in the hotel vestibule for some time but the gentlemen concerned did not arrive and at last he recognised the tables had been turned on him. He was obliged to hire a taxi to take his bulky visual aids back to the College. If anyone should feel that such proceedings were not becoming for those training for the work of God, I must add that both those students have done a great work for God. It may well be that some of the rough corners were knocked off by fellow students in such a way that they became more usable in God’s service.
I have mentioned the College yard. It went by the name of garden, although that was a without question a euphemism. It was in the front of the house and consisted of an apology for a lawn about twelve feet square. It was in fact so rough that considerable effort was required to push the lawn mower in an effort to cut it. Indeed it was the kind of lawn that looked little different even after it had been cut. There were in addition a few plants in some small flower beds. Ernest Kevan was convinced not only that the tending of the garden was a Christian duty, but also that the tending of it would provide a valuable addition to the training that the students were receiving. A rota was arranged so that as many students as possible would have the opportunity if contributing their horticultural expertise. It was fascinating to look out of the overlooking upstairs window to watch the various techniques which were used to accomplish the job. Some rushed at the lawn with the mower as if the secret was the sheer exuberance with which it was attacked. Others look more measured steps to ensure that no blade of grass could be missed, although more often it was a case of finding them rather than missing them. It may be wondered why such a labour was required at all. The fact is the whole area was surrounded by a high wall. Only where the gate stood could the passers-by see any of the garden and never as far as the lawn. Indeed almost the only people who could the beautifully kept lawn were those who occupied the upper storeys of the building opposite, the Methodist Missionary Society. But the principal’s reasoning was rather different. Even if other could not see the tidiness of the garden God could and that was of great importance from a character point of view.
It would certainly have been a depressing place had it not been for the proximity of Regent’s Park, which is one of the most beautiful of the London Parks. It took only five minutes to reach the park from the College. The part nearest to the College was renowned for its spectacular flower beds. In springtime they would be filled with a massive variety of tulips, which provided an unforgettable splash of colour. It was a tonic for the eyes and for the mind to saunter along its paths. The extensive lake with its teaming ducks was a constant source of interest. Its wide and well kept lawns provided a restful backcloth to the water of the lake. The place was well frequented. Some were regulars, often elderly people who lived in the vicinity and were taking they daily constitutional. Many had dogs which needed to be exercised and these formed an ever changing scene as they greeted each other. There were business men using their lunch break to get away from it all and nannies trying to prevent their young charges from involuntarily ducking themselves in the lake. Amid all this kaleidoscope of humanity wandered the College students, either discussing some current point of theological importance or else observing any signs of the latest romance among their fellow students. The pleasant surroundings of Regent’s Park witnesses the blossoming of many romances as well as the blossoming of its spectacular flowers. A favourite place was Queen Mary’s Rose garden, so called because it was a favourite haunt of Queen Mary and because she paid frequent visits there. In summer time it was a riot of colour with many varieties displayed in a most attractive manner. The park authorities had provided a considerable number of seats and if these were full there was always the possibility of hiring a deck chair which were in abundant supply. Another favourite pastime was rowing on the lake, an admirable activity for courting couples.
In the outlying parts of the park there are numerous sports pitches and these were available for hire. One annual event which in the early days was a great favourite with sportsmen and non-sportsmen alike in the College Community was the staff versus students cricket match. The small faculty could not itself muster a full team and the students had to supply the deficiency. Sometimes some creditable performers were seconded but at other times a ulterior motive could be detected in the assigning of students whose cricketing exploits were not outstanding. It was always an unequal struggle since some of the faculty had little idea how to hold a cricket bat let alone hit the ball with any expertise. One member of the faculty refused to play at all unless the students would agree to use a tennis ball when bowling to him, which they generously agreed to do. They actually bowled underarm as an added palliative. In order to make something of a game of it the student captain would usually order his demon bowlers to soften their fury when bowling to the lecturers. There were many good natured quips about what might otherwise happen in the next examination results. Batting was problem enough but when the faculty took to the field the shortage of bowlers was critical. We soon learned that expertise in theology did not guarantee any facility to bowl a straight ball. Yet there were surprises. In one match the principal was put on to bowl. He was a portly gentlemen who was not in habit of running and so his approach work was accomplished at a walking pace. His manner of delivery so surprised the batsman that he was by some fluke clean bowled. The next two balls were so unpredictable that both resulted in the batsman being caught out. The principal had got a hat-trick. His own delight at this unexpected fame was matched by the students’ admiration for his wily tactics. But it was a once for all event and passed into the cricketing history of the College. After a few years the students became more intent on demonstrating their own prowess than on providing a feasible opportunity for the faculty to play at all. This meant the end of the event, which I always regretted because it resulted in the loss of a most enjoyable social occasion.
I must come back to my early years as a member of the faculty of the College. In addition to Ernest Kevan there were four other full time lecturers apart from myself. The others were Harry Ellison, Harry Stringer, Percy Eyres, and Derry Macdonald. This was the team over which the principal presided. As a man he was highly disciplined. He paid attention to the minutest details believing that no loose ends should ever be left. With hindsight it might be thought that Principal Kevan went into too much detail, but it was better to have a man like that at the helm who not only had clear objectives but had tremendous drive in putting them into effect. There was no fear of the College affairs muddling along, for the leader was a born organiser. I never remember seeing any loose papers on Ernest Kevan’s desk. Each day he believed in meticulously clearing his desk. Moreover he knew where everything was. He developed a most elaborate index system to catalogue the pieces of wisdom which he culled from his wide reading. He used to expound and recommend his system to the students, but I never met anyone who managed to use it. Even its intrepid inventor was nearly defeated by it, since he was known, much to the chagrin of his long-suffering wife, to take his indexing backlog on holiday with him to sit on some secluded beach surround by the index cards. I have no doubt that nowadays the maestro would have invested in a microcomputer filing system to replace his index scheme, but he never lived to see the marvels of modern technology.
I have no doubt that the founding fathers of the College knew what they were doing when they appointed a man to lead the work who although academically qualified had had no experience of College life. His qualifications were gained as external degrees of the University of London and he had studied for them by correspondence. He undoubtedly made some initial mistakes but he was flexible enough to make immediate adjustments. He had little cards printed on which there was room for the student’s name to be followed by the words “Kindly see the Principal”. Such invitation seemed innocuous enough, but most students were filled with apprehension when they received such a card. The reason was the penetration of his eyes when they found themselves in his study. I am sure he had no idea of the impression of austerity which he tended to create, for he was in fact a most generous hearted man. His personality had a serious side to it. His colleagues at times wished he had a more ready sense of humour. It was not that Ernest Kevan had no sense of humour, but there were times when he treated more seriously issues that his colleagues would treat more lightly. As time went by he showed himself capable of adjustment to the new approaches and methods which were demanded by the new generations of students. It was difficult for him to do this because he came himself from a background so different from that of most of the students and many of the staff. Yet it was a measure of the stature of the man that he recognised the inevitability of change.
I shall always retain a high regard for Ernest Kevan for he was clearly God’s man in the initial experiences of the London Bible College. In spite of his somewhat overpowering appearance, he had a heart of gold. Having been pastor of three churches before taking up the work of the College. He brought into the College work the experience he had gained at Walthamstow, New Cross and Trinity Road, Tooting. None of the students who studied at the College during his principalship failed to develop a great love and respect for him. Another aspect of his part in the formative years of the College was his skill in selecting the faculty. He believed in hand-picking his colleagues. He never advertised for staff and felt this was inappropriate for a College. He was applying the same principles which he would maintain in the work of a church.
When he chose Harry Ellison, he added a man of fiercely independent thought, who brought to discussions on almost everything a most refreshing slant. He could not have been more different than Ernest Kevan. He was unmethodical to the point of being rather casual. He had a well stocked mind, but tended to throw out off the cuff remarks which would often have been improved had they been given longer consideration. Nevertheless he aimed to stimulate discussion and this he generally succeeded in doing. He was provocative rather than lucid but this was all part of his personality. It was his independence of mind that led to a disagreement with Ernest Kevan and was responsible for his withdrawal from the College. He was a member of the Brethren.
Another colleague from those early days for whom I had the greatest regard was Harry Stringer, who was a Methodist minister. He possessed outstanding intellectual capacity. His lectures were meticulously prepared. I discovered this when there were some areas of study that I needed urgently to survey and the ever generous Harry Stringer lent me his lecture notes on the subject. I still have vivid memories of their thoroughness. He was a man who was bent on encouraging others and I owed much to that encouragement especially in further studies. We were both preparing for a Master’s degree of the University of London at the same time although indifferent subjects for he was a church historian. I remember the day only a few weeks before the examination date when he told me that he had had difficulty in writing and the doctor had just confirmed that he had an incurable disease. It was a great disappointment to him that it was impossible for him to continue with his studies, but I never heard him complain. So debilitating was the disease that he was forced to leave the College and his usefulness was severely restricted for the rest of his life. Indeed he never again did any active work. His fortitude in face of what was a crippling curtailment of his Christian work has always remaining an inspiration to me. He was an example of patient endurance that I will never forget.
When Ernest Kevan invited Percy Eyers to join the staff he knew that it would possibly be only for a limited period, for Percy was suffering from very high blood pressure. Yet for a few years he made a real mark on the College, for he devoted himself with great enthusiasm to everything he did both in his lecturing and in his personal contacts. He was a warm hearted man who was also a great encourager of others. When I joined the faculty it was Percy Eyers who went out of his way to make me fell completely at home. It was a sad beginning to the new academic year in 1954 when Percy Eyers went home on the first day of term, was taken ill that evening and died soon after. Not only was this a great loss to the College, but I personally felt that I had lost a close friend.
The other full time member of the faculty was Dermot Macdonald, affectionately known either as Mac or Derry. He had been a Baptist minister in Stockton and in Woolwich. He impact on the College was immediate. He was an Irishman of very decided opinions, which he expressed with some forcefulness. He possessed remarkable powers of concentration, for he was able to pursue his studies among the general hubbub of the senior common room which served as study room for all the faculty except the principal. Most of us found the noise most distracting, but not so Derry. While the rest of us would engage in some debate on current affairs or on some point of theology, his head would be buried in a book and he would be quite oblivious to what was happening around him. His abilities in this respect enabled him to make many valuable contributions to theological literature and helped in no small measure to establish the academic reputation of the College. His industry was certainly an example to me. When eventually a vice-principal was appointed it was natural and right that he was chosen to fill this post. He could at times give the impression of being more overbearing than he actually was. On one occasion during a series of interviews for prospective students, one candidate who had just been interviewed was overheard to remark to the next victim, “Beware of the dark man in the corner”. But the warning was quite unnecessary for the dark man in the corner was as anxious as anyone to put the applicant at his ease. I soon learned to regard Derry as a real friend and as years have passed that friendship has deepened.
I have given some indication of the men who formed part of the first team of which I was a part because of their particular contribution to the most formative period of my career as a lecturer. Not only did they contribute to my development, but also to the direction in which the academic policy of the College was to move.
Because of the absence among the faculty of expertise in running a College, the Board of Governors decided that academic matters should be decided by an enlarged faculty under the chairmanship of L. F. E. Wilkinson, who was principal of Oak Hill Church of England College. This was a choice which we all approved for there was never a more cheerful or entertaining chairman. Because of his irrepressible enthusiasm and considerable wisdom, we looked forward to these meetings in a manner quite uncharacteristic of committees. Early plans for the development of the College benefited greatly from the wise advice of that most loveable man. Others who joined us on those occasions were Frank Colquhoun, a Church of England minister, Godfrey Robinson a Baptist and Gilbert Kirby a Congregationalist, who later succeeded Ernest Kevan as principal. After a few years this arrangement was discontinued as the full time faculty had increased in numbers and experience.
I have spoken so far only of the earliest years, but there have been others with whom I have been associated over a long period. My reason for mentioning the following people is because of the contribution they have made to me. This is therefore a personal recognition. It was not long after I joined the staff that Ernest Kevan invited Tim Buckley to do a kind of public relations job at the College. It was an astute move, for Ernest Kevan realised the need for making the College known and he judged that Tim Buckley would be the right person to do it. Tim is a Irishman with a style all his own. He is a gifted musician and is married to an equally musically gifted wife. They had both received training at the Royal Academy of Music. Tim has s special gift in speaking, always enriched by a marvellous vein of Irish humour. Without doubt the College owes a considerable debt to Tim’s advocacy of its aims and achievements. But I must speak in a more personal way. I have found in him a real friend, whose warmth and sensitivity have endeared him to me in a way which has become strengthened over the years. His four children spanned the same period as our first five children, which enabled us to share many of the common problems and burdens. What I have found most refreshing is the depth of fellowship which exists with one who made no claim to academic aspirations. In his inimitable way Tim can debunk some of the theological cobwebs which tend to cling to those too deeply immersed in theological abstractions.
I had not been on the staff of the College for long belong we were joined by a Baptist minister from Herne Hill. Clement Connel soon showed that he had particular gifts for administration in addition to lecturing. He divided his time between these two duties. Generations of students were grateful for his kindly direction of their studies. He took a real interest in the students, making a special effort to learn the names of all the new students within the first three weeks, a feat that few have been able to emulate. Throughout my long association with him I have always been impressed by his concern for students. He brought his pastoral gifts into practice in the College in a conspicuously helpful way. I found many points of close fellowship with Clement Connel. I never remember a single occasion when we had the slightest clash with each other, although there were some issues on which we did not agree. We had the greatest respect for each other’s opinions. My own life has certainly been enriched by my friendship with the quiet and unassuming man of God.
A colleague of quite a different character was a Church of England vicar by the name of Owen Thomas. Owen was as Welsh as his name. It was because of his expertise in the French language and because if the introduction of Arts degree in which French was one of the options that Owen was invited to join the staff. With his Welsh enthusiasm and humour he brought a breath of fresh air to the faculty. What was most impressive about Owen was his loveable nature and my appreciation of this has increased over the years. He had a particular gift for helping students with problems, who seemed to be irresistibly drawn to him. It was a well known fact that Owen was at times rather forgetful, but he was always able to shrug this off with a smile. Owen and his wife Peggy for many years lived in one of the College houses in the site in Northwood and this enabled Peggy to act as matron to the students. Between them they made a great contribution towards the work of the College, although Owen moved back into the pastoral ministry before finally retiring to Hastings..
By singling out individuals in this way I am running the risk of failing to mention someone who should have been included. But I cannot omit mention of Harold Rowdon. He has been associated with the College for a long time, joining the Faculty first of all to teach history in the Arts course and subsequently taking on the study of church history. He is a member of the Brethren, and in fact produced a book on the origins of that movement. He also wrote a brief history of the first twenty-five years of the College. Harold took up residence as Warden and has held that position ever since. I have found close fellowship with him over the years because we have always been able to discuss issues in a perfectly open way. There is something to be said for a theologian discussing with someone from a different discipline. I has never failed to be an enriching experience. As Warden Harold has had a unique opportunity to enter into conversation with students, and this is something he does with considerable expertise. There is no knowing how many students have been helped through his kindly interest in them.
Some readers may be wondering why I have so far made no mention of any women, and this omission must be rectified. The first lady member of staff was Rosina Parker. There were two reasons for her appointment. One was the need for a lady warden and the other was the need for a lecturer in English for the Arts course. Rosina had been a school teacher, but she soon adapted herself to the task of lecturing. It was strange at first to have a woman on the faculty, but I felt her presence was a definite asset. She brought a feminine touch to proceedings which was always valuable. She was at some disadvantage in being the only woman, a fact that some of my colleagues did not always appreciate. Although her position on the faculty terminated after six years she made a real contribution and I for one greatly appreciated her presence with us. I remember her taking on the organisation of the faculty item in the annual College Christmas concert. She had some difficulty in getting the co-operation of her colleagues, but I decided I would be supportive of whatever she wanted me to do. She promptly announced that I was to dress up as Lord Ullen’s daughter. I considered that as the only woman on the staff she should take the only female part herself, but she had decided her part in the proceedings was as producer and that I should perform the woman’s role. Once Rosina has decided the matter there was no point in protesting. She made sure that I had a completely feminine outfit to wear, including stockings, highly coloured silk scarf, gloves, necklace and even ladies shoes. She believed in thing properly. I had never before dressed in feminine clothes but felt I must keep my promise to co-operate with her, and my willingness to do this persuaded all my colleagues to do the same, although none of them were expected to take a woman’s part. Rosina had rightly judged that the students would warm to my appearance and they did. I never quite knew why she chose me for that part, but I suppose it was because I was the only one slim enough to get into the feminine clothes she had provided. The act was so popular that I was frequently pressed to repeat similar feminine roles even after Rosina had left.
Another of my lady colleagues was Margaret Manton who followed Rosina as warden of the women’s hostel. Unlike Rosina she had been a student at the College before joining the staff. Her contribution was to provide a very down to earth approach to College affairs and her pragmatic advice was always a useful counterbalance to the more abstract theorising of some of her colleagues. She left after a few years to follow a strong call to work overseas. Her place was taken by Peggy Knight who has been on the faculty ever since and has made her own special contribution particularly in counselling among the women students. Since the appointment of Mary Evans and Sheena Gillies the proportion of women has been considerably strengthened and this has been of the greatest value.
It has often concerned me why there are so few women theologians, for theology has for centuries been a male bastion. The vociferous feminist movements have done nothing to redress the balance. If anything they have left male supremacy in theology more deeply entrenched. It is not altogether surprising in view of the overwhelming male dominance in the affairs of the Christian church that women have found it so difficult to get into academic theological circles. It was something of a new departure when the founders of the London Bible College decided on a mixed College which would treat both men and women on the same footing with no segregation between them. Ernest Kevan was fully committed to this and undoubtedly it was a right course. It was strongly felt that it was wrong to train men for the ministry isolated from women. I was as convinced of the rightness of this as Ernest Kevan. One of the factors which has contributed to the success of the College has been the long succession of women students who have brought a mellowing influence. Of course, the traditional Christian approach to women has been dominated by the belief that the Biblical teaching supports only the subjugation of women. I felt this view needed examination and when my colleague Mary Evans wanted a subject for a thesis I suggested a study of the Biblical view of woman’s role and agreed to act as supervisor for such a study. It was refreshing to have a good piece of exegesis from a woman on the subject of women’s rights. Other studies in existence were either from militant feminists who were basing their views on other considerations than the exposition of scripture, or my men who laid themselves open to the criticism of male chauvinism. When Mary finally published her findings in the book Women in the Bible I was glad to write a preface urging others (including men) to take seriously her exposition. I have always felt some incongruity between the responsible positions allowed to women in the mission field and the restrictions placed upon them in this country. I am aware that my views on women’s role are not shared by all Christians. I have come across students who have objected to being taught by a woman, and I have know of at least one woman lecturer who has genuine qualms of conscience about teaching men. I have no doubt the debate will continue but I have the feeling that the Christian church will become increasingly less a purely male preserve and I am of the opinion that this will be all to the good.
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