Today I was able to fulfill the offer that failed
to materialize last week: attending hall-mate, professor Phillip’s lecture where
he teaches at the University of Birmingham. Having studied a map of campus, I
met him in the lobby of the Arts Building just before noon, where his class
would take place in a typical classroom on the 2nd floor – give or
take a story. There were between 20 and 30 students – with, I’d say, slightly
more women than men.
It was the third week of the course titled, Christianity
from Jewish Sect to Roman State Religion. Thankfully I hadn’t missed too much
of what had been presented up to this point. Today’s topic centered around the
subject, ‘The Parting of the Ways?’ or in other words, in considering specific
passages from the New Testament, was this the point where Jewish followers of
Jesus began the departure from their Judaic roots? How closely, in fact, was
Jesus a follower of the Law? In case you were wondering, as I was, yes,
Professor Burton did take role – but I think it was more for the purpose of putting
names to faces. I will spare you details of the 50-minute lecture, and say only
that the years and extent of the instructor’s learning and expertise were clearly
evident, that it was an extremely interesting discourse – especially in light
of its religious content. At one point Philip brought up an online ancient manuscript text of actual New Testament script
called the codex sinaticus, and read and pointed out things to the class from
its Greek text.
When class ended, Philip had an hour before he had
another appointment so offered to show me around some. As we walked, we had plenty
of opportunity to talk about today’s discussion (that was one thing – there wasn’t
any, not one student offered their ideas or asked a question. I brought to
Philip’s attention that perhaps his way of addressing the class might have
something to do with this lack of interaction. At the conclusion of each point,
he would pause, look directly at the class and query, ‘Are you okay with this?’
I told him that to me there could be two possible meanings to that question: ‘Are
there any questions, meaning do you understand?’ or else ‘Do you AGREE with
everything that’s been said?’ and assumed he intended the first. He said he got
my point, and really appreciated the feedback, as he has been struggling with
how to more effectively involve his students.
We took a look at 1) the great hall, at that
moment not in use, a giant lecture/presentation room (also where graduation is conducted), every major university in England has one – oh, man, the paneling and old lighting fixtures! 2) the new music
building – wow! wish you could have seen it, and did you know Edward Elgar was
the first professor of music at the university? Cool - love his music! 3) and
lastly, the Barber Institute of Fine Art, which has, among other things, its
own art collection, SO extensive that I didn’t even choose to give it a start
today. (I’ll be back when I have more hours on my hands than I do today, ‘cause
you know me – I love art!!) Philip also informed me that the clock tower has a
nickname, ‘Old Joe’ – named after Joseph Chamberlain, father-in-law to John
Nettlefold below, and probably the greatest philanthropist the university has
ever known.
After parting ways (hah - that was our topic of discussion
today!), I spent a couple more hours, going in and around, and here and there
throughout campus. There is a lot to see – I have only just begun to scratch
the surface. I know I will be spending a lot more time getting to know it
better. In fact when I asked Philip if it would be alright if I came again to
his class, he said, for you? Yes! Hurray!! So every Tuesday, midday, you will
find me a few blocks from home, up on campus for the lecture, with a free
afternoon to look around further. There were a lot of student spaces with banks,
eating areas, and shops, etc., that were, and will be, fun to peruse. You can be assured that today sprinting right to the top on my 'must do' list of 'must dos' was their bookstore. (I'll be back -promise!) I even
came upon this spot where a charity had set out some kids’ items: one was a
haunted house floor puzzle with heat-sensitive points you can touch where the
heat of your fingers reveals what is hidden (shh, don’t tell – ghosts, goblins
and ghoulies.) Yours for a pound!
The campus was absolutely magnificent - forgive me
if I say that the university we all know and love would, regrettably, pale by
comparison somewhat. You know, I must admit a lot of it was all those old
buildings (a red-brick campus, I am told – as the different major UK universities
fall into two of several categories) and established landscaping – an
incredible design scheme between buildings and walkways and foliage and trees.
The pictures I am including will hardly do it justice, I’m certain. (Looks for all intents and purposes very similar to BYU . . . but for the sale of alcoholic beverages right on campus!)
Part of my intention in coming up on campus today
(up a hill from where I live, similar to BYU – temples of learning: temples and
educational places of higher learning) was to find the place called
Winterborne. Myfanwy has told me about it – how it has a charming place to eat,
while the most amazing part is its garden. I didn’t really know what
‘Winterborne’ was, but I soon found out! Winterborne is the name of a beautiful
estate, located right on the edge of the university, originally built for John
Nettlefold and his family. I was able to tour the house, but saved the
elaborate garden for a spring day in the future, as there is a fee to explore
it – and we are not in the peak of the year for gardens, you know. It was another
example of the Edwardian age – an era I am quite intrigued with, really. It was
a time, not so long ago in the near past (spanning the period following the
death of Queen Victoria to the break out of WWI – when the face of the whole
world was changed irrevocably forever) when philanthropic people were becoming
especially interested in assuring that life could be as noble as possible for
all levels of the population – when the idea of family was given a truly high
status, the gentler side of life was idealized. It was during about this same
time span that George Cadbury (of the wealthy chocolate Cadbury’s) built a most
marvelous planned community in Bourneville for the company’s key workers, a
total of 140 acres in all. Nettlefold, also an industrialist and philanthropist,
who had raised his small nuts, bolt and screw business to become the greatest
manufacturer of said parts in the entire world, followed Cadbury’s lead and was
also instrumental in developing a community that pioneered the concept of low-density housing, with a
plentiful supply of open spaces and adequate amenities, located on the
outskirts of cities, but with good transport links to the town centre. He
insisted that Greater Birmingham must result in ‘better Birmingham’ and, when a
member of the town council, ensured that the city was in the forefront of adopting
town planning practices.
It was delightful
exploring Winterborne - it is a museum really. All the rooms inside were
spacious, with views to the lovely, expansive garden, and spaces for ongoing
family life were evident. With all the clever talking displays and photos you
really felt like you were a fly on the wall of this charming family of five
children. They presented it as a loving family, with a mother very much
involved with charities and committees and the issues of the day. In that house
I had this lovely, warm sense of the ideal family, the warmth of their caring for
each other and magnanimous attitudes towards others outside their circle. One aspect
I found alluded to was that at some point later in the father’s life, he
suffered some sort of physical or emotional setback. No one there could tell me
anything more, though it was hinted at in several placards. I wonder what
happened to this gifted, generous man in his later years – I could find nothing
online to tell me more. I am hoping there is a biography I can locate in the
library that will give some clues – quite a mystery, and kind of a sad ending
to the story.
Tonight Myfanwy
left the house all decked out, saying that she was going to a Dante Alighieri.
Okay, and what’s that? Turns out it’s a group of people, the Dante Alighieri
Society, who share the love of Italy and all things Italian. And tonight was
their annual soiree. Myfanwy said they eat Italian food, drink Italian wines,
mingle about speaking to one another in Italian (of course, many are, or have
spouses who are, Italian), and for a time in the past, I am told, had a
presentation delivered entirely in Italian. In years past Myfanwy had begun
mastering the Italian language; in fact, she and her former, now late, husband
(a nationally and globally-acclaimed linguist at this university) owned a second
home in Italy. Her hopes are to continue with her studies soon.
Photos_
1- Dante
Alighieri, major Italian poet of the Middle Ages
2- 7- on the campus of the University of
Birmingham
clock
tower (up close and personal)
campus
artwork (no progress – value life)
bookstore poster
bookstore poster
the grand hall
fruit and vegetable stand
Winterborne – family home & garden
