Page 4 - link magazine

4 The Link Magazine • December 2005
Looking for the Angel in Swindon
The Link asked the Bishop of Swindon Lee Hayfield to tell us what he thinks of the town
What image does the word 'angel' conjure? Many will instinctively visualise wings, harps and radiant figures which are neither male nor
female. Few will think first of that strange book at the end of the Bible which speaks of angels associated with specific places. In the book
of Revelation it seems that the angel of a place or community characterises attitudes and patterns of behaviour. The 'angel' is equivalent to
the spirit of a place or a group of people.
Since arriving in the Borough in While some saw the advent of the social sphere, in that Swindon As a town we are not comfort-
June I have been reflecting on the the M4 as a threat to rural life, key has been adept at integrating peo- able with what we are. We seem to
angel or spirit of Swindon. What Swindonians appreciated its sig- ple from a wide range of back- often look at other places and com-
things seem 'written in' to our atti- nificance and did their best to bring grounds and cultures. At various pare ourselves to them rather than
tudes and behaviour as a town? the motorway within closer reach. times in the post war era, Swindon enjoy and celebrate what - and who
Which of them enrich our life In these times of ecological and has absorbed significant numbers - we are. It feels like we try too hard
together and are strengths to be environmental awareness, Swin- of immigrants into the wider com- to be acceptable to others; this is a
celebrated and developed? Which don is among a small group of munity with relatively little social characteristic of immaturity.
of them diminish us and hold back boroughs looking to become 'car- upheaval. In a world which is be- There is much more I could say
our growth and maturity? bon neutral' and its churches have coming increasingly divided and but space forbids me going fur-
For me the obvious starting place taken a lead in pursuing green 'tribal' this is a precious quality. ther. Maybe it is a good thing to
is our pioneering spirit and instinct energy schemes. Overall Swindon is character- affirm several positive qualities of
to embrace and develop new tech- It seems to me that our pioneer- ised by a spirit of care and concern our town's spirit or angel and only
nologies. The town had its birth as ing spirit and receptiveness to new for others. This is evidenced by the mention one failing. Inevitably this
a response to innovative technol- directions is a foundational large number of community or- is a preliminary, provisional and
ogy in the shape of the railway and strength. Perhaps underlying this ganisations seeking personal reflection
was the first place in Wiltshire to is a greater willingness to face the to provide a helping but I hope some of
have a telephone exchange. Nowa- necessity of change and to cooper- hand or make life what I have written
days, Swindon provides a base for ate with it rather than resist it. better for those who resonates with oth-
y
leading edge companies like Such flexibilit within the eco- find themselves in ers' perceptions and
Motorola, Intel, Honda and BMW. nomic sphere has been mirrored in difficulty. I have been experience.
impressed by their I shall continue to
range, and the skill ponder the angel of
and commitment of Swindon because the
those who give their better we understand
energies through 41 the spirit of the town
them. the better we might
London trained mobile hair stylist Having highlighted build on our
For a visit call Sue on 07796 432 700 l these considerable strengths of our strengths and overcome our flaws.
spirit, what might be said about 'the If we know who we are we may
or email [email protected]
dark side'? better appreciate what we might,
The most obvious thing to me is with the grace of God, become.
insecurity which in an individual We are approaching that time
Now would be summed up as a lack of when the mention of angels con-
self-esteem. For a variety of rea-
jures up a throng of children gath-
sons Swindon has become a place ered around a tableau of the holy
iii- __ to deride and pour scorn upon. family and fidgeting with their
The town is caricatured as a dump, haloes!
____I a cultural wilderness, or a lawless It is both a delightful and pres-
_
and heartless urban sprawl. surised period. Despite all the
What worries me is that we are busyness and demands may you
l 'iEi^#fEER
buying into this caricature - even find the peace of the Prince of Peace
when we instinctively deny it or and enjoy a happy and holy Christ-
protest. mas.
\ i tr
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