Members of the congregation may remember Rev’d Ros Lane’s sermon when she came to visit earlier this year. Ros and I have been friends for many years and for the last eight years have each spent most of our spare time working on our doctorates at the University of Chester. This year we both passed after an oral exam called a Viva – basically a grilling on your work during which we had to ‘defend’ our theses.
Ros’s doctorate was called ‘Imprisoned Grief’ – a study of the effect of unresolved grief on prisoners. As a prison chaplain, Ros ran a groundbreaking course which enabled prisoners to express grief and loss through discussion groups and rituals devided by the prisoners themselves.
My doctorate was a study of congregational song: I discovered that hymns are meaningful because they hold so many memories for people. The very first Christians would have remembered Jesus singing at the Last Supper – part of the chains of memories which ultimately link us to Jesus!
Last Friday we were both formally awarded our doctorates in a ceremony at Chester Cathedral. It was a colourful and happy occasion and it was great to wear the doctoral robes including the big hat! The day helped our achievement to sink in – two new Rev’d Drs! Here’s another photo of me with my (very proud) mum!