(The Sesquicentennial Chapel Address by the Rev Peter Morphew)

On Sunday, the 3rd of February the College Chapel congregation exceeded 300 members of Newington’s community and special guests, eager to hear the Rev Peter Morphew deliver the homily at this very auspicious occasion. The following is a series of extracts from Rev Morphew’s notes, shared with those fortunate enough to be at this special service:

“Today for us is a day to rejoice and celebrate. Today is a day to commit again to the vision and faith of the founding fathers of this College as we remind ourselves what lies at the core of our identity as Newington College and as we face the challenges that undoubtedly lie ahead.”

“In the movie Salmon Fishing in the Yemen there is a character who is a sheikh and he has a vision of establishing salmon fishing in a dry barren place with the aim of transforming the desert into a vibrant agricultural region.

“It is a vision that is laughable. It is a vision that will require an enormous amount of resources, and an initial investment of 50 million pounds.”

“It is a vision that is ridiculed … “utter nonsense”, unfeasible, “a crazy enterprise”, absolutely absurd … one Yemeni tribesman calls it—an insult to God. Yet he persists because his greatest resource, even though at times it seems miniscule is FAITH.

“At one point he discusses his vision with his colleagues and says …’I intended to create a small miracle … something to glorify God, and bring our people together. Sometimes I wonder if we haven’t created something that glorifies man … it is a very fine line.’ ”

“Over a 150 years ago in the early 1860’s there was a vision to transform a house in urgent need of repairs and renovation. The kitchen had been turned into a piggery by its previous owners and the dining room was like a barn. The vision was to transform this run down mess into a school, a theological seminary and a university boarding facility. This vision was equally preposterous and foolhardy.

“And whilst many questioned and doubted that the available resources would be adequate … the greatest resource they had was FAITH …The faith that was the core of their identity. Faith in God who says I will be with you. Faith in God who proved the permanence of his promise by living with us and dying for us as Jesus.

“The Methodists also intended to create a small miracle … something to glorify God. They knew it would come to nothing without faith, without God.

“Prior to 1899 the motto was more akin to a prayer Floreat Newingtonia … May Newington Flourish. It was a prayer that by the grace of God was answered through the generosity of faithful people who shared a Biblical Christian worldview. So it is not surprising that in 1899 they chose the motto from 2 Peter 1:5 In Fide Scientiam … To Your Faith add knowledge. This motto has not simply been on the chests of our boys, our men throughout the years and decades it was intended to be written on their hearts and at the heart of everything truly Newington. A faith that was God-honouring, a faith that was Christ-centred, a faith that sought to glorify God not man.

“At one point in the movie the sheikh speaks about fishing as being an exercise of faith and he is doubted … fishing and religion are hardly the same thing … but he strongly disagrees as do I, for all things are spiritual.

“In the 21st century, seemingly light years from our roots in the 19th century with all the staggering advances in every aspect of humanity, there will be those who say … “schooling and religion are hardly the same thing.”

“However, we need to beware the fine line. If we ignore faith, the essential Christian faith; if we divorce knowledge from faith; we deprive ourselves of true wisdom and we cross the fine line. How can God be glorified without faith?

“Should our College become something that glorifies man and lose its heart of faith, its significance will be only passing, its glory only momentary, its praise will be swamped by eternity.

“It is right that we rejoice and celebrate today and this year. It is right that we are truly thankful for our history, our success, our College.We have so, so much to be grateful for that is not of our doing.

“Ultimately if our thanks is not directed to God, who do we thank?

“Ourselves? That smacks of arrogance, hubris that I’m sure we would shun. Do we thank the founding fathers who are long gone? Yes, but we would be doing them a grave injustice if we ignored the God who gave them faith in His promise “I am with you” and bestowed on them His grace and favour.

“It is right that we rejoice and celebrate today and this year. It is right that we are truly thankful to God for His extravagant generosity pre-eminently displayed in His Son. It is right that we commit ourselves afresh to the faith of those who established our College, whose prayer is our prayer. May Newington Flourish to God’s glory for the next 150 years and beyond.”