Spiral Notebook - 'Capernwray Hall'

In 2007, I set off from Melbourne with my bags and violin in hand destined for England - a place that held a special spot in my heart since my earliest memories. I had enrolled to study theology at Capernwray Hall in Carnforth, Lancashire for the good part of a year. Flying down into London felt like coming home - I had seen so much of England in TV shows, on the news and in movies and had read my fair share of Enid Blyton, Beatrix Potter and C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia that Britain was quite familiar to me. Along with a bunch of other international students, I took the coach from London northward to Lancashire. There was great excitement as we got our first view of the hall or 'castle' as we called it - which would be our home for the months to come. Capernwray Hall is a gothic-revival building with it's main tower, courtyard/outbuildings and a clock-tower at the far end of the courtyard. It is set among beautiful gardens - that I would describe as "cottage garden" in their appearance - and it has it's own farm with a stream flowing through it and a large pond frequented by white (not the Aussie black that I'm used to) swans. Beyond that are gentle rolling hills and a canal. But, it's the people at Capernwray Hall that make it truly special. It was bought by Major Ian Thomas and his wife Joan after the Second World War as a way to minister to the spiritual needs of young Europeans following the horrors and heartaches of the war. There were approximately one-hundred and seventy-five students while I was there. Many of them and the wonderful lecturers and staff became like a second family to me and I don't think I'll ever experience such community and a sense of belonging until I reach heaven's shores - it truly was a slice of heaven amidst the trials of life. I painted the hall using black ink based on a photograph I had taken of the rear facade near the dining hall. May this image bless you as the memory of my time at Capernwray Hall continues to bless me and many others.