The Cornhill Teaching and Preaching Course

Jude Padfield writes about his course in London.

Click here for a picture of Jude.

It’s been a while since I last submitted a piece for the parish magazine, and life has changed for me somewhat since then. Last Summer I moved from the St Bridget’s parish to London, to begin a course called ‘Cornhill’ which is a run by The Proclamation Trust. ‘Cornhill’ is a course that specialises in developing a Teaching and Preaching ministry – with primary emphasis on faithful interpretation of the Bible and developing a Toolset for applying Bible Truths Today.

As many of you will know, I’ve been preaching at St Bridget’s on a semi-regular basis for the past three years or so – and at this point, some of you may be thinking ‘Thank goodness he’s getting some training…!’

In all seriousness, the opportunity Roger Clarke extended to me to explore what I sensed was a call to preaching prior to ‘Cornhill’ was hugely helpful. And the encouragement and affirming words that I received from many at St Bridget’s has been instrumental in my willingness to develop a Preaching ministry further. I don’t know about you, but for me, getting a sense of God wanting me to do something is nearly always accompanied by all sorts of feelings of reluctance, inadequacy and a general ‘why me Lord?’ – if I could run in the opposite direction I probably would! But here I am doing the course and pushing the door further – it’s great to reflect on all that God has done.

So, Cornhill and London. Well, I’m doing Cornhill part-time, which means being in college on Mondays and Tuesdays – with a bit of study time on top. When I was living in West Kirby, I was working with a large software company – and I’m still working for them, albeit based in London, on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. So I’m juggling study and work together; and so far I haven’t dropped any of the balls!

In addition to study work, Cornhill requires that you are working actively in a local Church – and hence, I’ve joined a Church called St Paul’s Shadwell in the East End. The Church is located at a point where two communities meet; the community of predominantly young professionals in the converted warehouses of Wapping and the majority Bangladeshi community in Shadwell. Twelve months ago, the Church was reinvigorated by the arrival of 100+ people (including new ministers) from a larger London Church, Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB), and there is a real sense of excitement and opportunity; as the Church looks to reach out to the people around it, to become a focal point within the local communities and to Preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Poor.

A common question I’m asked is, ‘What do you intend to do after the course?’ And the truth is, at this moment I really don’t know. I’m trying to look at this period of study as an opportunity to learn and to grow, and I guess as well, to try and get some discernment as to what comes next – so I see the course as more of a process, rather than a direct means to an end. However, I can say with confidence that I’m being really challenged by the things I’m involved in, and St Paul’s and Cornhill feel like the right place to be.

Which is an appropriate point I think, to say a big ‘Thank You’ to all at St Bridget’s who’ve helped to make the move to London possible – in prayer, in encouragement and in financial assistance. St Bridget’s made a sizeable contribution to the first-year of Cornhill course fees, and many of you in the community provided sponsorship when Tony Power and I did the Coast-To-Coast cycle ride last year. Again, many Thanks.

Having had the opportunity to catch up with a few people from St Bridget’s, I’m really encouraged by some of the ventures you as a community are taking forward. Particularly, given the youth work I was involved in, it’s great to hear that the Vision for an ecumenical Youth Project in West Kirby is taking shape – let’s pray that God blesses this. And let’s take encouragement also, as we begin to see the first-fruits of God renewing His people in this Nation.