Notes from an Ordinand   continued from previous page

personal matter started me down avenues of thought that have had a profound effect and challenged me. I had not really accepted the dynamic nature of theology before nor had understood it as the self expression of a community's belief. What I had previously assumed to be fixed and immutable, I now see in terms of a doctrine that develops as beliefs and their implications become better understood or older formulations are revised in the light of new knowledge and criticism. It was an eye opener to realise that theology is never finished and will always be a work in progress.

The reading I have to do this term as part of my homework and preparation for my assignments is very demanding in terms of both time and comprehension but it has helped me to realise how shallow and undeveloped parts of my faith were previously. The opportunity to stand back and take the wider viewpoint is very helpful as are the many opportunities I have to discuss these matters with my fellow students. Thinking about our faith is something that we all should do. Do you think about your faith? Do you have questions and no answers? That's good if you do; it's quite normal! But what do we do about it? It's good to talk and if anything I have written touches a chord do let me know. I almost certainly won't have all the answers but I would love to share our respective journeys of faith.

If any of the residents of Elstead have any memories or know anything about the history of Yew Tree Cottage Elstead I would be very grateful if you would contact me.

All I have found out is that is one of the oldest cottages in the village, having been built circa 1580 and was added to in the 17^th century to make two cottages, "Rinsbury" and "Yew Tree Cottage". A Clare Payne lived here in the 1920's, then in 1944 it was restored after being used for home guard practice (I found a bullet when digging the garden)  and was then lived in by Mr & Mrs Warr until 1982. (They died later in a nursing home Mr Warr aged 103 and Mrs Warr aged 99 years.) We purchased the cottage in 1983 and visited the Warrs in the nursing home. Unfortunately they could not tell me much about the cottage.

A gentleman in the village told me that as a boy he used to climb upstairs and jump down though the floorboards as it was derelict. Mrs Reid, our then next door neighbour told me that one day in the 1940's the Home Guard were making a noise at Yew Tree Cottage and she put her head out of the window to see what was happening. The soldier shouted "GAS-GAS" get your head back in!" She did not suffer any bad effects, thankfully as she lived to a ripe old age.

Please contact me at Yew Tree Cottage, Thursley Rd Elstead.