My twelve years living full time in Oxford and many part-time were happy ones and full of interesting activities besides researching for my Ph.D and meeting wonderful people. I was indebted to many, some of whom were Dr. Rowan Williams, who became bishop of Monmouth not long after my arrival, then Archbishop of Wales, and of more recent times Archbishop of Cantaur. Now he is back in academia as Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. May the Holy Spirit continue to aspire him. I am also grateful to Fr. Don Allchin, Fr. John Fenton; Fr. Jeffrey and Fr. Michael at Magdalen College, Fr. Michael at St. Barnabas and Fr. Mark at Merton. I am also very grateful to a very dear friend, Michael Rowett, who edited so much of my writing as well as for his friendship. Some of these friends have now gone to greater glory.
I spent a lot of my time in the Bodleian Library and I owe many thanks to the help and friendship of the staff. Indeed it was like a second home in Oxford as I worked on my Ph.D..
However my most uplifting moments were in the chapels of some of the Colleges such as Merton and Magdalen, and in churches such as St. Barnabas and St. Mary Mags. I also enjoyed worshipping at Christ Church Cathedral and Pusey House. Another church I visited often, sometimes just to pray was SS. Gregory and Augustine, not far from where I lived in Water Eaton Road, North Oxford. I loved this little church.
One of the things I treasure mostly from my time in Oxford was to be involved in Ecumenism. Marantha began while I was there, and I am still committed to its cause for Christian Unity and making Christianity a voice in to-day's world. As a member of the SS. Alban and Sergius Fellowship it too gave me a deeper appreciation of the Orthodox tradition. Indeed I spent many hours worshipping in the beautiful Orthodox Church in Canterbury Road. I also spent many a day at the St. Theosevia Centre next to the church at workshops and study days.
While living in Oxford I welcomed visitors from Australia and took them on my tour of Oxford that always included the Addison Walk, Mesopotamia, Christ Church Meadows, the University Park and the Port Meadows. I always took them to some of the colleges and the cathedral to listen to heavenly music and worship.