Reflections in a Chalice: The Memoirs of a Practical Priest - Softcover

Lucas, Brian Humphrey

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0956758800 ISBN 13: 9780956758804

Publisher: Adastral Books, 2011

Synopsis

The foreword to this autobiography is written by no less than Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael Beetham, and one sentence in his introductory remarks sets the tone for the 270 pages that follow; Sir Michael quotes a friend of the author thus: "We have burned gallons of midnight oil together, ranging widely over history, theology, poetry, beauty and even on a couple of occasions have actually solved the riddle of the Universe which, alas, escaped us both the morning after!"

The author's life, and story, begins in the South Wales steel town of Port Talbot in January 1940, where his father was a Master Printer, which perhaps explains his love of language and words and his facility with them. 

After recounting his academic and ministry training at Lampeter and Oxford, the book goes on to explain in great depth and with great feeling the author's dedication to God and the Church. He is the sort of priest with whom most of us will feel at home, I suspect: forever approachable, working among and for his flock, never giving himself airs and graces, totally dedicated to his work in God's name. 

A paragraph on pages 132 and 133 tells us essentially what we need to know about his ministry: "Since the early years of my ministry, I have held the conviction that God did not call me to the priesthood merely to minister to Christian folk and 'keep the home fires burning'. From the time I first worked with men, in the steel works and elsewhere, who had not understood the Gospel of Christ or who had decided to reject it, I felt compelled to be available to those lost sheep that had gone astray. I chose that word 'available' carefully, for I saw my role as loitering with intent and befriending folk; to go in with bell, book and candle is, in my view, forced entry leading to trespass. Christ never forced religion on anyone ... So I put myself about for Christ's sake. Of course I could be found in church encouraging and leading the people of God who came to worship him week by week, but I was also to be seen at Happy Hour in the Mess, in the Rugby Club as its President, putting out to sea with the Marine Craft Unit, driving up the mountain to get alongside those serving in Troodos [Cyprus], putting on a 'Pub Night' in the REME Families Club with my wife at the piano, and generally enjoying the fun and esprit de corps that Service life offers."  

That, in a nutshell, sums up his career - and indeed his life. This book sets out in fascinating detail his progress through the ranks of the Chaplains' Branch, the stations at home and abroad in which he served, his travels in Germany, Cyprus, Malta and South Africa and many other countries, his happy and fulfilling family life, his friends and his very occasional foes (dealt with in a charming but firm way - we are left in no doubt that they were in the wrong!), right up to his retirement and beyond, to the present day.

Published at £14-50 by Adastral Books, ISBN 978-0-9567588-0-4

About this title

About the Author

Brian Lucas was born and brought up in the steel town of Port Talbot, South Wales. Educated at St David's College, Lampeter, and St Stephen's House, Oxford, he was ordained at Llandaff Cathedral in 1964 and was appointed to the cathedral staff. 

Three years later he moved to build a new church in the parish of Neath. Following the consecration of that church he was commissioned as a chaplain in the RAF. He served on bases both at home and overseas, including a staff appointment in the Ministry of Defence. In 1989 he was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to Her Majesty The Queen. In 1991 he became the Chaplain-in-Chief and Archdeacon of the Royal Air Force. In November that year he was also installed as a Prebendal Canon of Lincoln Cathedral. In 1993 he was appointed as a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. 

Archdeacon Lucas retired from the RAF in 1995, and in 1996 he became Rector of the Benefice of Caythorpe in rural Lincolnshire. He retired from full-time ministry in 2003 and has since travelled extensively in France researching and photographing the many great cathedrals as well as tasting some fine wine.

For ten years he was also the Honorary Secretary of the Savage Club in Westminster, London, and continues to enjoy his membership of that august gentleman's club.   

In 2014 Adastral Books published Archdeacon Lucas' study of French cathedral architecture under the title, "A Glimpse of Glory in the Gothic Cathedrals of France".

Edition details

• Publisher: Adastral Books
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0956758800
• ISBN 13: 9780956758804
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 280