Another Ferry Ride

The Unitarian Church:  A third Sunday, a third church service.  I guess you see the pattern.  One of my goals is to use Sunday mornings to cut deeper into the culture.  This Sunday, I stumbled upon the John Pounds Memorial Unitarian Church in Portsmouth.  Its pews could comfortably hold about a hundred people, and the minister (who came to the faith via the Baptist tradition) greeted me at the entrance.  The Unitarians (note: not ‘trinitarians’) have a tradition all their own: that tradition was reflected in the sanctuary, the sermon, and the hymns.  First, the sanctuary had an altar with a chalice and flame (that’s the Unitarian symbol) rather than a cross or a communion chalice.  There was a cross in one of the side windows, but in the other windows were symbols of the other great religious traditions of the world:  a sitting Buddha, a star of David, a Hindu medallion and others.  Second, the sermon was about light and darkness. The message transcended the boundaries between faiths.  One idea that seems to cut across all faiths is the equation of light with goodness and dark with threat. We must all, therefore, strive to be “people of the light” (the title of the sermon).  On light, the Hebrew Bible, the Gospels, and the Koran were all quoted:  how similar they sounded.   Third, the hymns were decidedly ecumenical.  We sang four, including ‘Morning has Broken,’ perfect for the brilliant sunshine that was filtering in through the translucent (but not stained glass) windows.  Many secular philosophers are also revered and made a part of the church service.  We heard a poem by Dylan Thomas.  It reminded me of the first time I attended a Unitarian-Universalist church (in Barre, Vermont) many years ago:  poetry by Robert Frost was read. 

Do Unitarians believe in Jesus?  Because there is no creed in the faith, many have the same view of Jesus as trinitarian Christians; others do not. Unitarians do seem to believe that ‘good works’ are important though, as they had just received a think you letter from some of the Japanese students in Portsmouth who appreciated the money they had collected for easing the pain of the earthquake and tsunami.  

As for John Pounds, their benefactor: he has a fascinating history and it is on display here.  His workshop and grave are behind the church.  If you want to know more, Google him.  According to one report I read, the people named John Pounds Portsmouth’s ‘man of millennium’ in 2000.

Wightlink:  Portsmouth is the main embarkation point for the Isle of Wight, and I couldn’t resist adding another ferry ride to my list:

Portsmouth-Isle of Wight Ferry (UK)

Once I made up that list, I decided I would be a ferry collector. The Isle of Wight is a real island, which means it has not been connected to the mainland by a bridge or causeway.  As a real island, you must come by boat, however, rather than fly in.  The passage forces you to leave something behind and to expect something new.  On every island a new beginning awaits.  From the ferry deck, it’s fun to watch the dream of a new place materialize on the horizon. 

The ride ended and I found myself in Ryde.  I stepped off the ferry, onto a train, and back into the mid-20^th century.  Ever wonder what happens to old Underground carriages when London decides to replace them. Here they are on the Isle of Wight.  One rail line runs from Ryde southward to the resorts on the English Channel. Soon I was in Sandown looking for accommodations. Queen Victoria looked for accommodations here once, but she bought a country retreat.  In one sense the Isle of Wight became the capital of the British Empire every summer.  With that, the island’s tourism industry boomed and the Victorian era treated the island well.  Today, vacationers still come, but the bloom is off the rose.  Cheaper and cheaper air fares have drawn the vast middle class to the warm waters of Europe’s Mediterranean south coast rather than the frigid waters of the English Channel.

The landscape of Sandown is a bit tattered, the chains haven’t moved in, and money hasn’t been invested in the resort’s infrastructure.  This seems only to have been exacerbated in the past few years by the brutal British economy.  The Isle of Wight has closed all of its tourist offices (libraries are next they tell me), for instance, which is one reason why I am meandering around Sandown looking for a place to stay rather than at the ferry terminal in Ryde.  Nevertheless, many of the hotels and B&Bs were “fully booked,” though there were still plenty to choose from.  I wanted one with free Internet, but there was nothing, so I finally ended up at what I think may be the best B&B in town.  It is called the Belmore and is run by a Church of Scotland Minister (assigned to the Royal Navy) and his wife.  His role model, he told me was a Scottish minister that emigrated to the U.S., served as chaplain of the U.S. Senate, and became one of the most famous ministers of the 20^th century.  If you are of a certain age, you might remember Peter Marshall.  

Believe it or not, today is the first time I have taken a full meal at a real restaurant.  What a treat.  It was right on the esplanade. I sat on the deck and watched the day draw to a close.  I suppose, though, that I ruined it because I ordered what the English would call fast food:  fish and chips.  They were served with mushy peas, which were delicious!  Really, I am not kidding.  Restaurant’s name: The Reef.

Geographically yours,

D.J.Z.