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For your information: Redcliffe and All Nations – Star-Crossed Lovers?

Posted by Tim on May 10th, 2010

For Your Information is an occasional series of reports informing missionaries abroad of the current state of the church in the UK.  Today we consider the on/off relationship between All Nations and Redcliffe.

Friends and family of ‘Just Good Friends’ couple Redcliffe and All Nations who have been out buying new hats will be disappointed to hear of another hitch in the turbulent  relationship between these star-crossed lovers.

They will remember how many years ago the couple nearly made it up the aisle before realising that they weren’t ready for everlasting commitment.  Last year the pair, who have remained on amicable terms ever since, delighted their many wellwishers with the news that once again they were engaged.  Yet despite many late-night heart-to-hearts, it seems that the course of true love is determined not to run smooth.

The unhappy couple, who clearly continue to be on good terms but whose compatibility is questionable, are believed to have been unable to resolve many differences, the chief of which was an inability to agree on where to set up the conjugal home.  Both have attractive properties, one in fashionable central Gloucester, and the other in delightful rural Hertfordshire, but clearly could not afford to maintain both properties.  Despite their evident desire to move in together, neither was willing to leave their home of many years.

So the posh frocks are going back in the wardrobe, at least for a few years.  It seems that the clock is ticking for the ageing singletons  who are reluctant to surrender their independence for domestic bliss – but are there any other potential suitors out there?  Apparently not.  Could they be dooming themselves to lifelong loneliness?

For never was a story of more tragedie

Than this of Redcliffe and of ANCC

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  • Adam

    Great piece Tim!

  • Gray in Cochabamba

    It's an interesting one this. I thought it was extremely good news that the 2 colleges had decided to get together. They're both doing the same thing (more or less) and All Nations has several decades more experience…a bit like the Grand Master. They're essentially competing for the same audience and always trying to out do each other. Redcliffe has come in as the younger, more agile opposition. I'd not really describe Redcliffe's property as attractive (!), more functional and needing some work to make it bigger! All Nations I think is stunningly beautiful in its setting and a great place to study…being a bit away from everything. But easily accessible from the whole country and the capital with airports and rail links.

    And there as you put it lies the problem. An ageing man looking to marry the (hardly beautiful) young woman.

    I thought from their communication last year they had gone about it quite sensibly. My take on it was the first period they'd start a merger but based on their own sites and then look for a new “home” together. This is the only way I could see it working: Redcliffe's too small and not really that nice and All Nations is basically a stately home that requires a huge amount of money to maintain it.

    That's not to say All Nations couldn't get bigger and better. About 10 years ago Bob Moffett put together a proposal to blow the roof off the place by keeping the existing old building and building a new modern facility. But the ageing Man wasn't really willing to consider the uncomfortableness of change… and as I see it looks to die old and lonely unless something happens. I guess with increased student numbers and working the economies of scale it could work, but it could equally work with the Gloucester site too, but to me it lacks the presitge of the All Nations site.

    If I had to choose I'd go for the All Nations site. It's very well placed for receiving travellers and always looks impressive.

    But I think the best way is for them to combine resources and prayerfully seek God as to where they should have a new home. A new home it really needs to be…to make the marriage work

  • Phil & Brigid Bourne

    Well one good thing resulted from this decision…. my husband trained at ANCC and myself at Redcliffe in Chiswick. Our daughter is currently training at ANCC. We had just decided to buy a retirement house near Redcliffe in Gloucester when the news of merger was made public. Dismay resulted until a later while deciding on more exact location in the city, the news came that merger was off. God clearly led us last week to a house very near the college and we look forward to being in touch with Redcliffe staff and students in a few years time when we return and have more time on our hands. Phil and Brigid Bourne

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