GOSPEL TRUTH: Explore Winchester

A brief look at England’s ancient capital…..

 

Thousands of tourists descend upon Winchester in the course of a year to view the interesting sights and learn a little bit about their history. The City, which was England’s ancient capital, has many familiar landmarks.      

 

 

Attempting to list everything that can be found is simply not feasible – and in any case tourists have different interests. It is possible to wander around the quaint, narrow streets and discover Winchester for yourself – but you can learn much more if you choose to join a guided tour and spend an hour and a half in the company of a professional guide.

 

Exploring an unknown city is rather like the experience of life itself. We can either “muddle through” alone or travel with one who knows the way.

 

The best Guide is Jesus Christ who understands all of life’s complexities. The best guidebook is the Bible which shows us how to enjoy life “more abundantly” (1).   Perhaps the best place in Winchester to begin is the 900 year-old Cathedral. Interestingly, the Norman foundations consisted of an enormous “raft” of logs resting on bog land, and by 1900 the Cathedral was found to be sinking. Brave William Walker spent five years in the dark water, removing rotten timber by hand so that the building could be underpinned with concrete and saved. This teaches us a great lesson. We need to build our lives upon a foundation that will withstand the continual stresses and strains of modern life. All of us, like the Cathedral, need to be saved too – and Jesus Christ, like the underwater diver, came down from Heaven and experienced death’s dark waters to save us from Hell. Through His work at Calvary, our sins can be forgiven, and we can build our lives upon Him because He lives today. If you want a real, solid foundation for your life, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” and you will be saved (2).

 

 

REMINDERS IN KING ALFRED’S CITY

There are a number of famous monuments in Winchester, one being the City Cross at the end of Great Minster Street. Built some 500 years ago and restored in 1865, it reminds us of another cross where “Christ died for our sins” (3). Personal faith in the Christ who died there is vital – and King Alfred, whose bronze statue towers above the Broadway, was a man of faith. This great Saxon King who died in 899 was responsible for founding English Common Law, based on God’s Law.

 

Just below King Alfred’s statue can be found the attractive City Bridge, built in 1813. An earlier bridge built by St. Swithun in the ninth century, enabled travellers to cross the River Itchen and enter the safety of the City through Eastgate. Westgate, at the far end of High Street, is 600 years old. In Roman times the City could only be entered through its four gates. In contrast, the Bible tells us that there is only one means of entry to Heaven: Jesus said, “I am the door: By Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (4). 

 

           

              There’s a way back to God from the dark paths of sin;

                    There’s a door that is open, and you may go in:

               At Calvary’s cross is where you begin,

                     When you come as a sinner to Jesus.

                                                                                       (E.H. Swinstead)

END NOTES:-  (1)Jn.10:10.  (2)Acts 16:31.  (3)1 Cor.15:3.  (4)Jn.10:9.  (5)Rev.21:27.