Description
Donald Allchin was an ordained priest in the Church of England, a historian, ecumenist, and contemplative theologian. The essays, poems, and memoires in this book represent what his Christian vision has brought forth in the lives of the contributors. You will meet poets, historians, bishops, archbishops, monks, priests, lay persons, and scholars. You will taste the rich ecumenical dialogue between Donald’s Anglican heritage, Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Roman Catholic Church, and churches of the Reformed Traditions, including Donald’s friendships and correspondence with Thomas Merton and the Romanian Orthodox theologian Dumitru Staniloae. Readers will gain insights into Donald’s interpretation of the Anglican Tradition and his emphasis on the value of monastic solitude and community for the lives of modern Christians. You will enter Donald’s journey into the lives, poetry, saints, and holy places of the Welsh spiritual tradition. And this is only a taste of his legacy. In Donald’s own words, “the things which belong to the story of Jesus are not yet completed”.
About the Author
David G.R. Keller is Director of the Contemplative Ministry Project and formerly an Adjunct Professor of Ascetical Theology at The General Theological Seminary in New York. He is the author of Oasis of Wisdom: The Worlds of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, Come and See: The Transformation of Personal Prayer, and Desert Banquet: A Year of Wisdom from The Desert Mothers and Fathers.
Contents
Editor’s Note
Foreword by Rowan Williams
Editor’s Acknowledgements
Permissions
List of Contributors
Introduction
Kallistos Ware, Metropolitan of Diokleia
Give them some poetry: i.m. Donald Allchin
David Scott
Part One: Donald Allchin’s Life
1. Arthur Macdonald Allchin (1930-2010): A Personal Tribute
Barry A. Orford
2. In His Face Was Prayer: Reflections on a Friendship with Donald Allchin
The Reverend Canon James Coutts
3. Homage & Gift: Intercession with Donald in the Communion of Saints
The Rev. Canon James Coutts and Dr. Esther de Waal
Part Two: Donald Allchin and the Orthodox Church
4. Father Donald and the Orthodox Church
Kallistos Ware, Metropolitan of Diokleia
5. An Icon of True Communion: The Dialogue and Friendship of Father Donald Allchin and Father Dumitru Staniloae
Reverend Dr. Ciprian Burca
Part Three: Donald Allchin’s Ecumenical Dialogue and Theology
6. Enlarge My Heart: Donald Allchin and the Exploration of Christian Traditions
Geoffrey Rowell
7. “Merton was and has been terribly, terribly important for me”: The Relationship between Donald Allchin and Thomas Merton
Fiona Gardner
Part Four: Donald Allchin as Interpreter of Anglican Tradition and Theology
8. The Dialogue of the Spirit: Interpreting the Anglican Tradition
The Rev. Dr. Charles Miller
9. Participation in God: Donald Allchin’s Understanding of the Mystery of the Life of God in Humankind
David G. R. Keller
10. Solitude and Communion: Donald Allchin as Interpreter of the Monastic Vocation and the Mystery of Personhood
Martin L. Smith
Part Five: Donald Allchin and the Welsh Spiritual Tradition
11. A Poet’s Perspective on Donald Allchin’s Prayerful Approach to Poetry
Ruth Bidgood
12. Donald Allchin and the Welsh tradition
Professor D. Densil Morgan
13. Donald Allchin, Welsh Holy Places, and The Saint From Dolwar Fach
The Rev. Dr. Patrick Thomas
All Things Shout “Glory” – An Interview with Donald Allchin: Part One of Three, July 11, 2007
All Things Shout “Glory” – An Interview with Donald Allchin: Part Two of Three, July 12, 2007
All Things Shout “Glory” – An Interview with Donald Allchin: Part Three of Three, July 13, 2007
Bibliography
Endorsements and Reviews
This book captures in so many ways the personality, spirituality, and breadth of interests of Donald Allchin … I know of no one else … who could write with such profundity about such a range of subjects such as Ann Griffiths the Welsh hymn writer, Celtic spirituality, Eastern Orthodox theology, and the Danish theologian N.F.S. Grundtvig. In doing so, he was able to expound their importance and insights to those who belonged to those traditions, enabling them to appreciate them afresh through his eyes.
Most Rev. Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales
Keller has managed to gather between the covers of his excellent book the spirit of Donald’s warm humanity and rich spirituality, best seen in his writings and in the contributions of his wide and valued circle of friends. We and the church owe him a great debt of gratitude.
Esther De Waal, historian, author, lecturer
For those unfamiliar with Allchin’s work, this book will undoubtedly whet the appetite to read more. The book is infused with a sense of joy… as well as expressing an appreciation of the quality of his mind.
Julie Gittoes, in Ecclesiology, Vol 13, 387-421
This volume will be attractive to those who knew Donald Allchin, and is an excellent introduction to those who would like to know him better.
Frederick Quinn, in Anglican & Episcopal History, Vol 86, No 1
