During a recent journey to England, The Rev. Dr. Dean Jobin-Bevans shares reflections from his first week immersed in the life of two of the Church’s great academic centres. From time spent in Oxford reconnecting with friends and familiar places, to settling into prayer, study, and community at Cambridge, this letter offers a glimpse into the rhythms of worship, learning, and encounter that are shaping his time abroad.
Thursday, April 30, 2026 Ridley Hall, University of Cambridge
Dear St. Paul’s Ambassadors,
Well, I made it! It has already been a week since I left for the UK, and the time has just flown by.
After arriving at London Heathrow last Friday morning, I made my way up to Oxford for a weekend visit with my good friend, Rev. Dr. Robert Wainwright, who is the Chaplain at Oriel College, before travelling on to Cambridge. As the college Chaplain, Robert leads Morning Prayer in chapel at 8:00 a.m. Contrary to what you might think, this service has been growing over the past few years, regularly attracting 12–15 students—mostly undergraduates. Quite something, given the hour!
Most of this past weekend was spent recovering from jet lag and visiting some of my favourite places in Oxford. By Sunday, I was looking forward to going to church. Robert and I chose to attend the 8:00 a.m. BCP Morning Prayer at St. Michael at the North Gate. This service draws a broad representation, including many students and faculty.
One of those uniquely Oxford moments occurred as we exited the church—we ran into N.T. Wright. As many of you may recall, I often quote Wright in my sermons, mainly because he has a way of speaking about the Bible in a clear and concise way. Seeing Tom Wright reminded me that I needed to buy his book *Paul: A Biography*, which I promptly did at Blackwell’s on Broad Street.
On Monday morning, I took the train to Cambridge and made my way to Ridley Hall. I was very pleasantly surprised by my living space—and especially by the view, which I’ve shared in a photo taken from my desk.
Since Monday, my days have been filled with Morning Prayer at 8:15 a.m. in the college chapel, reading N.T. Wright, and settling in at Magdalene College, which is about a twenty-minute walk across campus. One of my favourite views along the way is King’s College Meadow, also included in this letter.
Tonight, I will be attending Evensong at King’s, so I will be sure to offer a full report next time.
I continue to hold you all in my prayers and would encourage you to text your intentions to me via the number in the bulletin. (Please remember to include your name if you are texting for the first time!)
I’d like to close with the Collect of the Day for the Fifth Sunday of Easter:
Almighty God,
your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.
Give us grace to love one another
and walk in the way of his commandments,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Blessings over the coming week,
Dean+
