“The barren wilderness has become a great city and the desolate places have been to blossom as the rose.” — Cambridge General Advertiser, July 30, 1845

“Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown. Through them we pass out into adventure and sunshine…” — E.M. Forster

I’m cleaning the office today and listening to the FA CUP on talkSPORT.

There are three books on my desk all inspired by my trip to the UK. The authors of the first two have something in common with Robert Humm and the essayist Thaddeus Kozinski.

(1) Forgotten Churches: Exploring England’s Hidden Treasures by Luke Sherlock
(2) 200 Years of Britain’s Railways in 14 Journeys by Sherin Aminossehe
(3) Tolkien: Maker of Middle Earth by Catherine McIlwaine

Related
Mapping out a future without Pegasus (The Royal Gazette)
The closure of Robert Humm and Co. makes me sad.
On the other hand, this essay by Thaddeus Kozinski via the Imaginative Conservative gives me hope.

(1) A quote from Blessed Concepción Cabrera de Armida:

“Jesus looks for littleness, because he knows well that there is nothing greater on earth than that which is insignificant in the eyes of the world. His crib was small. His boat was small. His cross was small and narrow. Tabernacles are small, as are the Sacred Hosts and the souls that he chooses for this delight and repose.”

(1a) A quote from Mother Angelica’s Quick Guide to the Sacraments:

“He stays in the tabernacle day after day, month after month, year after year, just so I may go to Him with my joys and sorrows.”

(2) Wind and Window Flower by Robert Frost

Lovers, forget your love,
And list to the love of these,
She a window flower,
And he a winter breeze.

(3) A quote “The Lion and the Unicorn” [England Your England] by George Orwell:

“And above all, it is your civilization, it is you. However much you hate it or laugh at it, you will never be happy away from it for any length of time. The suet puddings and the red pillar-boxes have entered into your soul. Good or evil, it is yours, you belong to it, and this side the grave you will never get away from the marks that it has given you.”

(3a) A quote from Forgotten Churches: Exploring England’s Hidden Treasures by Luke Sherlock:

“My greatest hopes for the book are twofold. Firstly, that it can be a handsome record of the places I have seen and hold dear. This seems a valid enterprise in itself. Secondly, that I can better share my passion with others who are like-minded, and inspire a greater appreciation for the collective cultural treasure these buildings represent. If they aren’t valued, we could lose so much; this would be to diminish ourselves.”