Affetside

Located on a Roman road connecting Manchester to Ribchester, Affetside above Bolton-le-Moors is thought to come from an expression meaning 'half each side'. It is roughly halfway between London and Edinburgh, the northernmost and southernmost capitals of Great Britain.

Unusually in this day and age, it can boast retention of a Congregational Chapel. I could not gain entry, and one would be unlikely to describe its beauty as architectural, but it commands fine views of the valleys below and bears an 1840 datestone, with that classic nonconformist name, Ebenezer. There is also a modern sign attached to the walls praising the achievements and dedication of ‘a true Gentleman’ who served the chapel.

I sometimes wonder if my life is ‘affetside’: halfway through. On balance of probability, I am actually past the halfway point, though the potential for accidents, diseases, nuclear war, violent crimes and a whole host of other nasty phenomena might well mean I am significantly past halfway. Wouldn’t it be more useful to know for certain? As a Christian, I do not need to. Whether my remaining breaths be few or many, I cannot depart until my summons arrives. And when it comes, it will be received, I hope, with joy.

For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Philippians 1:23