St Laurence's Church, Scalby

St Laurence's Church, at Scalby in North Yorkshire, is a pleasant and historic building, even if its tower is rather squat. It looks old but its windows appear only Tudor or Stuart though a number of its internal features are seriously antiquarian. It has an ancient chancel arch and some curiously carved pillars.

Despite the ancient heritage which is to be found in this building, it was the modern lectern (reading desk) which most attracted my attention. Rather than produce a fake medieval one with carved arches and clichéd ecclesiastic symbols, an entirely modern design was chosen -and I like it. From this sleek, curved furnishing, God’s word, the Bible, is read and heard. Scripture, though ancient, is timeless. While it ridicules human fashions, it is always contemporary and up to date; though is despises manmade traditions and thoughtless customs, it is a repository of wisdom more ancient than the hills and is even more relevant than your next pulse. 

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63