1. So Sarum has finally clos-ed its portals
And packed up its vestments both old and new.
It's Baker Room empty, no Sunday night suppers,
Of salad and cheese and what's left of the stew.

2. Our memories linger of courses once started
In lecture rooms under a spire so grand.
The students, God bless them, have long since departed,
To parishes high and low all round the land.

3. The powers that be took a look at our college,
Decided one night that it could not stay.
For critical theory and radical worship
Had nothing to offer the church of today.

4. They wanted their colleges simple and tidy,
To cater for parties of left and right,
Where cath'lics and evo's could never co-mingle,
Or pray or stay up to drink gin half the night!

5. No more shall the sound in the Old or New Chapel
Be that of the discord of "Our God Reigns";
No Friday night bar, and no Start the Week briefings,
And rumours about who'll the Bishop ordain?

6. The belfry is empty, no late secret meetings,
The white-board no longer is there to confuse
The Freshers with clip-boards and Bibles all gleaming,
With changes to lectures, and Worship Group news.

7. So be it, Lord, that Sarum shall never,
Like so many memories, pass away.
For now, all-ordained, we will hold it for ever
As time in our training that showed us the way!

© Pharisaios 2001

Image shows the new chapel at Salisbury & Wells Theological College in 1984