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Above All Love: A Foundation of Faith Dear friends in Christ, Welcome. This space exists for one reason: love — the love of God poured out in Jesus Christ, the love we are called to extend to one another, and to the world. There are many voices clamouring for our attention. Here, you will find the rhythm of one heart seeking to follow the way of Love — a faith rooted not in tradition for its own sake, but in the living, active, self-giving love at the heart of the Gospel. Three truths have become my anchors. The first is the Living Word. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. Apart from Him, the true God cannot be fully known. In Jesus, we see the face of a God who is Love, and whose Gospel is the path of Peace. The second is the Gift of Grace. Salvation is found by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Grace is a gift — unearned, freely given, and life-changing. The third is the Way of Love. It is our joy and our calling to follow Him. Thou...
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Simply Fellowship — Episode 7: Not in Temples Made with Hands

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Welcome ​ Welcome to Above All Love. This is Simply Fellowship — the Good News, quietly told. ​This is a gentle space. No pressure, no performance. You don't need to have answers about buildings or belonging, or about where God is or isn't. You don't need to have a church to come back to, or feel the loss of one that has gone. ​You're welcome exactly as you are, wherever you are reading this — in a home, in a garden, on a phone in a waiting room, or anywhere else entirely. ​If you need to read slowly, or stop and come back — that's completely fine. There's no right way to be here. Just be here. ​Hymn ​ We begin with a hymn verse. Read it slowly. You might want to sit with each line before moving on. ​O thou not made with hands, Not throned above the skies, Nor walled with shining walls, Nor framed with stones of price, More bright than gold or gem, God's own Jerusalem. — F. T. Palgrave ​Prayer ​Living God, ​Thank you that you are not conf...
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Weekly Evidence Checklist: Mencap Gateway Bronze Award (Week 16)

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Welcome back to the weekly roundup! It is Sunday, which means it’s time for our 5-minute evidence check-in for the Mencap Gateway Bronze Award . This week has been a rich blend of outdoor education, sensory management, and spiritual reflection. ​Here is the breakdown of activities and evidence for Week 16: ​1. Volunteering: Walk for Autism ​ Status: Completed and submitted previously. ​2. Fitness: Nature Walks & The Great Outdoors ​This week’s fitness has been heavily integrated with my studies at Newbattle Abbey College and a family trip.  ​ Activity: Woodland walks and exploration. ​ Highlights: ​A family trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens over the holiday weekend. ​Continued the Prescribe Nature course, which involved a significant amount of movement while building wellbeing in the outdoors. ​3. Hobby: The Digital Parish & Daily Office ​I have found myself returning to the Northumbria Community Daily Office . Ther...
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God does not dwell in temples made with mens hands

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There are many church buildings on the market in Scotland. Many have been converted into other things. Whilst this seems sad on some level from a historic and cultural point of view. In some cases it is sad on a spiritual point of view. However, the buildings are just that. Bricks and mortar. Man made constructs: ​1. Acts 7:48 (Stephen's Speech) ​While defending his faith, Stephen says: ​ "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says..." ​He then immediately quotes Isaiah 66:1-2 , which provides the Old Testament foundation for this thought: ​ "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me?" ​2. Acts 17:24 (Paul in Athens) ​Addressing a city filled with magnificent marble temples (like the Parthenon), Paul states: ​ "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands." ​The Theo...
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The Silent Death of the Jury: Is the UK Moving to a "Pre-Magna Carta" Justice System?

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For over 800 years, the right to be tried by a jury of one’s peers has been the "golden thread" of British liberty. It was the ultimate safety valve—a way for 12 ordinary citizens to stand between a defendant and the power of the state. ​But as we navigate 2026, that thread is being cut in the name of "efficiency" and "order." ​ "No free man is to be arrested, or imprisoned... except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land." — Magna Carta, Clause 39 (1215) ​1. The Rise of the "Swift Courts" ​Under the Courts and Tribunals Bill 2026 , the government has introduced judge-only "Swift Courts" for mid-level ("either-way") offences. Previously, a defendant could choose a jury trial for crimes like criminal damage or public order offences. Now, that choice is gone. We are moving toward a system where the state is both the accuser and the sole judge, removing the "judgment of ...
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Simply Fellowship — Episode 6: The Waiting Father

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Welcome Welcome to Above All Love. This is Simply Fellowship — the Good News, quietly told. This is a gentle space. No pressure, no performance. You don't have to have it together to be here. You don't have to be certain, or hopeful, or even very present today. You're welcome exactly as you are, wherever you are reading this. If you need to read slowly, or stop and come back — that's completely fine. There's no right way to be here. Just be here. Hymn We begin with a hymn verse. Read it slowly. You might want to sit with each line before moving on. Just as I am, without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. — Charlotte Elliott Prayer Loving God, Thank you that you do not wait for us to deserve welcome before you offer it. Thank you that your arms are already open before we have finished our...
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Week 15 | Mencap Gateway Bronze Award — Prescribe Nature & Finding My Rhythm

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🌿 Prescribe Nature — A New Beginning This week something exciting started: I enrolled on the Prescribe Nature course, an 8-week outdoor wellbeing programme at the beautiful Newbattle Abbey College woodlands. The course is designed for adults who would benefit from time in nature — to improve mental health, reduce social isolation, and build confidence through therapeutic outdoor activities. There's also the opportunity to gain a recognised award at the end. For me, it's about reconnecting with nature, improving my wellbeing, and growing in a calming, supportive, and empowering space. This week we learned to slow down — to explore, collect, and identify things in nature. We set up tents, tied knots, and put up hammocks. It was a beautiful reminder that life doesn't have to rush. There was real creativity, real joy, and real peace in just being present outdoors. 👉 Read more about my first session here: Slowing Down — My Journey Begins ✅ Evidence Summary for Week...
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Slowing Down: My Journey Begins with ‘Prescribe Nature’

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There is something transformative about the air at Newbattle Abbey College. This week, I took a step that feels like a deep breath for the soul: I officially started Prescribe Nature . ​If you haven’t heard of it, Prescribe Nature is an 8-week outdoor wellbeing programme designed for adults who need a little extra support—whether that’s improving mental health, reducing social isolation, or simply building back lost confidence. It’s held in the stunning, peaceful woodlands of Newbattle, and honestly, the setting alone feels like medicine. ​ Why I’m Here ​We all go through seasons where life feels a bit too loud or a bit too heavy. For me, this journey is about reconnecting with nature on a personal level. I’m looking to improve my overall wellbeing and grow through an experience that feels calming, supportive, and empowering. ​And as a lovely bonus? It turns out this journey also leads to a recognised award! 😊 ​ Week One: Learning to Breathe Again ​The focus of this ...
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