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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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October 2005 |
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Porridge and PassionBook reviewed by Philip Blake This is a story about a movement from Upper Crust to Lower Crumbs! Part of the autobiography of Jonathan Aitken, a former British Cabinet Minister, it covers the period from his sentencing for perjury on 8th June 1999 to the year 2003. The title reflects the English slang for prison ‘porridge’ (shades of Ronnie Barker) and the spiritual use of the word ‘passion’ for suffering. The contrast between high society in London and Belmarsh, the fortress-like maximum security London prison could not have been greater had it been specially contrived. The 18 months term meant that Aitken would only serve half of that sentence and be eligible for electronic tagging two months prior to that time. The outcome could have been much worse. The author records in some detail his difficult time and he provides good insights into the English prison system. Fortunately for him his widely publicised disgrace was tempered by the less-publicised grace of God. By the time he entered prison his life had been changed and deepened into a real personal faith in Jesus Christ. He had been encouraged and supported by his local church and had involved himself in an Alpha course. He arrived at prison with the knowledge that many people were praying for him. A considerable number of influential and generous friends kept in touch and assisted in a variety of ways. Somehow a prayer and fellowship group emerged and he was able to pray with prisoners and visitors. He made many friends by writing letters for illiterate fellow-prisoners and he was largely accepted as someone who admitted his shortcomings and who was straightforward and honest. A rare prisoner indeed! Jonathan spoke highly of the prison chaplaincy teams and other clergy who came to visit him. The press, on the other hand tried to make his life a misery. Attempts were made to bribe staff and prisoners and to smuggle cameras into the gaols. A plot was discovered to drug him and to photograph him in a sexually compromising position. I will always remember one British politician’s saying that the Press had three guidelines. ‘Make it brief, make it spicy and make it up.’ Things eventually turned out well. Aitken was released from prison. He spent two years in theological studies at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and devoted time to his writing. The divorced Jonathan married thrice-married Elizabeth Harris. His own children were very supportive and he inherited a veritable ‘Brady Bunch’. Prison was not forgotten; he wrote, ‘I believe that we need to tackle three main areas crying out for reform – literacy, work and drugs.’ His continued association with Prison Fellowship and with Chuck Colson, whose biography he has written, means that his experience although painful, was beneficial. He has emerged from his experience as a rounded person with much greater understanding and a real faith. As a former prison chaplain I appreciated his appraisal of chaplaincy in prison and his moving accounts brought back many painful and joyful memories. This is a book which has much to say about the transforming power of God and is worthy of careful reading. Retired priest the Rev. Dr Philip Blake reads widely and is a member of the Parish of Holy Trinity, Launceston. |
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