For thirteen years I’ve managed my church’s buildings. This involves everything from unblocking toilets to major upgrades. It’s a job that never ends – there’s always something broken, always a leaking roof, and never enough money to do what’s needed. But frustrating as it often is, it’s also a privilege to help equip and serve…
IDEAS FOR A LOCAL PLAN (THREE)
The story so far … Four years ago I decided to post a few cobbled together ideas about a local area of Newcastle. A lot can happen in that time, and while I never actually got around to posting all my thoughts, in the intervening years real events have since caught up with and overtaken…
FROM EDEN TO ENOCH
The first few pages of a book are important: they provide an introduction, they set the scene, and they hopefully draw you in, enticing you to keep reading. The first few pages of the Bible are essential, forming the foundation of our entire understanding of God, creation and ourselves. And they also provide the foundation…
PRAYER FOR THE CITY
The Meaning of the City by Jacques Ellul is a challenging and often provocative book. At times I have taken issue with him, other times I found myself wholeheartedly agreeing. One day I might have processed his writing enough to review it and give my own conclusion, but that’s not the point of this post….
A COMMUNITY TRAIN AND THE MONOLITHIC BOX
I just saw that Nexus are inviting community groups to give ideas for ways to re-use of some of the current fleet of Metro trains when they’re retired from 2023 onwards. I quickly decided there is one place that would be ideal, Tynemouth Station. If you don’t know Tynemouth Station, you’re missing out. It’s something…
Why CUBE?
Why CUBE? The quick, boring answer to that question is that it’s an easy to remember acronym that summarises what this blog is about: Christianity, Urbanism and the Built Environment. But there’s more to it than that, and the point of this post is to highlight just how appropriate a name it actually is. An…
A BAKING BANK HOLIDAY IN AUGUST
Normally, the area around Monument is a major bus route, but the last two summers the council has been blocking this street off to all traffic at weekends and NE1 has been rolling out the green carpet and handing it over to people. This year, a green ‘guerrilla’, deck chairs, beanbags, picnic benches, a carousel…
CITIES: A BRIGHTER FUTURE?
14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:14 (ESVUK) Over Easter I had some time to read, study, wander and take photos. I had already brought into town some reading materials, with the intention of settling down in a coffee shop and studying for the facilities…
CITIES OF TOMORROW AND THE CITY TO COME
Cities of Tomorrow and the City to Come: A Theology of Urban Life I really like this little book. If you want to understand where I am coming from with CUBE blog, or want a short, accessible introduction to the significance of cities from a Christian perspective I can think of no better place to…
IDEAS FOR A LOCAL PLAN (TWO)
Case Study 1: Felton Ave. – Aln Crescent Underpass The problem: The plan above shows the existing path under the Metro line between Aln Crescent and Felton Avenue. Even though this is the only pedestrian route between the northern and southern part of the area, I’ve always felt it’s problematic for the following reasons: The…
IDEAS FOR A LOCAL PLAN (ONE)
Wansbeck Rd. – Fawdon Area To create a realistic and viable plan for an area requires a lot of work. For a start it needs to be underpinned by proper evidence, based on detailed research into local conditions and needs. And any proposals need to be consulted on, costed and a business case produced. I’m…
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Let me introduce myself … I’m Andy. I first came to Newcastle in 2003 and, apart from two years out in Singapore and London, I’ve been here ever since. I’ve always had a passion for cities, urbanism and the built environment, and so I spent my first six years studying and working in town planning before…
CUBE 