FACE to FACE Vandals at the Gates with Gavin Ashenden 

Gavin Ashenden has enjoyed a very full ministry career which included being appointed a Royal Chaplain. His Christian experience began at a Cathedral event led by David Watson followed by further academic studies and ordination to the Anglican Priesthood. This episode of Face to Face with Tim Vince highlights the intellectual, theological and spiritual challenges that Christians face in the modern world. Gavin describes his ethics (when he was based in Brighton) as 'extremely affirming and inclusive in all matters’ as he wanted people to know that God loved them. In his own words, “It was the whole liberal package. My motives were good my judgment was awful”. Through a dark spiritual encounter Gavin felt drawn back to his earlier faith which became a block to senior appointments in the church. Gavin’s observation is that the whole of society (including the church) has become ‘Jungian'. He laments the unravelling of the Anglican Church and is concerned that the same could be happening to the Roman Catholic Church. When St Augustine was dying Christendom was in the death throes and Gavin fears history may be repeated today with the Vandals at the Gates!