The Bishop of Beverley, Stephen Race, writes:
Ancient and Modern
Recently I made my first ever visit to Portugal for a short holiday on the Algarve coast.
While there, my wife and I stumbled upon a music festival taking place on a nearby beach, and I was introduced to the music of the Swiss DJ and record producer Yves Lerock. I gather I’m about 20 years behind the curve with this and although his music may not be my first choice, there was something infectious about the enthusiasm of the crowd made of people of all ages – babes in arms to grandparents – dancing in the sand and having a wonderful evening in a very modern way.
Standing there, I couldn’t help but notice the cliffs that formed the backdrop to the festival: the cliffs that are a striking feature of that coastline. A quick Google search told me that they are at least 25 million years old, made up of rock formed between 252 and 66 million years ago. What was fascinating about the rocks, apart from their breathtaking beauty, was the abundance of ancient shells contained within them, all slowly making their appearance after millennia hidden away.
While listening to 21st century music, I could touch something millions of years old.