My brother was very sceptical about Christianity when I became a believer in the early 70s and, although I had invited him to join our Bible studies he remained a sceptic. He half jokingly remarked one day that my beloved Capernwray Hall - and the German centre Klostermuehle, where our youth group used to go - probably was some kind of convent or monastery.

 

 One year, it must have been in the midst seventies, my brother and I toured England with our Volkswagen minibus. On our way to the Lake District and Scotland, I wanted to visit Capernwray of course. It was late at night when we arrived. We met Christian, the Swiss guy, who used to run the bookshop, and all of a sudden the Major dropped by. I was thrilled, because I had never met him before, only heard about him and read his book. He greeted us and then focussed on my brother. In a very friendly and natural way he asked us about our trip and then said to us: "Have you had dinner yet?" He was actually abo ut to invite us. Since we had just eaten, we declined, but I never forget his friendly manners and the nice way he talked to my sceptic brother. My brother, too, was amazed by his manners, and I have never forgotten what he said when we left Capernwray: "Now this is not a monastery after all"