Our mission

‘IDEAS FROM CAMBRIDGE
REACH AROUND THE
WORLD...’

Christian Heritage, in the heart of Cambridge, seeks to
commend the truth of Christianity to a sceptical world.
We aim to promote appreciation for the infl uence of
Christianity on Western civilisation and to inspire and
equip Christians to demonstrate the reasonableness
and transforming power of their faith.

Mission Statement

> Recovering the Past

Tourism that shows England's Christian heritage and questions secularism: The Round Church Visitor Centre & Guided Walks

> Challenging the Present

Lectures and teaching:

Reaching thinkers and school children in Cambridge

> Shaping the Future

Apologetics Apprenticeships and Summer Courses:

Equipping believers from around the world

RECOVERING THE PAST

‘Quite frankly, I do not think that even Oxford or Rome, or any other city in the world, with the possible exception of Jerusalem, provides as much opportunity for bearing witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ from the buildings and historical facts that stand there, ready to be pointed out to every student and every tourist who comes to Cambridge.’

PROFESSOR WAYNE GRUDEM, PHOENIX SEMINARY, ARIZONA, USA

Cambridge’s history demonstrates with
unique clarity the positive impact of
Christianity on our culture. Building on
the history of the city, the Round Church
Visitor Centre offers visitors the chance to
refl ect on our Christian past and consider
its implications for our present and the
future.

Approximately 75,000 visitors enter the
Round Church visitor centre each year,
from which we run courses, internships and
outreach events.

WALKS

Visitors to Cambridge are guided through the lanes of the historic city centre,
college courtyards and chapels on twice weekly walks throughout the year. Guides explain how Christianity has infl uenced the development of Cambridge which has in turn had such a huge infl uence in the growth of the modern world. Human stories are woven into themes including:

the Protestant Reformation and the Puritan revolutions
the development of modern science
the founding of the USA
the introduction of constitutionalm government and political freedom
the abolition of the slave trade

Special group bookings include Friends International, community groups, seminaries, academic conferences, high schools from the US, local primary schools, church groups, University ‘freshers’ and family celebrations as well as the many visitors to the city annually.

FILM

As a complement to the walk, the 23 minute video ‘Saints and Scholars’ provides an excellent introduction to the history of Cambridge. The English audio commentary is now available in Spanish, French, Chinese and Japanese.

EXHIBITION

This 12 panel exhibition takes the reader through the impact of Christianity in England with special reference to Cambridge. Many visitors make positive comments about what they have learned and purchase the exhibition text to read and share. The exhibition was used in a Christianity awareness raising event in the Cabinet Office, Whitehall at which Ian Cooper from Christian Heritage spoke. The event was introduced by Sir Gus O’Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary.

3-4 million people have visited the Round Church Visitor Centre since it opened in 2001
Each year, over 1000 people participate in the guided walks

‘The best history of the West in a nutshell I have read’ Chinese Professor

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Challenging the present

I thoroughly recommend Christian Heritage to all serious minded believers who are keen to reveal the Lordship of Christ to our dying culture.

REV. RICHARD CUNNINGHAM, DIRECTOR OF UCCF - THE CHRISTIAN UNIONS

The Round Church is much more than
a tourist hub. From here we seek to
demonstrate that Christianity is rooted in
history, that it is a true and living faith which
offers hope to a sceptical world.

PUBLIC LECTURES

‘Life-in-the-Round’ lectures and discussions aim to show that there is a Christian response to all of life and provides the opportunity to refl ect on the ‘big picture’ questions. Topics include literature, jazz, law, history, cultural trends and the arts. Lectureships involving internationally renowned speakers will provide a regular opportunity for the Cambridge community to hear the Bible expounded and related to culture, ‘big picture’ topics and ideas.

US HIGH SCHOOL SEMINARS

‘Rekindling the Vision’ guided walks and seminars provide an excellent opportunity for students who are about to embark on degree courses to be equipped for the secular onslaught, to understand the background to the rejection of Christian values in the west and to consider the challenge of living Christianly in today’s postmodern culture.

PRIMARY SCHOOL WALKS

‘Footprints of Faith’ is a collaborative project involving Christian Heritage and the Church Schools of Cambridge. Resources for teachers enable them to conduct walks in the town and colleges on various themes providing opportunities to explore and understand the contribution which Christianity has made to the city and the modern world.

APOLOGETIC DISCUSSIONS

Apologetic discussion groups are being organised by the apprentice team as they build relationships with the Cambridge residents and the student community through informal contacts and the outreach events of Christian Heritage. ‘Forum’ is one such group and is a follow up to the University Christian Union mission this Spring.

Hundreds of high school students from the US have visited since 2010 for walks and seminars, boosting the impact and turnover of our teaching programs: ‘Our experience (of Rekindling the Vision) was
nothing short of transformational for students and teachers alike…. I
have not seen any program that is better equipped to carry out this
mission and ministry than Christian Heritage.’

Bill Shelnutt, Mount Pishgah Christian School, Georgia, USA

‘I want to thank you for the amazing walk you gave us…’ | Alex, 9yrs old, Eltisley Primary School, Cambridgeshire

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Shaping the Future

Your summer courses have a great impact on the lives of Christian thinkers and earnest believers’

WALTER C KAISER JNR., PRESIDENT EMERITUS GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, MASSACHUSETTS

‘Initiatives like these enable the voice of Christian realism and sanity to be heard again - undiluted and unashamed - in the public forum.’

DAVID JACKMAN, FOUNDER OF PROCLAMATION TRUST, LONDON

We seek to encourage and equip Christians
to communicate and defend the Gospel in
our secular culture through offering courses
with renowned speakers and year-long
graduate apprenticeships..

APPRENTICESHIPS

2011/2012 saw the start of the year-long apprenticeship scheme. With mentoring and a structured curriculum focusing on apologetic issues and cultural engagement, graduates are equipped to engage with those in the community in apologetic evangelism and helped in their own spiritual and intellectual development.

SUMMER COURSES

The Theology course runs in cycles of six years, covering the six doctrines of God, Salvation, Scripture, the Unity of the Bible, Sanctification and Mission. Through an apologetics summer school we seek to equip Christians to be winsome communicators of the truth, able to counter the prevailing scepticism of our times and engage in apologetic evangelism. Through studying the relationship between theology, psychology and counselling, a new course will provide a biblical framework for counselling. Week-long courses in July attract delegates from the UK, Europe and the US with scholarships offered for students with few opportunities to study in their own country.

SATURDAY SCHOOL

The Saturday School of Theology provides an opportunity for those serving in Christian ministry and professional work to study topics in some depth. It has included modules on church history, the reliability of scripture, beauty and modern art, politics and ethics. Many attend from Cambridge churches but also from further afield.

PHD STUDENTS & EUROPEAN LEADERS

The European Leadership Forum and Christian Heritage collaborate to organise two annual training opportunities. The aim of the Cambridge Scholars Network is to equip PhD students to be the next generation of intellectual leaders across Europe. The Cambridge Leaders Network provides indepth leadership and management training for leaders of Christian ministries across Europe.

‘The apprenticeship has already made a tremendous impact on me, both intellectually and personally. The tutors are excellent guides in my study and research, and the community of Cambridge offers a vast array of artistic, academic, and historical resources.' | Jon Thompson, Apologetics Apprentice 2011-12

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