St Brandon's Church, Brancepeth

The Church of St Brandon in County Durham sits in the shadow of its larger neighbour, the castle. Nevertheless, its ancient walls and vintage tower suggested an interesting interior. This was certainly the case but now how we expected.

The interior was airy, light, spacious and modern. Although the remains of ancient tombs lined some of the walls, the glass was new, the chairs were of light wood and there were pleasant examples of cheerful colour in various places. I wondered if this was a wealthy church which could afford to import teams of interior decorators every decade? Thankfully, a lady entered to arrange some flowers and gave us the story. A terrible fire had raged in 1998, destroying the insides but sparing the externals. Thus, after a period of fundraising and even royal patronage, a new and stylish church was re-born inside that old and veritable shell. The contrast was rather pleasant, and this was not a visit I would soon forget.

The Christian man or woman was given a new heart at his or her conversion; thus began a new life, centred around a new purpose, tempered by new hope. Furthermore, their minds are always being renewed as they approach their new home with Christ. Yet all this takes place within the confines of the old, decaying shell, our bodies. God does not always heal, and the tents we inhabit during this life are subject to the laws of death and decay. The interior does not currently match the exterior.

But, one day, it shall.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52