The Bede Griffiths Archive
For a number of years members of the Sangha have been thinking about
the preservation of important documents, photographs and other
material relating to Father Bede that they have in their possession.
Many of us are getting older and it is all too easy for these things
to get thrown away after we die. So a search has been going on for a
permanent archive facility that is easily accessible to members of
the public that would be interested in building up a Bede Griffiths collection. Such a collection would complement the Bede Griffiths
Archive in Berkeley, California, and, of course, the collection held
by Prinknash Abbey. Douai Abbey is a Benedictine Abbey in Berkshire
and over the last few years it has raised money to build a
professional archive and library facility to be a home for important
collections relating to British monasticism. Abbot Geoffrey Scott,
who is also the archivist, has agreed that this can be the home for
a Bede Griffiths Collection, and we are very grateful to him. It is
a wonderful, modern, professional facility and Rowan Williams
formally opened it and is Vice-President of the managing committee.
The collection had a major boost recently when Shirley du Boulay
deposited her research collection at Douai. This is the collection
she made whilst writing Beyond the Darkness and it brings together
many letters and articles (many as photocopies) written by Bede.
Also in the archive are the original letters which formed the basis
of the book Falling in Love with India, letters to Richard Rumbold
(to whom The Golden String is dedicated), and letters to his friends
Toby and Dorothy Rance. If any Sangha member has material that they
feel may be of interest and wish to add to the collection, please do
be in contact with me.
Adrian Rance
Taken from: The Bede Griffiths Sangha Newsletter Summer 2013
Volume 14 Issue 2
Now that there are two main Bede Griffiths collections The Bede
Griffiths Trust collection at Graduate Theological Union in
Berkeley, California and the Bede Griffiths Sangha collection at
the new archive facility at Douai Abbey, in Berkshire UK, if
anyone has material that they feel may be of interest and wish to
donate to either of the main collections – Please contact David Stiver dstiver@gtu.edu from The Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley for The Bede
Griffiths Trust USA and Adrian Rance
adrian.b.rance@btinternet.com for the UK.
If you do not wish to send the originals, please scan the
papers and send the digital copies.