The School in the UK
The content below relates to the school within the UK. To visit the new WCCM school website, recently redesigned by Kim and Shanida Nataraja, click here
The School in the UK - Programme for 2012
The Community aims to communicate and nurture meditation as passed on through the teaching of John Main, in the Christian tradition, in the spirit of serving the unity of all.
The School programme developing within WCCM is concerned with both passing on the teaching of meditation and deepening your own practice. The Workshops on the Essential Teaching and the Retreats are Community events where we create and experience community. Sometimes it’s a really good idea to come again and revisit the teaching.
The next Workshop on the Essential Teaching has been arranged for the weekend of Friday 9 March – Sunday 11 March, 2012 in Godalming, Surrey (details below), so if you have been meditating in the John Main tradition for over a year and would like to deepen your practice, or start a group, then please contact Stefan Reynolds or Sarah Kirkup for further information.
Contact
Kim Nataraja (Until March 2012)
The Workshop on the Essential Teaching
Friday 9 March – Sunday 11 March, 2012
The Essential Teaching Weekend
Leaders: Liz Watson & Briji Waterfield
Start: Friday 5.15 pm
End: after lunch on Sunday at 1.30 pm
Venue: Ladywell Retreat Centre, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1ST
A residential weekend for meditators who have been meditating in our tradition for at least a year and want to deepen their personal experience and understanding of the rich tradition we are part of, and who may wish to share the gift of meditation with others.
The weekend will focus on the core teaching, the history of the Christian mystical tradition and stages of the journey. Working in groups, participants will share practical ways of introducing meditation to others.
The weekend will be framed with meditation three times a day and will allow time for participants to reflect on their own experience, the teachings of John Main, Laurence Freeman and others, and to enjoy the sense of community which meditation creates.
To prepare for the weekend you are asked to read Laurence Freeman's book
Christian Meditation - Your Daily Practice
Accommodation: is in single bedrooms with handbasins and shared bathroom.
Cost: We want to make it possible for people with varied levels of income to attend. The fee is between £110 and £160. Please pay at the affordable level for you between £110 and £160. Those who can pay at a higher level will be providing financial assistance for others who need it.
If you need further financial assistance, or have any queries please contact
Liz Watson 020 7249 8701
You can download a flier and booking form for this event here.
You can download comments from previous participants here
The School Retreat - 2012
Details of the 2012 retreat will be posted here when available.
Comments from Past Workshop Events
Comments from the 2008 event: “The 2008 event at Morley Retreat Centre provided everything needed for prayer, reflection and community. The food was excellent and there was an excellent mix of input and meditation. The talks were fascinating and interestingly delivered. The two speakers complemented each other perfectly. The event proved to be very enlightening and very educational. Those who attended felt it was lovely to be in a group of like-minded people.”
Comments from the 2009 Ilkley event: I think the most exciting thing about a School Weekend is that a group of people get together and share their deeply felt interest in meditation and the teaching of John Main. Out of this come new ways of thinking and learning and this, in turn, enhances our ability to pass the teaching on. It deepens our own practice but also frees us to look at the teaching from different perspectives and this is best summarised by one of the participants at Ilkley:
Hearing other peoples’ contributions allowed me to value the different ways of offering the essential teaching, which allowed me to let go of “there’s one good way of doing it”.
Sarah Kirkup
Further Comments from the February 2009 Ilkley EventIn what ways has the School given you greater confidence in passing on the teaching?
- Well, I thought there must be some certain way to run a group, rules, and there are guidelines but it’s good to know I’m doing OK and I see the simplicity of it.
- Hearing other peoples’ contributions allowed me to value the different ways of offering the essential teaching, which allowed me to let go of “there’s one good way of doing it”.
- Hearing the introductory talks given by others was a real privilege even though I was nervous when it came to my turn!
- Sharing our problems and seeing that there is room for flexibility in the way to deal with them while keeping in mind to potential pitfalls to be avoided..
- A lot more confident now. I felt I was very much alone in this. Knowing I have support in people not just in tapes or over the net, but real people that I can put faces on. I loved it.
- Articulating the essentials. Integrating meditation with general Christian faith.
- Given a good grounding in the teaching. Meditation sessions were very special. It was daunting preparing the ten minute talk knowing that you would have to deliver it, but sense of achievement afterwards, and appreciated the feedback.
- As always, it is a joy to come together with other members of our dispersed community.
- Reinforced my passion!
Some images from the 2008 retreat
Paul Atherton attended the 2008 retreat and wrote some poetry to during his reflection on events. You can download it here (PDF) or here (Word).

Updated: 06-01-2011
