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 Spring 2010
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 about passing on the teaching of meditation, so if you have been
meditating daily for at least a year and are beginning to feel the need to deepen your practice and become more
confident about spreading the word, the first stage is:
The Workshop on the Essential Teaching
One further workshop has been arranged for this year.
8 – 10 October, 2010. Green Pastures Christian Centre, 17 Burton Road, Branksome Park, Poole, Dorset, BH13 6DT, with Kim Nataraja, Sarah Kirkup and Terry Doyle. Further details available shortly.
You can download further details and a booking form here (in Microsoft Word format) or here (in PDF format)
You can download more comments from previous participants here
For further information on these and other events contact Sarah Kirkup, tel: 01768-341258
(Sarah is the coordinator of the School in the UK, working with a resource group – Anne McDonnell, Liz Watson, Dave Corbet, and Kim Nataraja ( International School Coordinator)
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: 25-02-2010
