Dom John Main

Dom John Main - the founder of the modern Christian Meditation movement. John Main rediscovered the authentic practice of mantra-based christian meditation by studying the ancient works of John Cassian.

WCCM website

Visit - the World Community for Christian Meditation website.

‘Maranatha’ is an Aramaic word from the time of Jesus, meaning 'Come Lord'. It can be found in Revelation 22.20 (the penultimate verse in the New Testament) and has been used as a prayer word since earliest days of Christianity. When meditating, use it simply as a focus for your attention, without thinking about the meaning of it.

Accessibility: This site has been designed so that users who struggle to see the content clearly can make use of the browser controls to magnify web pages. With most browsers holding down the control key and pressing the + (plus) key repeatedly will enlarge the web page (images and text). Holding down the Control key and hitting the - (minus) key reverses the process.

Bere Island: The birth place of Laurence Freeman's mother and a place to which he has returned from time to time for periods of prayer and solitude. In his book “Jesus, the Teacher Within”, Laurence uses his rediscovery of the island as an allegory of the search for personal identity and the gradual separation of reality and illusion we all need to make in order to grow spiritually.

Books and CDs by Laurence Freeman: The London Centre has a wide range of books and CDs by Laurence Freeman and other experienced meditators. Telephone 020-7278-2070 (Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm) or email welcome@wccm.org to find out whether they have the product you want in stock, its price in £ and the postage rate.

WCCM Bookshop: The London Centre has a wide range of books and CDs on all aspects of Christian Mediation from a wide range of authors, including John Main, Laurence Freeman, Richard Rohr, Bede Griffiths, Paul Harris, Margaret Rizza and many others. Telephone 020-7278-2070 (Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm) or email welcome@wccm.org to find out whether they have the product you want in stock, its price in £ and the postage rate.

Margaret Rizza: The London Centre has a wide range of music CDs by Margaret Rizza, an experienced meditator and meditation conference speaker. Telephone 020-7278-2070 (Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm) or email welcome@wccm.org to find out whether they have the product you want in stock, its price in £ and the postage rate.

Click to Expand or Close

Scenes from Guildford: The historic town of Guildford is located between the rolling North Downs and the winding River Wey. It has an interesting past that hails back to Saxon times.

Hove: scenes from the sea front.

Laurence Freeman: a Benedictine monk and priest of the Congregation of Monte Oliveto, and director of WCCM. He is also the founder and director of the John Main Center for Meditation and Inter-religious Dialogue at Georgetown University, and author of many books and articles for the Tablet particularly, and a member of the Board of Medio Media.

Central London, viewed from Greenwich Observatory. Can there be space for quiet contemplation in a city like this? Well yes actually! Saint Marks Church in Islington, hosts the London Christian Meditation Centre. Cockfosters Retreat Centre also offers a range of meditation retreats throughout the year, and further meditation events take place at St Peter’s Centre for Meditation and Peace, at Vauxhall, and at Westminster Cathedral

Views, from Loweswater Village Hall. Usually, once a year in the summer, the Cumbrian Christian Meditation group meet here. The hall provides one of the most panoramic views in the Lake District looking up the valley that holds Crummock Water and Buttermere, to Great Gable, which is wreathed in cloud on this occasion.

The Newsletter is released quarterly and is the main source of information for many many members of the Community. In it you will find sections covering news of the Community's leaders, forthcoming retreats and events and a message from Father Laurence Freeman. Contact Saint Mark's Church if you want to receive it. There are details at the foot of this webpage.

North Staffordshire includes the City of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme and their surrounding areas. There are currently three groups in the area: May Bank (Newcastle), Longton (Stoke) and Stone.

Benedictines: John Main, the founder of the World Community for Christian Meditation, and Laurence Freeman, the Community's current leader; a sketch of the former Christian Meditation Retreat Centre at Cockfosters and one of the corridors at the monastery of Monte Oliveto.

The Open Gate: a retreat house run by the Community of Aidan and Hilda on Lindisfarne, Northumberland. Courses and retreats on many aspects of christian spirituality are provided each year.

Oxford: Britain's oldest university town.

Portsmouth Catholic Cathedral was built in 1882 and is situated close to the City centre and the home of the Royal Navy.

Waterfall, in the grounds of Rydal Hall, near Ambleside. Meetings organised by the Cumbrian Christian Meditation group often take place here. The mountains of the Lake District make an inspiring backdrop to the grounds of the hall and remind us that although the path of meditation can sometimes appear rather steep and craggy, there is a way to the summit.

Autumn Colours, in the grounds of Rydal Hall, near Ambleside. Meetings organised by the Cumbrian Christian Meditation group often take place here. The mountains of the Lake District make an inspiring backdrop to the grounds of the hall and remind us that although the path of meditation can sometimes appear rather steep and craggy, there is a way to the summit.

Shrewsbury: typical half timbered houses in the town and plate glass windows in the cathedral

Lindisfarne Slakes, in the fading light of a late February afternoon. The tranquility of the sea and sky on this day, might remind us of our quest for tranquility of mind and spirit during meditation.

Staffordshire Moorlands at the southwestern end of the Pennines, provides an opportunity for solitude. The Staffordshire Peak District is distinctly quieter than its more famous Derbyshire neighbour!

Scenes from Surrey famous for its gardens and picturesque villages, and also an area where WCCM UK is very active, with a good number of groups and local events

Painted Ceiling, in one of the corridors of the Vatican Museum, leading to the Sistine Chapel.

The Website, has been produced using Adobe Creative Suite, and uses standard XHTML, JavaScript, CSS and PHP to achieve its effects. If you have any photographs or information that you think would be useful for the site, please contact the webmaster.

Doves logo link to wccm.org

Dom John Main

UK Home page

Site Search

2012 Retreat

Shop

Donations

Audio Downloads

Meditation School

Local Groups

Group Resources

Lone Meditators

Young Meditators

Retreats & Events

Newsletter

Contact Us

Reflections

Login

Scenes from Bere Island John Main, Laurence Freeman, Cockfosters, Monte Oliveto

Eastern England

Below you will find notices posted by Regional Coordinators, up coming retreats and events and further Information covering news, courses, reports from past events and contact details for Coordinators.

Christian Meditation News From Eastern England

All events for 2012 are now up on our website:

  Art and Meditation April 28th

  Music and Meditation July7th

  Literature and Meditation November 3rd

This year we are also offering Noggs Barn for  individual or group quiet days. For more details check all these out on our website www.noggsbarn.org

 

Quiet Days

Venue: Noggs Barn, 97, School Lane Little Melton Norfolk NR9 3LA

Noggs Barn is available this year for anyone who would like some quiet time to write, read, think or pray. It will be possible to come for the whole day or part of a day.

The barn is available between 10:00 and 21:30 each day.

Spiritual guidance may be given for anyone who would like it and a light lunch provided for a small charge. Noggs Barn provides a spacious room looking out onto a garden available for your private use. Over the years it has taken on a prayerful atmosphere so provides a warm environment for reflective thinking. There are books available on request, a CD player and a wide selection of recorded teaching from Laurence Freeman, John Main, Bede Griffiths, Richard Rohr and others, also a variety of quiet music.You are of course welcome to bring your own CDs. There is a fully equipped kitchen, toilet and shower. This is a lovely place to sit and be peaceful so do contact me if you would like to make use of it-either personally or for a small group.. There will be no formal charge but if you are able Mark and I invite a donation towards the upkeep of Noggs Barn.

Leadership: Spiritual direction may be available if requested

Catering: Either bring your own food or light refreshment can be provided for a small charge.

Cost: Invited donation

Booking: By phone or e.mail

Contact: Anne McDonnell

Telephone: 01603 810646

Click here to email the Event Organiser

Alternative Contact: Mark McDonnell

Email: mark.mcdonnell@talk21.com

Telephone: 01603 810646

About Noggs Barn

You are warmly invited as our guests and friends.  Events are free and non-profit making.  Occasionally you might be asked for a donation to help out with a visiting speaker’s expenses. The spirit of events at Noggs is friendly, informal and inclusive.  None of the speakers wishes to be seen as a great expert. They are simply people who have a special feeling or passion for what they are talking about and who welcome your participation and response.

Noggs Barn is part of our home and we have dedicated it to the spiritual life in the broadest sense. There is a weekly Christian meditation group meeting regularly every Wednesday evening at 7.30  following the tradition of the World Community for Christian Meditation.

Anne and Mark McDonnell. 

Visit our website at www.noggsbarn.org

Retreats and Events

To find the location of an event copy its post code into the search box of http://maps.google.co.uk or http://www.bing.com/maps/ then zoom in or out and print out, to meet your needs.


Events in This Region

Event ID: 57

Saturday 7 July 2012

Meditation and Music

Time: 10:30 to 16:00

Leadership: Anne McDonnell

Venue: Noggs Barn, White Lodge 97, School Lane Little Melton Norfolk NR 9 3LA

Theme: This day will alternate periods of meditation and music exploring how the two relate to each other. There will be some live music and those who come are invited to bring their own contribution to live music or a CD of music that has special significance. There is no need to have any expert knowledge of music in order to fully enter the day-just an interest and response to the interplay of meditation and music.

Catering: Coffee,tea and soft drinks are provided. Please bring your own packed lunch

Cost: There is no formal cost. If anyone would like to offer a donation towards the upkeep of Noggs Barn a discreet basket will be placed to receive it!

Booking: Just let Anne know if you would like to come

Contact: Anne McDonnell

Telephone: 01603 810646

Alternative Contact: Mark McDonnell

Email: mark.mcdonnell@talk21.com

Telephone: 07775502090

Visit Website: http://www.noggsbarn.org


Event ID: 58

Saturday 3 November 2012

Meditation and Poetry

Time: 10:30 to 16:00

Leadership: Jim Green

Venue: Noggs Barn, White Lodge 97, School Lane Little Melton Norfolk NR9 3LA

Theme: This day explores the relationship between meditation and music. Please bring along any poem that has particular meaning for you.

Catering: Tea, coffee and soft drinks are provided. Please bring a packed lunch.

Cost: There is no formal charge but opportunity to make a donation towards the upkeep of Noggs Barn if you would like to.

Booking: Please contact Anne

Contact: Anne McDonnell

Telephone: 01603 810646

Alternative Contact: Mark McDonnell

Email: mark.mcdonnell@talk21.com

Telephone: 07775502090


Events in Adjacent Regions

National Events

Event ID: 46

Tuesday 22 May 2012

The Spiritual Ground of Wellbeing

Meditation as an Art of Healing

Time: 09:15 to 17:00

Leadership: Fr Laurence Freeman and Professor Peter Gilbert

Venue: York St John's University, Lord Mayor's Walk York YO31 7EX

Theme: What on earth does 'spiritual' mean? It is evidently an important element of people's sense of 'well-being' today but it defies exact definition. Maybe this is because it is about wholeness and a catalyst for wholeness. This Meditatio Seminar brings together a variety of new viewpoints. Different schools of contemporary psychology and different religious traditions converge in seeing how meditation aids the healing process. The new UK NHS mental health policy emphasises the importance of prevention, early intervention and developing practices that, like meditation, support well-being. The Seminar creates a forum for clarifying the role that spiritual practice, (in particular meditation) can play. The approach is geared towards the practical ways open to a stressful, fast-paced and pluralist society for relieving suffering and promoting happiness. The presentations and workshops will be facilitated by leading teachers in the field of meditation, experienced mental health practitioners and those who have personal knowledge of using mental health and recovery services. An open discussion will also look ahead and share possible ways to proceed after the event.

Catering: Lunch is provided

Cost: £85

Booking: email/post/phone

Contact: Pat Nash

Telephone:

Alternative Contact: Kate Coombs

Email: kate@wccm.org

Telephone: 020 7278 2070

Download a flyer for this event by right clicking here, and selecting Save As (or the equivalent, if you are using an Apple Mac!)

Download a separate booking form for this event by right clicking here, and selecting Save As (or the equivalent, if you are using an Apple Mac!)

Visit Website: wccmmeditatio.org


Event ID: 39

Thursday 11 October to Wednesday 17 October 2012

UK National Retreat

Tell Me a Story - Meditation and the History of Salvation

Times: Starting at 18:00 on 2012-10-11 and finishing at 12:00 on 2012-10-17

Leadership: Father Laurence Freeman OSB

Venue: Belsey Bridge Conference Centre, Belsey Bridge Conference Centre, Ditchingham, Bungay, Suffolk NR35 2DZ

Theme: 'From childhood we learn to love stories and remain attracted to them as adults since they help us make sense of our lives. How does meditation- a way without words, images or storyline- relate to the religious story and all the stories within it that form so much of the Christian tradition? Do the stories cease to matter or do they matter even more in the light of meditation? Our daily practice and our Christian maturity can depend on this'. In this UK Retreat Father Laurence will explore this theme. The times of meditation and other ways of prayer and preparation will also be essential to making this a week of peace, renewal, solitude and blessed community. There will be a Eucharist on each full day and simple relaxation exercises will help keep our body and mind in tune.

Catering: Residential - meals provided

Cost: Between £195 and £390 - See Flyer

Booking: The booking form is part of the flyer - see below

Contact: Jacqueline Russell

Telephone: 01296 488450

Download a flyer for this event by right clicking here, and selecting Save As (or the equivalent, if you are using an Apple Mac!)


Further Information

For more information on meditation events and groups contact an Area Coordinator listed below


Cambridgeshire

Caroline Shepherd

Telephone: 01223 360648

East Anglia

Anne McDonnell

Telephone: 01603 810646 0

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

Paul Hayward

Telephone: 01234 782677

Essex

Chris Hurley

Telephone: 01702 207722


WCCM Birds

Updated: 07-11-2011