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.
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.
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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.
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 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.
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Contemplative Events at Westminster Cathedral
The cathedral is accessed from the south side of Victoria street, between Carlisle Place and Thirleby Road.
In the Google map further down this page, the cathedral's three large domes can be easily seen.
Contemplative events at Westminster Cathedral include:
- Weekly group in Hinsley Rooms Monday 6.30pm
- Occasional 6 week courses
- Daily meditation Mon - Fri 12.30pm in St Paul's Bookstore Chapel.
- Monthly quiet days on the first Wednesday of each month. All start with 20 mins silent prayer.
- Silence in the City events - a special programme of talks
Silence in the City
The following events will take place in Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1.
Thursday, 22nd October, 7 to 9pm
- Archbishop Nichols on 22 October 2009 7pm to 9pm.
- "The Lure of God."
Tuesday, 24th November, 7 to 9pm
- Metropolitan Kallistos Ware on 24 November 2009.
- "Word and Silence in Prayer."
Thursday, January 14th, 2010, 7 to 9pm
- Martin Laird, author of " Into the Silent Land"
Saturday, 20th March, 2010, 11am to 4pm
- Fr. Gregory of the Order of Julian of Norwich.
Wednesday, 2nd June, 2010, 7 to 9pm
- Fr. Kevin Culligan,a Carmelite Friar
- " St. John of the Cross and the Search for Silence."
Thursday, 26th August, 2010, 7 to 9pm
- Fr.Richard Rohr on 26 August 2010 7pm. to 9pm. To be confirmed.
Events listing in pale blue styled like this will need to be pre-booked!
For further details of these events, you can visit the Silence in the City website here.
First Wednesday Quiet Days
The first Wednesday of each month is a retreat day
We have silent meditation at 12.30pm and short inputs on the theme at 12 noon and at 2pm.
Most of the day is spent in silence when people can reflect on the theme and its relevance to their daily life as it is lived.
We conclude by sharing our thoughts, insights and doubts with each other if we wish to.
The day is open to everyone of all faiths and none.
It is held in The Hinsley Room in Morpeth Terrace, next to Westminster Cathedral from 12noon to 4.30pm. Drinks are provided but bring your own lunch.
Forthcoming First Wednesday events during 2010 will appear here when available.

Updated:22-01-2009