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.

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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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WCCM Doves John Main, Laurence Freeman, Cockfosters, Monte Oliveto Ceiling paintings in the Vatican Museum WCCM Doves Scenes from Bere Island Views from Loweswater Village Hall Lindisfarne Slakes

Retreats and Events in the Bristol Area - 2010

Details of events will appear here when available

Five Tuesdays from February 23rd till March 23rd

Christian Meditation - An Introductory Course

Meditation is a journey into the centre of our being, and an ancient prayer practice within Christianity.

Bristol meditators will be offering five one hour introductory meetings. Ideally come to the series, but hopefully you will find individual evenings worthwhile. All welcome. 

Time:  8 till 9 pm.

Location:  the presbytery alongside St Bonaventure's Church, Egerton Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8HP (Note that the car park alongside is not accessible from Egerton Road)

Contact:  Sue Ingham 0117 924 3011


Saturday May 15th

Theme: Jesus - The Teacher Within

Leaders: Kim Nataraja

Fr. Laurence Freeman described his book on Jesus as variations on the theme of Jesus’ key question – who do you say that I am? Pondering this question leads us towards the self-knowledge necessary for us to awaken and to recognize Jesus.

Kim Nataraja will offer an occasion to share reflections on some of the main themes of Fr Laurence’s book, especially the chapters The Key Question, The Kingdom of Forgiveness and Steps in Relationship. Periods of meditation will help us do this together at a deep level with “the ear of the heart”. The day is intended for those who have not read the book as well as those who have.

Kim has been a member of the World Community for Christian Meditation since 1993 and is a retired college lecturer. She is a spiritual director and international retreat leader, author of Dancing With Your Shadow, and coordinates the teaching programme of the WCCM’s “School” for meditators.
    
Time: 10.30 till 15.30.   Please bring your own lunch (drinks provided) Suggested donation £12.

Location: Westbury-on-Trym Baptist Church, Reedley Road, Bristol BS9 3TD. The church is about 3 miles from junction 17 of M5, has a car park and is fully wheelchair accessible.


View Larger Map

Contact:  For more information and/or to book a place, contact Roger Layet

Tel: 01275 463727


Friday 18 June 6pm to Sunday 20 June

Cloud of Unknowing

Theme: The focus of the weekend will be ‘The Cloud of Unknowing’ - an anonymous work of Christian mysticism written in the latter half of the 14th century which has reputedly inspired generations of mystical searchers, from John Scotus Erigena, St John of the Cross and Teilhard de Chardin

Location: The Ammerdown Centre, Radstock, Bath BA3 5SW - You can see a Google Map showing the location of the centre here.

Leader: Kim Nataraja

Time: Starting 6pm on Friday, finishing with lunch on Sunday

Cost: Residential: £185, Non-residential: £123

Contact: The Ammerdown Centre, Radstock, Bath BA3 5SW;
Tel: 01761 433709
Email: centre@ammerdown.org www.ammerdown.org

You can download further details and a booking form here.

For further information about the Ammerdown Centre itself, click here.


Saturday June 26th

Return to the Centre

Time: 10.30am till 15.30pm

Location: James Room, Clifton Cathedral House, Clifton Park, Bristol BS8 3BX.  Car park; buses 8/9 set down nearby.

Theme: A workshop to introduce the spiritual practice of Christian meditation to young adults (20 to 40ish). Talks, conversation, meditation.

Leader: Pierre Corcoran, director of the Christian Meditation retreat Centre, London.

Domestics: Bring your own lunch, drinks available.

Cost: Suggested donation £5. 

Contact: Roger Layet can provide copies of the flyer - bristol@christian-meditation.org.uk or tel: 01275 463727


Thursday July 1st

Meditation and Meal

Annual bring and share supper, preceded by meditation, for all meditators in the region as well as any visiting.

At Clifton Cathedral.

Details available via your group facilitator, or contact bristol@christian-meditation.org.uk 


October 1st - 3rd

Theme: Humility and Simplicity: The Cloud of Unknowing and Contemplative Prayer Today

Weekend retreat offering times of meditation, of lectio divina and of silence, in a peaceful Teign Valley setting. Talks from Stefan Reynolds who will give an illustrated introduction to The Cloud and an opportunity to look at how we can relate its teaching - which the Cloud’s author calls ‘the Way of Oneing’  - to our own experience of silent prayer.

Location: At Sheldon, near Exeter. Reasonable costs. Camping and caravanning places also available.

For full information pack, email Shelagh Layet or call 01275 463727.


WCCM Birds

Updated: 17-04-2010