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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Waterfall and pool at Rydal Hall Autumn colours at Rydal Hall Views from Loweswater Village Hall Scenes from Bere Island John Main, Laurence Freeman, Cockfosters, Monte Oliveto Waterfall and pool at Rydal Hall Ceiling paintings in the Vatican Museum WCCM Doves WCCM Newsletter

Retreats and Events in Cumbria

Cumbrian Shootings - Letter from Father Laurence

This terrible tragedy must have shaken you all very deeply who are so close to the events. Please know and share with our community that they are not alone and that the rest of the mediators around the UK and far beyond are holding the victims of this time and their families in our hearts and that we pray for peace to descend on all. Like the tragic accident that took 5 yera old Aislin from her family last week, these awful events by a broken mind raise deep questions of meaning and the nature of God. As with Aislin's parents the foundation of faith and the understanding of silence allow us to be open to grace in the midst of the suffering and confusion.

With love

Laurence

Friday, June 04, 2010 12:07 AM


Meditation in Cumbria

Contact: Sarah Kirkup, The Cherry Tree, Brough Sowerby, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4EG.

Tel: 01768 341258


Downloads

You can download a printable copy of the Cumbria 2010-2011 programme here (PDF) and a booking form here (PDF)

Useful information and contacts for those interested in meditation in Cumbria can be found here (Word) or here (PDF)

You can download the Cumbrian Newsletter for January 2010 here (Word) or here (PDF)

David Wood, one of our former National Coordinators and leaders of the Cumbria area, has compiled a new book with a humorous note: God's hotel - Godspotting in all directions. You can download a description of its content and ordering details here.


Friday 30th July

Poetry for a Summer's Day

Location: The Village Hall, Mungrisda

Cost: Donation on the day.

Refreshments provided Places are limited; please make early contact to reserve your place.

Contact: For more details and bookings please contact stephen@sacredspace.org.uk or telephone 017687 79000

You can download full details here


Tuesday 3rd August

Living with the Mystics

Time: 10.00 – 3.00 p.m.

Location: Quaker Meeting House, Meeting House Lane, Penrith CA11 7TR.

Theme: We will be exploring the works of William Johnston. 

Domestics: Bring your own lunch, drinks provided.

Cost: £5.00


Sunday 22nd August

A Gathering at Loweswater Village Hall 

Sarah Kirkup and Bob Morley will lead with short talks on key figures in our tradition and time for a shared lectio divina and discussions on our practice.

Time: 1.00pm for a 2pm start, closing at 5.30pm 

Domestics: Tea and biscuits provided but bring your own lunch if you come early to enjoy the views. 

Cost: £8.00

You can download a flier with information for this event here


Tuesday 2nd November

Living with the Mystics.

Location: The Quaker Meeting House, Elliot Park, Keswick (next to Booth’s)

Theme: We will be exploring the works of Thomas Merton.

Time: 10.00 – 3.00 p.m.

Domestics: Bring your own lunch, drinks provided. 

Cost: £5.00

Please note:  We are expecting that the refurbishment work will be finished at Keswick – but if you book for this, then we will let you know if there is any change.


Friday 5th – Sunday 7th November

The Boarbank Retreat

Location: Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands LA11 7NH.

Leader: Graeme Watson

Theme: Graeme Watson will lead on a theme including Poetry, Remembrance and Meditation. On retirement from a rural Cornwall parish Graeme has led workshops within WCCM on the poetry of George Herbert and R.S Thomas. He is especially interested in how the images and language used by them may lead us into the contemporary practice of Christian Meditation. Many of you will remember his day at Hawkshead Hill Baptist Church in July 2008.

Cost: £100. A deposit of £25 secures a place.

Contact: Sarah Kirkup - Tel:01768 341258


Saturday 29th January 2011

Awareness of Love in Stillness and Silence

Location: The Tithe Barn, Grasmere LA22 9SW, led by Bob Morley.  More details later.

Time: 10.00 for 10.30 start, finishing at 3.30pm

Domestics: Bring your own lunch, drinks provided

Cost: £12.50


Tuesday 1st February 2011

Living with the Mystics

Location: At Quaker Meeting House, Elliot Park, Keswick (next to Booth’s). 

Theme: Mystic to be decided - watch this space!

Time:10.00 – 3.00 p.m. 

Domestics: Bring your own lunch, drinks provided. 

Cost: £5.00


Friday 15th – Sunday 17th April

The Hyning Retreat

Location: Monastery of Our Lady of Hyning, Carnforth LA5 9SE 

Theme: “Gazing at the Passion through the eyes of the Mystics” 

Leader: Sister Ann-Marie Stuart

Cost: £100

Deposit of £25 secures a place.


WCCM Birds

Updated: 08-06-2010