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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Lindisfarne Slakes Views from Loweswater Village Hall John Main, Laurence Freeman, Cockfosters, Monte Oliveto Views from Loweswater Village Hall

Retreats and Events in Yorkshire
and the North East - 2010


Meetings in the North East

Saturday 8 May 2010

The Present a Gift 

Theme: The Mystics' Tradition of Living in the Now, including the teachings of Meister Eckhart, Teilhard de Chardin and Eckhart Tolle.

Leader: by Bob Morley

Time: 10.00 for 10.30am until 3.30pm

Location: Quaker Meeting House, Archibold Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1DB. See the Google Map

Cost: £10.00

Bookings and Information: Jill and Charles Foister 0191 285 5054 Booking is not essential but does help with arrangements


Meetings in Yorkshire

All Saturday workshops  will be held at Trinity and All Saints College, Horsforth, LEEDS between 10.00am and 3.30pm

Contacts: For further information on any of the events below contact


Saturday 24th April 2010

Theme: “This Way of Oneing” Contemplation in the Cloud of Unknowing. An illustrated talk on this 14th century English treatise on prayer

Leader: Stefan Reynolds - Stefan is a Benedictine oblate of the WCCM. He works at Heythrop College, London, and is currently working on a PhD on English mysticism in the 14th century.


Tuesday 1st to Thursday 3rd June 2010

Midweek Contemplative Prayer Retreat

Theme: Learning to Love -  Inspired by the writings of William Law (an18th century English mystic) and  the life of St. Francis

Leader: Graham Skilling

Location: The Monastery of Our Lady of Hyning
Warton, Morecambe, Lancashire  LA5 9SE

Time: Tuesday 1st 10am – Thursday 3rd  4pm

Please note that this will be primarily a silent retreat. As the dining room is shared there may be conversation then. Accommodation is in single rooms. If you have any dietary needs please indicate when booking.

Contact: To book please contact Graham Skilling, 7 Danes Rd, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 9PW

Tel: 01539-822695

You can download a leaflet detailing this retreat here


Saturday 26th June

Theme: “The Earth is the Lords”
A Franciscan Approach to Meditation.

Leader: James Anthony - Brother James is a member of the Society of St Francis, an Anglican Franciscan Congregation


Friday 3rd to 5th September

Annual Weekend Retreat

Theme:  ‘Christian Meditation – In sickness and in health’

Location: The Briary Retreat Centre, Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

Leader: Martin Parrott -  Martin , as some of you will remember is chaplain of a hospital in West Yorkshire and led a successful day’s workshop for us last year, on the theme of mental health.


Saturday 27th November

Theme: ‘Going Deeper’.  A contemplative preparation for  Christmas  with Lectio Divina, shared reflections and a walking meditation. And of course, sharing food together.

Leaders: Sue Giuntoni and Pam Connolly


You can download details of events in the Yorkshire Region here


 

WCCM Birds

Updated: 11-03-2010