Caroline Price, who died in October 2023 at the age of 72, was a wonderful lady who is sorely missed by her friends in the Bristol/Bath meditation community and by her legions of friends beyond it. She had a deep love of God and for pretty much everyone that she met – we were all described as lovely!
After a colourful start to her adult life she began to find her way as a volunteer with (and later as a trustee of) Pilsdon, a Christian community offering to share life with anyone who was struggling. She joined the Sisters of the Church, an Anglican order with which she supported children, the poor, and prostitutes in the St.Paul’s area of Bristol. She eventually left the order, feeling a call to become a Roman Catholic, but never lost her connection and friendship with the sisters who cared for her wonderfully in her last months. She worked as a chaplain in Bristol’s Catholic schools and as a music teacher; she was the organist in her parish, she volunteered at its Borderlands charity for refugees and asylum seekers, and in an ecological garden; she gave retreats and led lectio divina courses, she offered spiritual direction. In her tiny flat she hosted lunches for parishioners with nowhere to go at Christmas.
Caroline was introduced to meditation at The Well Centre for Spirituality when she became its Warden (about 2000). She was involved in a weekly group there for the rest of her life, leading it until illness prevented her last year. The group has continued since. For many years Caroline also led a meditation group at Saint James’ Priory. Caroline was devoted to the Priory, its beauty and the silent oasis which it provided in the centre of Bristol.
Caroline was for years a member of the steering group which coordinated the Bristol/Bath region of WCCM. She was invaluable. Her wisdom would regularly offer fresh perspectives. And she seemed to know everyone in the Bristol Christian world! She also contributed her gifts in several practical ways:
- Caroline taught meditation at Saint Nicholas primary school. She also visited St. Brendan’s sixth form college and several primary schools in the region to introduce teachers and students to the practice.
- She led a number of quiet days for the local meditation community. In recent years her Advent Saturday days became a fixture.
- She helped to run local introductory courses for newcomers to meditation. The courses included a short live talk plus recorded teaching from John Main or Laurence Freeman. Caroline’s favourite topic was Jesus as a teacher of contemplative prayer. She could talk so readily on this that we would run out of time to listen to the planned recording. She was never at a loss for words!
- WCCM in the South West runs two annual retreats. Caroline was on the organising team for the three-day silent retreat helping to formulate its programme. At the retreat she would offer one to one spiritual accompaniment sessions. And, with her guitar, she would contribute beautifully to the singing of Compline each evening and to the closing Sunday Eucharist.
To everything she did in our community Caroline brought wisdom, warmth, love and laughter. For all she contributed, and more importantly for all she was, we miss her greatly. She was an inspiring model of contemplation and action, and of what it might be like truly to follow Jesus.
Roger Layet