The latest issue of Meditation News, the UK Community Newsletter is now available to download and read for free from the link below. If you have subscribed to the printed edition of the UK newsletter this should be with you by the end of June.
The latest ( February / March) issue of the WCCM International journal is linked below.
Much is happening in our community now. We are recalling the centenary of the birth of the founder of our worldwide community, John Main – and how much has changed since his remarkable initiative to bring contemplative spirituality right into the heart of Christianity. It has remained a spiritual force for transformation. Although it must be said that this practice of meditation has hardly penetrated into the everyday of Parish life of Christianity…
I am very pleased to let you know that the much anticipated new four-week introductory course entitled ‘Learn to Meditate’ is now available. I want to encourage every one of you to think about where this course could be offered and share your ideas with other meditators. While you may not feel confident in facilitating such a course, someone else may well be. ‘Learn to Meditate’ could be offered at a church or a local venue, or incorporated into your regular meetings, or the link forwarded to someone you know who might prefer to follow the course in their time…
In our meditation groups we come across many different people from all walks of life. We want to provide a space of inclusivity, we want to be catholic in the original sense of ‘all-embracing.’
We want to welcome and unite in our meditations with other faith traditions as we know that sitting in silence is a form of prayer found in most (if not all) religions.
In order to support this notion of inclusivity which is very much present in the tradition of WCCM, a new resource has been put together with input from various members of our community. This offers a variety of alternatives for
how we may introduce and close our meditation times…
The focus of this event was to try to engage with “young adults”, by which we mean broadly those of working age. It was the idea of Sarah Humphreys who with Liz Watson has been hosting, over the last eighteen months, a Zoom meeting for young adults who have contacted the community through social media…
Are you considering the 6 Day Silent Retreat from Sunday 20th September to Saturday 26th September? Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances there has been a change of venue.
The wonderful new venue is in the same area of Lancashire: Shekinah Christian Centre (shekinah.org.uk).
This small quiet prayer centre has been built from what was once a cow shed in a working Lancashire dairy and sheep farm. It overlooks stunning views of the rural countryside and is very quiet. It was converted, over many recent years, through prayer, faith, trust, patience and hard work of a small number of Christians from various denominations feeling called to create “A place of peace, love and tranquillity.” It really does fulfil our search for a place of stillness, silence and simplicity…
Living with the Mystics, 2005 to 2025
For 20 years, every 3 months a group of meditators meet in Cumbria, to gather together in silence and to share, individually and collectively, our thoughts and experience of ‘living with a mystic’ for the previous 3 months.
This is usually by reference to reading one or a series of books by that particular mystic. Here are some examples of mystics ‘lived with’, both ancient and modern: the author of The Cloud of Unknowing, Julian of Norwich, Simone Weil, Bede Griffiths, Thomas Merton.
Over 60 mystics have been ‘lived with’ – some more than once, with some years’ gap in between. Most, but not all, of the mystics have been Christian. But of course mysticism isn’t restricted to any one religion…
The Way of Meditation:
Learning from Nature
A quiet day of talks and meditation
open to all faiths and none
Led by LIZ WATSON
Wednesday 23rd September 2026
Waterperry House, Waterperry, Oxon OX33 1LA
09:30 – 16:30
Tickets: £35
the-way-of-meditation.eventbrite.co.uk
For queries or more information, please contact:
Jacqueline Russell jacqrussell3@gmail.com
Meditation creates community. Meditators who experience personal transformation through a daily practice seek to express this in ways suitable to their own path. Oblation is one of these.
The World Community is ecumenical and the Oblate community specially reflects this. However, the WCCM as a whole acknowledges a special relationship to the Benedictine tradition which was the first in the western Church to form a stable form of inclusive religious life and, in succeeding generations, has always adapted to the needs and circumstances of the age. Oblates live out their oblation in a spirit of obedience, stability and conversion and promise to share always in the life and work of our Community…
Are you passionate about making a positive impact in your community?
WCCM in the UK is seeking individuals, spiritual people and preferably meditators, to join our Board of Trustees. The Board meets online quarterly, usually for up to 3 hours, with occasional side meetings.
We are looking for Individuals with
- Commitment to the aims and values of WCCM in the UK.
- Good, independent judgement and ability to work as part of a team.
All backgrounds are being considered and we particularly welcome applications from individuals with experience in finance (senior level and/or bookkeeping), fundraising and safeguarding.
As an UPDATE to this regular advert, we are now looking specifically (although not exclusively) for a Treasurer. John Reid, the UK community’s current Treasurer, has guided us through significant financial and legal changes over many years and it is with regret, but understanding, that we will be saying farewell to him in this role sometime later this year. He has kindly offered to stay on for a while in order to provide a handover to an incoming Treasurer.
To express your interest, please send your CV and a brief covering letter to Roz Stockley at ukchair@wccm.org.
For an informal chat about the role, please contact Roz Stockley on 07929 007808.
Meditation News and the International Newsletter are available free on our website from //wccm.uk/newsletters-page/ Distribution to most subscribers is online with notification of a new issue by email. If you wish to subscribe please sign up here: //wccm.uk/newsonline
If you would like to receive a printed copy of the UK newsletter please contact the office by email uk@wccm.org or phone 020 8095 4442. There is no charge but a donation of £20 is suggested which covers the cost of photocopying and postage for the four issues. The latest International newsletter is included.
Some articles are available as separate news items on the website listed on
//wccm.uk/category/newsletters/.
There are listings of UK events, key International events and selected offerings from Bonnevaux and the Meditatio Centre. The contacts list has been updated (the latest version is always available on the website).
The next issue will be available in mid-June. Please send articles to: uknewsletter@wccm.uk and events to: events@wccm.uk to reach us by 1 May.