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Living Life with Saint John of Beverley. 2 talks with full handouts and readings by invitation of the Rector of Saint John Lee (near Hexham) for the Patronal Festival. These were repeated a few weeks' later at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in London.

Hexham in Northumberland today is a small market town in the Upper Tyne valley.  In the early 7th century however, the Bishops of Hexham were responsible for most of what is today the province of the Archbishop of York.  Hexham Abbey and Cathedral was said to be the largest church buildings this side of the Alps, English theology was at its peak (the Venerable Bede wrote over 70 books, mainly Bible commentaries), Gregorian Chant was in its golden age (under John of Jarrow and St. Acca of Hexham). and its fame worldwide.  This evening which has been specially requested by the Vicar of St John Lee (near Acomb where John of Hexham and Beverley worked one of his miracles) will provide a solid introduction to the Saints and Life of John of Hexham and Beverley, with Northumbrian Christianity arguably at its peak.

Saint John of Beverley - Where Churches East and West meet in Northumberland.  - By invitation of the Fellowship of St Alban & St Sergius - London Branch, in the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, London.

Based on the Northumbrian course, but focusing on John as a bridge between the Roman (Latin) and Eastern (Celtic) traditions at a time of extreme turbulence, during which John acted as a key initiator of the church in the North of England and in what was to become the Archdicese of York.  He trained the Venerable Bede, and was instrumental in developing Hexham prior to Saint Wilfrid.

Cantica Divina.  A specialist half day introducing singing the Psalms with the heart, in traditions of the Churches of East and West, especially St. Augustine's insights and imagery.  Followed by the Sixth Hour with psalms in the Monastic Tradition for Saint Ignatius of Antioch and Saint Etheldreda of Ely.  Click here for more details and access to handouts.

Canterbury, Augustine, Gregory.  A course of two Thursday evenings first given in 2010 in St. John the Evangelist's Church, West Hendon, focusing on the Early Church in Britain, and in particular guidance given by Saint Gregory the Great in his Book of Pastoral Guidance.  Evenings covered both General Guidance on Management, and how to deal with different types of People. Launched at a Cream Tea at St. John's Church, Algernon Road, West Hendon (near Hendon mainline station - from St. Pancras).

The Teachings of the Desert Fathers.  A talk for the Annual Retreat of the Oblates of Ealing Abbey. This included an introduction to the subject, in particular relating it to the Rule of Saint Benedict, and John Cassian.  Followed by the Sixth Hour (sung by all).  As this Retreat was not open to the general public, handouts are not available on this site, but may be available on request.

Saint Mary of Egypt – A Message for today?  A Lenten reflection on the focus of the Eastern Church for the key figure of the Sunday before Palm Sunday, at the invitation of the Catholic Society of Saint John Chrysostom and the Fellowship of Saint Alban & Saint Sergius, in the Catholic Church of Saint Anselm, Tooting Bec.

Praying with the Early Church.  The Early Church – over the first seven or eight centuries – was a time of contrasts – from persecution under aggressive atheism, to the slow and steady disintegration of the Roman Empire, and the end of stability, at a time when Christianity was slowly finding its feet, while being blamed for everything from cannibalism to the fall of Rome.

Against this though were devised some of the most powerful prayers ever written, for Christians who saw themselves as part of a church across the world and down through the ages in one great Community.  These prayers were written down, and are widely in active use, although less often in England.  This short course  looks at some of them, and provide guidance on using them in the 21st century.