we are gathered

Back in 2017, we had sensed God’s prompting to do something different. A call to journey with him in a different way. To explore how we can be Church with those who find Church unappealing. To think about a different expression of Christian community. But we weren’t sure what that could be.

Fast forward to 2020, and in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, church buildings were closed. People couldn’t gather together for worship with others in person, so instead many churches began to meet online. Through this time, we wondered if we could hear God whispering to us about something new, something small. We had also started reading more about the history of the 24/7 Prayer movement, houses of prayer and new monasticism.

Over the past few years, there has been significant growth of new monastic communities in the UK. The 20th Century German theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a letter to his brother in 1935 in which he said that ‘The restoration of the church must surely depend on a new kind of monasticism, which has nothing in common with the old but a life of uncompromising discipleship’. 

We are excited about how small new monastic communities can complement the traditional, inherited model of Church in encouraging people to meet God in prayer, seeing people deepen their relationship with Him, and being equipped for mission.

If you’re interested in finding out more, or walking with us, do get in touch!