According to recent research, 48.5% of English people now identify as ‘No Religion’, compared to the 43.8% who identify with a Church. It complements another report that church attendance has continued to decline.
Church of England services now average less than 1.4% of the population on a given Sunday. However, a BBC News story noted that despite the falling popularity of organised religion, most people in the UK still believe in the power of spiritual forces, including over a third of those who identify as ‘No religion’. So, although spirituality remains significant for a large majority of people, many don’t naturally associate
‘Spirituality’ with ‘Church’.
Yet the Christian Church has a long and rich tradition of providing the spirituality which many are seeking. The Benedictine monks of Downside Abbey offer this, according to their sixth-century founder, St Benedict, and the Abbey also provides residential retreats.
Starting on Saturday, January 28th, Downside Abbey is hosting a series of monthly day retreats, based on the spirituality of St Ignatius (founder of the Jesuits) and his
‘Spiritual Exercises.’ These are designed to help people meditate using their imagination, focused mainly on the story of Jesus presented in the Gospels. Not only is the series based on that of a different religious order, but it will be facilitated by Guy Yeomans, an Australian Baptist Minister who has also been trained by, and worked with the Jesuits, to companion people on their spiritual journeys.
The first retreat day will be an introductory ‘taster’. For further information, contact Guy Yeomans by emailing: [email protected] or: 07435 394618. For event details and bookings, visit: http://www.downside.co.uk/product-category/events/monastery-events/