Are you seeking deeper peace, a closer relationship with God, or the companionship of others on the contemplative path?
Perhaps you’ve felt drawn to meditation, but are unsure how it fits with your faith. Or maybe you already have a practice but struggle to maintain it on your own. You’re not alone.
We exist to help people build a regular meditation practice and to cultivate contemplative awareness in daily life.
In this short video, Chris Whittington, founder of The School of Contemplative Life, who began his meditation journey at the Benedictine Monastery of Prinknash Abbey, shares a little about this ancient way of silent prayer and the importance of community to sustain a personal practice.
The safe and supportive space we host is welcoming to people of all backgrounds, orientations and beliefs. Join us on:
Saturday 08:30 – 09:30 UK time
Wednesday 20:00 – 20:45 UK time
Each gathering includes a short teaching, a time of silent meditation (20–25 min), and space for shared reflection. No experience is necessary.
People who meditate in the practice community regularly speak about feeling more peaceful, compassionate, and connected – to God, to others, to themselves and to all creation.
The impact isn’t just personal. It ripples out, shaping how we live and relate to those around us.
Each time we return to stillness, we extend an olive branch – both to the scattered parts of ourselves and to the world. It’s the beginning of peace.
A growing practice community – the largest of its kind in the UK
Free to attend, with a warm welcome for everyone
For beginners and experienced practitioners alike
Intended to help sustain a regular spiritual practice
“The School of Contemplative Life will provide an opportunity for people of all traditions to discover new openings for growth in contemplative maturity.”
The Rt. Rev’d Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury
“I’m calmer with my students, colleagues, friends and family. I am also more able to see when I’m not at peace and take action to change that.”
“I have a growing appreciation of the community – which was unexpected, as meditation is otherwise solitary.”
“A sense of community is something that took me by surprise. There is unity in the silence and the internet doesn’t take it away.”
“Meditation is a game changer. It’s no exaggeration to say that it has improved most aspects of my life.”
“I only began meditating under a month ago and it has truly deepened not only my prayer life but my relationship with myself too.”
“Previously, I signed up to another group but it does not provide the level of teaching here. They fill me with awe, inspiration and strength”.
“I was anxious at first, thinking meditation was Buddhist or New Age (through ignorance). I was so happy to find you on Instagram. It all fell into place.”
“Finally, I have found a spiritual home within my belief structure.”
Our journey begins where the spokes meets the outer rim of the wheel. When we look sideways from this point, we appear to be separate from all the other spokes. In meditation we look beyond our always moving thoughts and feelings towards the centre of the wheel, the hub, the still, silent presence of God within us.
Glimpsing the hub, we see that all the spokes are rooted in and radiate from this one centre. The closer we comes to the centre, the closer we seem to come to each other and all creation – until we see that we were never separate. Arriving at our common home, we realise we never left, but simply forgot.
