We are a contemplative spiritual community inspired by the christian mystics, monastics and contemplatives exploring a new monasticism
About the Blackfriars Community
Formally beginning in July 2022 after 3 years of informal beginnings, we are a dispersed spiritual community whose hub is Christchurch Blackfriars in Central London UK. The focus of our rhythm of life is ‘contemplative-action’ as a way of living out the path of following the way of God and in particular the teachings and example of Jesus. These different ‘spaces of belonging’ are different steps on the path to a deeper spiritual relationship with God in the complexity and uncertainty of our world.
inspired by the
Monastics
We are inspired as a new and emerging spiritual community by the monks, nuns, friars and mystics of the Christian monastic and mendicant traditions that began in the desert of North Africa. We draw on the influence of Ignatian, Franciscan, Benedictine and some Eastern Orthodox spirituality and practices. In this way we understand ourselves to be part of this ancient tradition, understood as ‘New Monasticism’ in the UK and abroad. A New Monastic understanding of being a Christian is about a rhythm of life of prayer and action where we make an annual commitment to live this way.
As a New Monastic community we are committed to the teachings of Jesus around formation and expectations. We begin with the Great Commandment: The Lord our God is One. You are to love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all your mind with all of your strength, and you are to love your neighbour as yourself.
Which Abbot Christopher Jameson put: Learn to receive the love of God, to be able to learn to love yourself, to be able to love others.
This therefore is a model of healing and transformation in which we are all in different stages of facing our wounds and pains as human becomings. All our formation is in the context of God’s love. So this needs to be considered regarding, as Jesus said, heart, mind and strength.