20 January 2012

It’s back! Don’t miss the 2012 Festival of Prayer on Saturday 7 July at Ripon College Cuddeson.
On a foul, wet, windy Saturday in July 2011, 160 people gathered at Ripon College Cuddesdon for what turned out to be a remarkable event. They were Anglicans, Quakers, Methodists and Baptists. They came from as near as the next village and as far as South Africa. They were hungry to ‘taste and see’, to explore the riches of different prayer traditions and ways of deepening their relationship with God.

A new venture in the life of the local church, the Festival of Prayer did not disappoint. The day offered a smorgasbord of workshops and meditation opportunities, with high quality speakers and leaders from all over the country. With four workshop slots in the day, the only problem was what to choose. Exploring the Franciscan, Ignatian or Benedictine traditions? Praying with music or through nature? Investigating Spiritual Direction or the medieval mystics? Wondering about Celtic rhythms or making a pilgrimage?

In the feedback, the overwhelming message was ‘Please do it again; we want to go to the workshops we missed and to explore in more depth’.
The organisers (Oxford Diocese and the Bible Reading Fellowship) have taken this and all the other feedback on board, and are delighted to announce that there will be a 2012 Festival of Prayer at Ripon College on Saturday 7 July. Many of the topics which delighted participants last year will be repeated both as ‘taster’ sessions and for those who wish to ‘go deeper’.

There will be opportunity to explore the visual in prayer, through icons and art, Carmelite spirituality and the use of silence, together with the provision of more quiet space will be in the mix.

The 2011 conference participants were fortunate to hear the keynote address given by Revd Ian Adams, author of Cave, Refectory, Road. In 2012 we are delighted to welcome Canon Angela Tilby, author of many books on prayer and early spiritual practice and well-known contributor to BBC Radio Four’s Thought for the Day.
Tastebuds tickled? Put the date in your diary now, and look out for future publicity.

For more information see www.brfonline.org.uk/festival-of-prayer