We met Fr Jack at King’s Cross Station on Friday lunchtime for our journey to Mirfield via Leeds. 

We were attending the Pentecost Pilgrimage Weekend, titled ‘With Hearts on Fire’ at the Community of the Resurrection, a Benedictine Order of Brothers, and the home of the Theological College where Fr Jack studied to become a priest.

Once we had settled into our comfortable rooms in the Retreat House, we met others in the Common Room who were joining the weekend and Br Philip to learn about the history of the Community and its move from Oxfordshire to Mirfield at the end of the nineteenth century, then an industrial mill town and of the Community’s connections with South Africa and Zimbabwe. 

Br Philip then took us to the Community Church to show us where we would be worshiping during the weekend.

The striking exterior of the church built in the grounds.

This is the main building where the brothers live and eat. The house was built by a Mill owner who died before it was finished. It was then purchased and adapted for the use of the Community.

All are welcome here in the Peace of Christ.

The Community of the Resurrection is a community of brothers, living together, seeking to follow the call of Christ in a common life of prayer, hospitality and learning, in the monastic tradition of St Benedict. We took our meals with them that were mostly eaten in silence except on Sundays.  After the service of Compline at 9.15pm the Greater Silence is observed until 9am.

There are extensive grounds too, with fine trees and gardens that with the fine weather we were able to sit in the peace and beauty of God’s creation around us.

It was a great privilege to spend time in the company of the brothers in this holy place and follow the monastic life with its order, prayer and purpose.

Prayer of the Pilgrim

Lord Jesus Christ, in you, past, present and future are brought together in one great hope; renew our faith in you so that the past may not hinder us. The present overwhelm us, or the future frighten us. You have brought us this far: continue to lead us until our hope is fulfilled and we join God’s people in never-ending praise. Amen.