Glastonbury

Soon after I  became a resident of Lindisfarne Rosemary and Rev.James Turnbull, who had an unofficial but distinguished ministry at Glastonbury, Britain's foremost  centre for early Christian and contemporary earth spiritualities, began to make an annual retreat with us, and pleaded that the pure, deep spirituality of Lindisfarne (animated by saints Aidan and Cuthbert) needed to pour into Glastonbury.  In obedience I visited Glastonbury each year for ten years, to lead retreats, give talks, hold book launches or meet locals.  I became and remain a Companion of Chalice Well which entitles me to book its retreat house and garden and to receive its magazine.

I am inspired by the new leadership at Chalice Well. While continuing to embrace varied religions and earth spiritualities, it is reviving the deeply Christian insights of its founder, Wellesley Tudor Pole, who created the Upper Room in the spirit of Joseph of Arimathea, and who instituted the Minute of Silence which  they keep at midday and 3.0 pm and which is observed world-wide at 9.0 pm.

The latest edition of The Chalice Magazine reprints an article by Tudor Pole entitled The Gift of Giving. He asserts that to get without giving is contrary to Divine Law.  He illustrates this truth by contrasting the Sea of Galilee with the Dead Sea. The Lord Jesus loved the Sea of Galilee, which overflowed with fresh fish and wild life; the waters of the river Jordan flow into it from Mount Hermon, but the Sea does not keep them, it allows them to flow on. In dismal contrast the Dead Sea hoards every drop of water reaching it and gives nothing in return.  Tudor Pole concludes 'It seems to me that to give and to give thanks will open many doors that would otherwise remain barred to us.'

I now appeal to CAH Voyagers and sympathisers to pray that God will put on someone's heart to become a Companion of Chalice Well and to make a private or public annual retreat there or elsewhere in Glastonbury - that fresh springs may flow.  

info@chalicewell.org.uk