The legend of Melangell derives from two seventeenth-century transcript of a lost medieval Life of the Saints.
One day a prince named Brochwe was hunting at a place called Pennant His hounds raised a hare that tool refuge in a thicket On pursuit, the prince found a virgin pr
Blog: Pictures-Books-Reflections
The Shrine Church of Saint Melangell
Posted on by James Woodward
A hidden place in Wales, where a Celtic saint gave her protection to the hare, Pennant Melangell is situated at the head of the Tanat Valley, not far from Llangynog on the main Oswestry - Bala road.
This church is the only one which is dedicated to Melangell. It is an ancien
undistracted ?
Posted on by James Woodward
The métier of blossoming
If humans could be
that intensely whole, undistracted, unhurried,
swift from sheer
unswerving impetus! If we could blossom
out of ourselves, giving
nothing imperfect, withholding nothing!
From Denise Levertov, The métier of blossom
Penmon Priory
Posted on by James Woodward
This tranquil location on the eastern tip of Anglesey has remains spanning over 1,000 years. It was the site of a monastery dating back to the time of St. Seiriol, who is believed to have lived in about the 6th century. A holy well which survives may have its origins in this pe
Prayer
Posted on by James Woodward
prayer
Don't do daily prayers like a bird pecking, moving its head
up and down.
Prayer is an egg.
Hatch out the helplessness that is within.
Rumi
Wales: Churches, Houses, Castles
Posted on by James Woodward
On Announcing that I was off to Wales for my summer holiday a well-meaning but I suspect slightly prejudiced enquirer responded:
'Oh Wales – I'm terribly sorry'!
Simon Jenkins offers my first in a short series about holiday books.I've had this one on my shelves for a
A Call for to Compassionate Living
Posted on by James Woodward
Thousands of people from all over the world contributed to a draft charter on a multilingual website in Hebrew, Arabic, Urdu, Spanish and English; their comments were presented to the Council of Conscience, a group of notable individuals from six faith traditions (Judaism, Chri
Cymer Abbey
Posted on by James Woodward
Cymer Abbey is a ruined Cistercian abbey near the village of Llanelltyd, just north of Dolgellau, Gwynedd, in north-west Wales.
It was founded in 1158-9 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the patronage of Maredudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd (d. 1212), Lord of Merioneth and
sleeping
Posted on by James Woodward
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you:
Don't go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want:
Don't go back to sleep.
People are going in and out of the door
where the two worlds touch:
The door is right there, look, it's wide open!
Don't go back to sl
pond
Posted on by James Woodward
At Blackwater Pond the tossed waters have settled
after a night of rain.
I dip my cupped hands. I drink
a long time. It tastes
like stone, leaves, fire. It falls cold
into my body, waking the bones. I hear them
deep inside me, whispering
oh what is that beautiful thing
God: some conversations – final reflections.
Posted on by James Woodward
It has been a very busy and intensive 10 days as clergy have gathered at St George's house for a consultation designed to engage us all in a process whereby we might consider how we speak – and perhaps more confidently – about God.We have been blessed with some very skilled a
End of Summer Term – the College of St George.
Posted on by James Woodward
I have already indicated something of the rhythms and patterns of the College – and this is very self-evident at the moment as we draw the summer term to a close.The school has started its summer holiday and the choristers are enjoying a well-deserved rest.Today the lay clerk
SICK VISITS
Posted on by James Woodward
They keep me sober,
The old ladies
Stiff in their beds,
Mostly with pale eyes
Wintering me.
Some are like blonde dolls,
Their joints twisted;
Life in its brief play
Was a bit rough.
Some fumble
With thick tongue for words
And are deaf;
Shouting their faint n
so shining
Posted on by James Woodward
Conjure something glowing
Take this day
You were born with hands for spinning
Talent for dreams and making them real
Roll the hours like yarn
Spin something that makes you feel full
And big and open to talk
Make this day your own square
In your own life quilt
So shining
outburst
Posted on by James Woodward
EVERYONE suddenly burst out singing;
And I was fill'd with such delight
As prison'd birds must find in freedom
Winging wildly across the white
Orchards and dark-green fields; on; on; and out of sight.
Everyone's voice was suddenly lifted,
And beauty came like the settin
Saying Goodbye – articulating the significance in transitions!
Posted on by James Woodward
I guess that all of us need some kind of help and friendship and encouragement as we negotiate the inevitable ups and downs of life are particularly some of the transitions that come our way.
In my previous Ministry I had the privilege of working in a Church of England primary
tristesse
Posted on by James Woodward
sadness, goodbye
but hello again
you are the writing
on the ceiling
you are the writing
in her eyes
sadness, sadness, you're not that bad
I can eclipse and cloud you with a smile
welcome, again
you are the body of love
you are the power of love
love's uprising
beyond the
a crack in everything
Posted on by James Woodward
You can add up the parts
but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march,
there is no drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
Th
The Pleasures of Ageing?
Posted on by James Woodward
JAMES HILLMAN:
"Suppose we all lived to be 125, or 185; how would we
live? It's a frightening idea, because it’s a deep denial of
something fundamental to the human experience...
Life extension isn’t even enough as a goal. [Scientists] want
to prevent dying
Sunday
Posted on by James Woodward
I'm not, I think, a signer up to campaigns! I think there is an activist streak to me – as I hope there is to many of my friends and colleagues – but perhaps early middle age has brought both a wider (and perhaps even wiser) perspective combined worryingly with a pinch of co