I have had a long association with the community of the Sisters of the Love of God east of Oxford just off the Iffley Road. My first visit was as a second year undergraduate at Kings College London in 1980. I was and continue to be drawn to their life. I have learned so much about prayer, silence and the traditions of contemplation from their witness and their writings. It is a place of silence, pondering and attention to the divine both within and beyond us.

On the feast day of the Epiphany in 2025, I was installed as the communities new Warden. It is a privilege to commit myself to offering support and spiritual and pastoral encouragement for their life and work. This is a part-time responsibility but one which has and I pray will continue to be, a source of enrichment and nurture of spiritual wisdom.

Some time ago I wrote a blog on this page about a book written by Rod Hacking, Such a Long Journey: a Biography of Gilbert Shaw ( Mowbray 1988). It was helpful in many respects and particularly in the way it sets some of the history of this community and its particular influences on its life and development. See :

Reading Such a Long Journey : A biography of Gilbert Shaw, Priest

Sister Susan committed herself to the significant challenge of drawing together a remarkable collection of reminiscences and reflections on the life and writings of Father Gilbert. He is rightly described as one of the earlier 20th centuries most influential teachers on prayer. She is one of the few people who remains who knew Father Gilbert personally through his connection with SLG.

The meticulous care and attention with which Sister Susan has engaged in this task is extraordinary. We learn about a priest with a profound passion for social justice. He trained first as a barrister and left the profession to be ordained. Having worked in the formation of ordinands he grew into spiritual direction. This book shares something of his heartfulness, wisdom and ministerial journey.

The reader will discover four parts to this publication. It includes an extensive bibliography, a timeline and bibliography. In the first part we are offered three biographical portraits by Caroline MacDonald-Haig ( 1886-1914) Rodney Hacking ((1915-1967) and Arthur Royall ( 1933-1940). We learn of his dedication, his single minded focus ( which some found difficult to live with) and his commitment to living amongst the poor. Complex, driven, innovative and uncompromising capture some of his distinctive gifts. Here was a priest who made a difference to those he served. Here is an example of a priest committed to the poor and marginalised.

In the second part the reader is enriched by four personal reflections. Capturing and understanding any individual is a complex business and the writers deal with this indifferent ways. There is a little bit of a sense that Gilbert was misunderstood and perhaps even feared by some. However, underneath all this is a great sense of admiration of a man who could be stern but as sister Adrian explained ‘ he could be stern, when necessary, but mostly was gentle and kind’ (p28). Sister Isabel offers an insightful portrait of his character and teaching. She is particularly interesting in the importance of priests as being people of prayer in order to guide God’s people to holiness. She introduces us to an understanding of the care and nurture of contemplatives in the world who are very often lonely people who Shaw spoke of as Lighthouses.

In the third part and perhaps the most substantial part of the book for this reader, There a number of reflections on the teaching of father Gilbert. Particularly notable for this reader were the two pieces by Sister Susan on the use of ‘recurring words’ together with an excellent reflection on the solitary life. We see the work of his teaching of prayer and the way in which a number of influences shape this life and its traditions.

Part four describes the death of Gilbert and there are some reflections on his life and anniversary tributes from Donald Allchin and Mother Mary Clare.

I cannot recommend this book strongly enough, albeit from a slightly biased perspective of my understanding and knowledge of the life and charism of the Sisters of the Love of God. The work of deliverance that Gilbert undertook is complicated and contested. It isn’t always easy to access but deserves further thought and examination.

This series of reflections of a remarkable man who died in 1967 may provoke some who might wonder about his contemporary relevance. Much has happened in the Church since then, and in some respects this is a memoir shows the reader a Church and society of a by-gone age.

There is a great deal of relevance in the teaching and witness of Shaw. The Church has become gradually marginalised with fewer people finding its witness and narratives convincing.

Shaw offers us a life line with a long history across the centuries : contemplation and social action. These two elements of the Christian tradition have long and deep roots. They take participants into a deeper heart full exploration of the mysteries of the love of God. They invite us to build batter and more sustainable communities in and through social action.

Shaw points us towards and moves us deeper into renewal through his example, teaching and witness. People were drawn to him and enabled the Church to transform lives and communities. There is still significant relevance in his teaching about prayer.

There is much to ponder and reflect on here. Discover the story of Shaw and the Community of the Sisters of the Love of God in this gift of a publication.

For more information about SLG visit their website https://www.slg.org.uk

and SLG Press : https://www.slg.org.uk/slg-press/