Clergy and lay leaders from across our diocese have been invited to attend this year’s Pre-Advent Retreat Day at Wells Cathedral on Tuesday, 25 November. The speaker for this year’s event will be Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe OP, Dominican Priest and former Master of the Order, theologian, and renowned author and preacher. For the first time, the invitation has also been extended to ecumenical colleagues, via their leaders, including those from the Methodist Church, Roman Catholic Church, United Reformed Church and Baptist Church.
Bishop Michael says, “Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe will be with us to share his thoughts and wisdom on The Lord’s Prayer. For those of us who minister in Bath and Wells, this will be an excellent springboard into 2026, when prayer will be a particular focus for us as we seek to embed and embody the vision and strategy work that we have undertaken together over the past three years, to grow our churches and contribute to the transformation of our communities.
“The Lord’s Prayer stands at the heart of our common Christian life together, so I am thrilled to extend a welcome to ecumenical colleagues from denominations across Somerset to join us on this day.
There will also be an opportunity for those who wish to extend the day further and remain for an evening lecture organised by Wells Cathedral at which the Revd Dr Susan Durber, URC Minister, theologian and European
President of the World Council of Churches. From 18:00 she will speak about The Nicene Creed, another of our foundational and unifying texts, which celebrates its 1700th anniversary this year.
All active clergy, Readers, Spiritual Directors and Lay Deans should have received an invitation to register their attendance online, providing details of their lunch and any other requirements. If you think you may have been missed, please get in touch with Penny at the Bishop’s Office Penny.Gibbs@bathwells.anglican.org. Please note the extended closing date for bookings is Monday, 17 November
For those staying on for the evening lecture, there will also be the option of pre-ordering food from The Loft, the Cathedral Café, either to take away or ‘eat in’ at the conclusion of the event at around 20:00. Find out more.
Broad outline of the day (more details will be given shortly before and on the day.)
- From 09:30 Arrivals and coffee
- 10:30 Morning Prayer
- 11:00 First session
- 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch at Bishop’s Palace
- 14:00 Second session
- 15:00 Tea/coffee served
- 15:45 Third session
- 16:45 Close
There will be time for reflection between sessions.
You are welcome to stay for Evensong, and to attend Dr Susan Durber’s lecture at 18:00.