Balancing the seven sacred spaces

News Release: 29 January 2010

Encounters on the Edge issue 43 seeks answers to the question: "What makes a healthy Christian community?"

George Lings, director of Church Army’s Research Unit - the Sheffield Centre - believes we have much to learn from monastic communities. His travels this year have included visits to Taizé and Citeaux and extended stays at both Northumbria Community and the Anglican Franciscans at Hilfield in Dorset.

These visits – along with his study of monasteries throughout history - confirmed his thoughts that healthy monastic communities contain seven sacred spaces: cell, chapel, chapter, cloister, garden, refectory and scriptorium.

Have many of our churches focused on ‘chapel’ – offering public worship – at the expense of other sacred spaces? Just as we talk of a balanced diet – the right proportions of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, mineral salts and fibre - does a healthy church whenever it was begun need a balance of all seven of these sacred spaces?

George argues that we do, saying: "We are planting fresh expressions of Church. For them it will matter to know these dynamics. Why grow something which is lopsided, often lacking several of these seven functions?

At its best, monastic life has always been a divine wake-up call to the church. Yet to sustain that life, monastic communities have evolved the seven characteristic places within their sites. What are these and what characterises them? For this understanding might help all expressions of church grow in a more balanced way."

Encounters on the Edge 43, Seven sacred spaces: Expressing community life in Christ, is now available and is priced £4.00.

To order, contact the Sheffield Centre on 0114 272 7451, email ask@sheffieldcentre.org.uk, or click the 'Order Encounters' link at www.encountersontheedge.org.uk