11am on Wednesday 20 - 2pm on Friday 22 October 2027
A re-look at history, from an impartial perspective, suggests that it was Celtic monks, and particularly the Celtic peregrini, who converted most of Ireland and Britain to Christianity in the sixth to eighth centuries.
Although the early evidence confirms that Christianity was brought to the British Isles by the Romans, the withdrawal of the legions in the fifth century left a vacuum which was filled by invading pagan Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, among others. Christianity was either eradicated or pushed to the western fringes of England, and further west in to Wales, Scotland and Ireland. It was as a result of an Eastern monastic tide that Christianity blossomed in Ireland from the sixth century, spreading across Scotland, and then back in to England.
The first of the great Irish monastic schools emerged at Clonnard under St Finnian, who trained the “Twelve Apostles of Erin” - saints who then went on to establish monastic centres across most of Ireland. It was St Columba, perhaps the most famous of the Celtic peregrini, himself one of the “Twelve Apostles of Erin,” who converted most of Scotland and part of northern England. In the seventh century, the Irish peregrinus St Aidan, left Iona to establish a monastic school on the island of Lindisfarne, in north-east England, from which Christianity spread to most of northern, central, and some parts of southern England.
In this retreat we will explore both the origins and the subsequent demise of Celtic Christianity - discussing its impact and relevance.
Some key questions will be addressed: What did early Christianity in Britain look like? Where did Celtic monasticism come from? Why did the monastic form of Christianity take-off in Ireland, in particular? What was the cause of the rapid switch of the Celtic tradition from an oral to a literary one? How did the Roman Church view Celtic Christianity? What was the spirituality of the Celts, and why were they so successful at evangelism? Can this success be repeated today?
During our retreat we will follow a rhythm of Celtic Prayer using some of the original hymns and prayers of the Celtic saints—most dating from before 680.
Led by Dr Peter Ruxton, please see his biography here.
PROGRAMME
Wednesday 20 October
11:45 College Community Eucharist (optional)
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Celtic Midday Prayer
Session 1 - An Overview of Celtic Spirituality
15:30 Tea
Session 2 - Early Christianity in Britain and Ireland
18:00 Supper
19.00 A Chance to Reflect & Question
Celtic Evening Prayer
Thursday 21 October
07:30 College Eucharist (optional)
08:15 Breakfast
09:00 Celtic Morning Prayer
Session 3 - The Monastic Tide & the Irish Monastic Schools
10:30 Coffee
11:00 Group Reflection
Celtic Midday Prayer
12:30 Lunch
Session 4 - The Conversion of Scotland and England & the Revitalisation of Europe
15:30 Tea
16:00 Time for Individual Reflection
16.30 College Evening Prayer (optional)
18:00 Supper
19.00 A Chance to Reflect & Question
Celtic Evening Prayer
Friday 22 October
07:30 College Eucharist (optional)
08:15 Breakfast & Check out of rooms
09:00 Celtic Morning Prayer
Session 5 - The Roman Church & Celtic Christianity
10:30 Coffee
Session 6 - Celtic Evangelism for Today
Celtic Midday Prayer
12:30 Lunch
14.00 Depart
Cost: £210, to include the programme, accommodation and meals.