Begins Sunday, June 21st, 4PM to 5PM in the church.
You are invited to attend and participate in a series of group discussions about Celtic Christianity and how it affects our beliefs and our lives today. The book, “Christ of the Celts”, by J. Philip Newell will provide a guide for our conversations. You don’t need to read the book before you come!
The group will meet in the church, once per month on the 3rd Sunday of each month.
What do we know about Celtic Christianity? Why is it important? How does it differ from the “Roman” Christianity we mainly practice today?
The story goes back to 664 AD, when a Synod was convened at Whitby, on the east coast of the north of England. This synod passed a number of resolutions including one that would change forever the complexion of Christianity in Britain and much of the western world. At that time, two distinct types of Christian spirituality had come into conflict in Europe: the Celtic mission appealing to the authority of St John, and the Roman mission arguing for the authority of St Peter.
A decision was made favoring the Roman mission, not surprisingly since the Roman Empire stretched into what is now northern England. It was a total rejection of Celtic spirituality, which emphasized light and the essential goodness of humanity, while the Roman mission emphasized among other things, human depravity, celibacy in the priesthood, and a greater separation between male and female roles in the church.
Over the last few years, SJTD has held monthly Celtic services, holding up the values espoused by those early Christians. We have read books, attended workshops and we have learned about the Celtic Saints. Now, we are taking the opportunity to come together to delve into this amazing time in Christian history, in the years between 200 A.D. and 800 A.D., and to explore how Celtic beliefs relate to our lives in 2026.
Please join us.