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A Taste of the Monastic Life a recent visit to Tolleshunt Knights Monastery (St. John the Baptist) in Essex (Tolleshunt is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning Toll’s Spring) The Christian history of this parish dates back to circa 1000. The first known rector of the parish church dates to possibly a century and a half after the church was built. He was a John of Foxley instituted before 1244. The church now stands in poor condition having been deserted in the 1950’s and having only spasmodic use over the years. The monastics who now own it, together with the land, are looking to restore it to its former glory with Orthodox style interior. A history of the church and parish was written in 1955 in an attempt to raise funds for the restoration of this ancient church. However, it was not to be and, after having been one year on the market, the church and rectory which are almost a mile apart, were sold to the Orthodox for a song. At this time the monastery began its life in the area and has blossomed and grown into the widespread cluster of church, chapels and buildings we see today. One could say, "We got our own back," as another orthodox priest said recently about his church. The monastery church is dedicated to St. Silouan and was built in the 1980’s. Its beauty defies description. It has to be seen and felt in all its holiness. Archimandrite Sophrony, a disciple of St. Silouan, is at rest in the crypt beneath the Resurrection Chapel. The Chapel itself depicts in frescos all things relative to the resurrection life of Jesus. There is also a beautiful chapel dedicated to St. John the Baptist who is the Patron Saint of the Community. We arrived on the commemoration day of the consecration of the Church. This event took place in 1988. As we entered the Church for the Vigil service I was immediately struck by the cool, dark, beauty and the spiritual presence. The aura of stillness and peace after a long, hot journey on the road was more than welcome. This was a prayerful four hour service filled with the presence of God and I knew that I was to receive, over the next few days, unimaginable blessings and renewed spiritual strength. The bishop was in attendance at this service and again at the Divine Liturgy the following morning. It was good to have Fr. Gregory concelebrating at this Liturgy. I left the church that morning feeling very humble and grossly inadequate as a Christian. After breakfast, at the beginning of another perfect sunny day, we were treated to an unexpected and very much appreciated tour of the monastery by the sisters who were very informative and answered all our many questions with great knowledge, patience and sensitivity. The sisters took an obvious delight in the history and were pleased to explain the biblical representations displayed everywhere in fresco, icon, and mosaic. We were shown the 300 year old rectory, a very interesting building which is in reasonable condition and has been extended to provide accommodation for male visitors. The service in the early evening consisted mainly of the repetition of the Jesus prayer said in four or five different languages by different people. The voices of the nuns in the choir were particularly beautiful. Again, the spiritual beauty of this service has to be experienced. This service was repeated at 6.00am the next morning and again the following evening. Its length of two and a half hours meant nothing because we were in sacred time not chronological time. We emerged to another perfect sunny day, refreshed and alert to wherever the Holy Spirit led us next. For some of us that was to be the Tiptree Jam factory which provided us with a little diversion from the deeply contemplative life of the monastery. The evening Jesus Prayer service led me more deeply into the Prayer of the Heart than I have ever previously experienced. Once again, I have to say that the worship in this place has to be experienced because words cannot express the depth of holiness therein. The evening meal was again a delight of monastery grown produce prepared and presented with loving care. We ate in silence at these meals contemplating the beauty of the wall paintings surrounding us and listening to the sacred readings spoken by a monk or sometimes by a nun. Saturday, and we had to think about preparation for the journey home. We were pleased to begin the day at 7.00am with Divine Liturgy. Then breakfast and leave taking. All the people we met were loving, kind and helpful at all times and they invited us to make a return visit as soon as possible. The angels and the saints, one spirit with the Lord, were everywhere present truly giving meaning to the words, "Christ is in our midst". The experience for me touched the centre of my being and will stay with me for ever. "God has sent forth the Spirit into your hearts" Galatians 4:6 Dwynwen East |
