Deep Roots, Open Skies
At the Society of St. Columba, we believe that the cathedral of creation offers a unique alignment for the soul. Chanctonbury Forest Church is an invitation to step off the paved path and into the rhythm of the living world. Our practice is simple but profound: we gather together to be alone with God. In the shared silence of our community farm and the communal breath of the fields, we find a space where the noise of the modern world fades, allowing a deeper connection to surface. All are welcome, as an inclusive gathering, our Forest Church has space for the rainbow diversity of humanity.
Forest Church is a contemporary spiritual movement that began in the UK around 2012, designed to help people encounter the Divine through nature rather than within traditional church buildings. Heavily inspired by the Forest School model and Celtic Christian traditions, it emphasises “participation with” rather than just “worship in” the natural world, often following seasonal cycles like the equinoxes and solstices. Today, it serves as an expression of faith that attracts those who find their most profound spiritual moments outdoors or who are seeking an eco-theological response to the climate crisis.
Our Calling
The Society’s call is to encounter Christ in Community and creation. We recognise that the Divine is not found primarily within stone walls, but is vibrantly present in the soil, the wind, and the faces of those walking beside us. All of creation is sacred to us and we encounter God in this simple truth.
“Where our words end, true worship begins.”
When we exhaust our formal liturgies and our spoken prayers, we enter the “thin place” where the land itself speaks of its Creator. In the rustle of the leaves and the stillness of the downland, we find a prayer that requires no translation.
A Celtic Blessing
In the spirit of our Celtic forebearers, we look to the ancient prayers found in the Carmina Gadelica to ground our worship in :
Rune before Prayer.
I am bending my knee, In the eye of the Father who created me, In the eye of the Son who purchased me, In the eye of the Spirit who cleansed me, In friendship and affection. Through Thine own Anointed One, O God, Bestow upon us fullness in our need, Love towards God, The affection of God, The smile of God, The wisdom of God, The grace of God, The fear of God, And the will of God, To do on the world of the Three, As angels and saints Do in heaven; Each shade and light, Each day and night, Each time in kindness, Give Thou us Thy Spirit.
Join Us in the Shadow of the Ring
We invite you to join our gathering. Whether you are a seeker, a skeptic, or a long-time pilgrim, there is a place for you as we seek to worship Christ through community and in creation.
- Location: St. Columba Community Farm (nestled in the shadow of Chanctonbury Ring).
- When: 24th May – 28th June – 26th July – 23rd August – 27th September – 25th October.
- Time: 2:00 PM.
- Where: Meet by the Community Cafe in the heart of the Farmstead under the Pole Barn
Please dress for the weather and the terrain—we meet come rain or shine, embracing the elements as part of our journey.