Community of Aidan and Hilda

Today I am meeting up with Mary Rothero from my church for some lunch.  We are going to talk about the Community of Aidan and Hilda.  I went to a meeting on Saturday at the home of Revd Carol Smith in Chelmsford together with five others who are keen to start an Essex Group.  It was a really good day and we learned a lot about the Community and what they do.  We also worked out some dates for us to meet again and also for us to get speakers and arrange days for others in diocese who might be interested in Celtic spirituality.  Celtic spirituality is less fixed than Anglican religion and an important part of it is creation and nature.  You can belong to any church and still be a member of the Community of Aidan and Hilda.  The Community is based on Holy Island off the coast of Northumberland.  They have a great interest in the ancient Celtic saints who have gone before us - like Columba, Cedd, Samson and Brigid.  Many of them got into their coracles (little dug out boats) and set sail from Ireland to come to England to set up monasteries and spread the word of God.  They also take much of their learning from the Desert Fathers where simplicity and purity of life-style is crucial.

Here are some examples of Celtic knots.