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Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest (Mark 6:31)

The primary vision of the Quiet Garden Movement is to initiate and resource a network of local opportunities for prayer, silence, reflection and the appreciation of beauty; for learning about Christian life and spirituality; and for experiencing creativity and healing in the context of God’s love.

St Andrew’s is an affiliated member of The Quiet Garden Trust. This is a non profit organization to support the ministry of individual Quiet Gardens. It encourages the running of the gardens and provides pastoral oversight. As part of the movement St Andrew’s has 4 meetings a year. They are held in each season of the year.

The grounds of the Church, the Remembrance Gardens and the river walk all provide space for reflection and withdrawal. The time spent in silence is usually an hour.

If you would like to set aside time in your busy schedule to rest and pray please come along to one of the meetings. They are advertised in advance in the pew leaflet and Parish Diary. Perhaps you would like to offer the use of your own garden to St Andrew’s for a meeting?

Contact: Rosemary Wallace Ph: 021 761 5814

Quiet Gardens and Quiet Spaces A Ministry of Hospitality and Prayer.

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him." Luke 10:38

The Quiet Garden Trust encourages the provision of a variety of local venues where there is an opportunity to set aside time to rest and to pray.

These may be:

• in private homes and gardens which are open for occasional days of stillness and reflection. For those who visit these become an oases, places of withdrawal and meeting, of spiritual refreshment and support. Around the hearth or in the sunlight, concerns are shared, stories told and prayer is offered.
• in retreat centres or local churches which offer within their premises an area of beauty and peacefulness dedicated to quiet prayer and solitude.
• in inner city areas which seek to create places of stillness and beauty amidst the hustle and bustle of life, sometimes in apparently unpromising surroundings. These can become a focus for the local community.

Each Quiet Garden, while being affiliated to The Quiet Garden Trust, is encouraged to organize its own programme and to respond to local needs. There are opportunities for contact and help from other Quiet Gardens and from the Trust staff at the centre.

For much more information, please visit the Quiet Garden Website or Contact the Parish Secretary