A Julian Meeting is a small group
of people (usually 6-15) of various denominations, both lay people and
clergy, who meet regularly for silent contemplative prayer in the
Christian tradition.
We teach no specific method but
encourage people to find what is right for them. Some meetings are held
in churches, others in private houses. Some meetings may be followed by
discussion and refreshments; at others people may come and leave in silence.
A brief reading and/or music may
introduce the silence and lead out at the end. The silence usually
lasts for about half an hour. Intercessory prayer is not normally part
of a Julian Meeting.
The movement was named after Julian of Norwich, a fourteenth
century mystic, because several founder members came from Norfolk and
were familiar with Mother Julian and her precept that the highest form
of prayer consists in simply waiting on God. Her inspired
writings are sometimes used at meetings but Julian Meetings is in no
way a Julian cult.
We have no formal links with the Order of Julian of Norwich in America
or with the Julian of Norwich shrine in England.
You can join a local meeting, if there is one in your country.
We will provide the names and addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail
(if available) for the contact people for meetings near you. If you get
in touch with these people they will give you more information about
the time and place of the meeting.
You can take the Julian Meetings Magazine, which will keep you in touch
with JM worldwide, and also locally in those areas like Great Britain
which have a national newsletter – the current UK
subscription is £6 for the three issues in a year. See the
application form on this website.
If there is not a meeting in your area you might consider starting one.
We can provide you with a ‘starter pack’.
You can subscribe to the Postal Group if you live in Britain. This is a
service for anyone who cannot attend a Julian Meeting. John Copping
provides a monthly sheet to help with reflection/ mediation. To find
out more about the Postal Group contact
the database manager and
your name will be passed on to John who will contact you.
It is also possible to join the monthly
Online Meeting. This is a contemplative prayer group,
Following the
tradition of Julian of Norwich. It meets on the last Saturday of each
calendar month at 4 p.m. UK time
Our booklet ‘Starting a Julian Meeting’
(see publications list and
order form on this website) will tell you a
lot of what you need to know, and we can always give you extra advice
and support. We also produce blank posters, pew cards, porch notices,
book marks and information leaflets to help with publicity when you are
getting a group started.
This section applies to the UK only
We are asked this question because on all our order forms for
publications or magazine subscriptions we invite donations as this
allows people to support our work more generously if they wish. This is
a valuable and much appreciated source of income. These donation help
to cover our (very modest) expenses, these include the three times a
year meetings of the National Advisory Group. It also helps with the
production costs of our various publications and thus helps to keep the
prices so low.
Because The Julian Meetings is not a registered charity it is
not possible to do this.
We are not a registered charity because we do not have a fee paying
membership or a constitution and therefore do not meet the Charity
Commission requirements to become registered. Our only funds are from
the subscription to the magazine and any donations which well-wishers
give us.
The National Advisory Group appoints a Treasurer and our bank account
requires two signatures. Our accounts are independently examined.
