A week at Taizé this summer gave all those who joined the young adult pilgrimage from Bath and Wells the chance to pray together, reflect and build friendships with people from across the world.
Led by Bishop Michael, the diocesan group spent time in a place shaped by silence, shared worship, friendship and a deep sense of belonging. Those who travelled together spoke of how much they valued the opportunity to step away, pray, reflect and share life with others from different countries and traditions.
For 19-year-old Charlie, from St Mary's in Ilminster, it was a welcome return after first visiting last year. He said, “We had such a good time last year that I had been looking forward to it all year. There's a lot of things that I loved this year at Taizé, but one of the best was the Portuguese group that came. I remember making friends with them on the first or second day playing football, and they all had so much energy. Most nights at the Oyak they would organise everyone into a huge ring of maybe 200 people and got us all to do group dances together.”
But for Charlie, what was particularly special about his time in Taizé was the opportunity to make space for God. “I've definitely become a lot more peaceful this year and I really saw that at Taizé. It's hard to say what I've learnt about God. I've definitely been struggling with being close to Him this year, as I've been complacent. But being surrounded by people who live in the fullness of life really refocuses my mind on what is planned for me.”
For the Revd Ingrid Barnsley, who is currently serving her curacy at St Luke’s Church, Bath, this was her fifth visit to Taizé but her first with a diocesan group. “It has become a place that is really shaping my spirituality, and me as a person. There is such a vulnerability and honesty about the place, and there is almost this expectation that deep talks will be had, and that you will learn more about yourself, about God and about one another.”
“My favourite part of the week was the Saturday night service. It is called the ‘Night of the Lights’ and everyone is given a candle, which is lit from the light of the person next to you. It is an amazing thing to see almost 4,000 candles in that chapel; the light is bright and there is a beautiful sense of unity and joy.
“I love the services, and especially the silence in the middle of them. It lasts about eight minutes, which feels quite long at the beginning of the week, but by the end of the week, the eight minutes fly by. It’s time to just be still and draw close to God. Taizé in general feels like a very calm place, but there is actually quite a lot of time spent talking with people and sharing thoughts. So, the silence in the services gives the perfect time to reflect and process all the deep and beautiful conversations with people.”
The Revd Seamus Hargrave, from Frome, said he was surprised, when he first arrived at Taizé, by just how small and simple it felt. He said, “In many ways I was surprised by how small and unassuming it was. When you hear of the numbers of people and nationalities who travel there each week, I imagined quite a large place with lots of buildings and a complicated map, but the buildings are mostly wooden cabins, with the whole complex easily walkable in about four or five minutes. It is actually very surprising that such a small place, with such ordinary buildings, can have such an extraordinary impact on people.”
Throughout the week Seamus said he enjoyed all the conversations he had with different people from across the world. He shared how he enjoyed hearing how people responded to Bible stories for the first time and said some of these conversations offered him fresh ideas to take back into church life.
Among the memories he hopes will remain from his time in Taizé are “the call of the bells to all the prayers and the experience of everyone wanting to share Communion together.”
Asked for three words to describe Taizé, he said, “Peaceful, prayerful, and open.”
For more information about Taizé, please email Revd Rich Miles, Missional Priest for Youth and Young Adults rich.miles@bathwells.anglican.org