A worldwide phenomenon, started in a tiny village in Burgundy in France during the Second World War, is set to attract people from Monmouthshire and South Herefordshire to a beautiful old barn in the foothills of the Black Mountains.

On the first Sunday evening in October, a Taizé Prayer will be held in the old barn. “We want the event to be relaxed, friendly, non-intrusive and not too ‘churchy’,” said the organiser John Arnson. “We hope that those who take part will be surprised how much they take from it, however young or old they are.”

The Taizé community was founded in 1940 by a young pastor named Roger Louis Schütz-Marsauche, later known simply as Frère Roger or Brother Roger, and takes its name from the village in France, which is now the centre of a network of such communities on all the continents of the world.

Most, but not all, who go there are young adults.  There they meet other young people, in language-based groups, to discuss world issues – environmental social, political, economic.

They also share in the Community’s simple pattern of prayer and music. There is rarely a sermon – the lively discussion groups make up for that.  Services are focussed on God.  With the big numbers there, strangers can be anonymous in a crowd, and risk thinking new thoughts.

“We are holding the event at Bryn Barn – on the Ewyas Harold to Longtown road: follow the signs from either end.  Ewyas Harold and Longtown are off the Abergavenny to Hereford road,” added John. “The postcode is HR2 0NA for those who use satnav. It’s a beautiful place for a moving service.”

Taize Prayer will take place on Sunday 4th October at 8 o’clock in the evening, with an optional rehearsal at 7 o clock for musicians and singers. It will finish after a glass of wine by 9pm.  

Further information on the October event please contact John Arnson:   j.armson@virgin.net   01981 241046

For further information on the Taize community go to   www.taize.fr