Centenary Year of Women of Prayer
On St. Teilo’s Day 1923, a small group of women came from Chichester, to Tymawr, near Monmouth, Wales, to begin a life of contemplative prayer dedicated God and living off the land. So on 9 February 2023, the Society of the Sacred Cross will have been in Wales 100 years
The present day community of contemplative sisters are planning a number of events to mark the Centenary and invite you to join them in this programme of Quiet Days, Pilgrimage and Eucharist honouring Women of Prayer.
Centenary Celebration Eucharist
St. Woolos Cathedral, Newport
20 May 2023 at 11.00
Remembering Julian of Norwich
Celebrant and Preacher: Bishop Cherry Vann
The service will be live-streamed on YouTube from 11.00am on Saturday 20 May, and be available for a while afterwards.
St. Melangell Pilgrimage
22-24 May 2023
Information and a booking form are available from the Chaplain: by email to or by post to The Chaplain, Tymawr Convent, Lydart, Monmouth NP25 4RN.
Quiet Days
Each Quiet Day begins at 9.30am with the Office of Morning Prayer, followed by our speaker for the day and time for rest and prayer before the midday Eucharist. After a ‘bring your own’ lunch, our speaker will lead the afternoon session, which will end with Vespers at 4.30pm. Please book your place for each Quiet Day by email to or by post to The Chaplain, Tymawr Convent, Lydart. Monmouth NP25 4RN.
11 February 2023
Contemplative prayer and Mission
Dr. Jane Williams
Whether we notice it or not, our practice of prayer is deeply connected to the character and purposes of God. Far from being a private, life-style choice, to be a pray-er is to be drawn into the action of God for the world. Jane Williams is McDonald Professor in Christian Theology at St Mellitus College. She is the author of a number of books, including Lectionary Reflections; Why Did Jesus have to Die?; and The Art of Christmas.
13 May 2023
Widows, mothers and virgins: praying with women through hard times
Rev Dr Hannah Lewis SCL
Hannah Lewis is a BSL using deaf priest currently working in the Diocese of Oxford with the Deaf community. She is also a liberation theologian and a single mother and has taken life vows in Single Consecrated Life. Prayer is the only way she holds all this together.
3 June 2023
Teresa of Cartegena and God in the Silence
Venerable Karen Lund
Karen is Archdeacon of Manchester. She is a poet, mystic and lover of God and trees. She is also a creative felter, basket weaver and horsewoman.
2 September 2023
Praying with women poets
Professor Nicola Slee
Nicola Slee is Director of Research at the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, Birmingham, and Professor of Feminist Practical Theology at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. Both poet and theologian, Nicola has authored many books concerned with women’s faith and spirituality. Current book with Canterbury Press, Abba Amma: Improvisations on the Lord’s Prayer
7 October 2023
Finding an ordinary Nazareth: insights from the French author and mystic Madeleine Delbrêl
Revd. Catherine Duce
Catherine Duce is a priest at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, with responsibility for the Nazareth Companions, an online contemplative community. She is a founding member of the wider Nazareth Community which began in 2018. Catherine is a recent new mum and lives in North London.
4 November 2023
St Non: the faithful and surprising prayer of self-emptying love
Rt. Revd. Mary Stallard
Mary Stallard is a bishop in the Church in Wales and a founder member of MaeCymru (Merched a’r Eglwys: supporting women in the Church in Wales). She is a Welsh learner, married to the Rev Andrew Sully, and has two daughters.
