Eco-Contemplative Liturgies

Eco-contemplative gatherings take place on the 4th Sunday of the month at 9.45am. Please join us in person in the garden at St James’s (in the southwest corner of the site) or online via Zoom.

Our eco-contemplative liturgies are a well-established tradition. Gatherings are 30-40 minutes long and are led by different members of the Earth Justice team each month.

Each service includes a time of gathering, and opening prayer and readings, often from Scripture or poetry. This flows into 15 minutes of individual, quiet time in the Southwood Garden, or in your own space for online participants, with an invitation to contemplate (and by contemplated by) the natural world. Afterwards we come together to share something of our experience, then conclude with a short reading and closing prayer.

Upcoming Services

Our Eco-Contemplative Liturgies are held every month in person at St James’s Church, Piccadilly, and online via Zoom.

A weathered statue of a woman with a peaceful expression holding an olive branch in one hand. Her other hand is raised and open in welcome. She stands in the Southwood Garden of St James's Piccadilly. There are trees in the background.
Vibrant yellow daffodils and a few white daffodil flowers among green leafy foliage in the Southwood Garden at St James Piccadilly.
Close-up of a fern frond unfurling in the Southwood garden at St James's Piccadilly with blurred green background of foliage.
Close-up of small blue forget-me-not flowers with white centers blooming among green foliage in the Southwood Garden at St James's Piccadilly.
A closeup of a blackbird with an orange beak standing the grass in the Southwood Garden on St James's Piccadilly.
Close-up of green fern leaves and purple morning glory flowers among green foliage in the Southwood Garden on St James's Piccadilly.

Join Us In Person

Everyone is welcome to join us for this time of reflection and encounter with the natural world. We meet outdoors at St James’s, whatever the weather. Make your way up the steps behind the fountain and look for us at the far end of the garden.

Accessibility
The venue presents accessibility challenges as there are 13 steps up to the garden. Once in the garden, accessible paths and bench seating are available.

We want to ensure that all members of our community can fully participate in our services. If you require accessible arrangements or have concerns about accessing the garden space, please contact us using the link below 24 hours in advance so that we can help to include you. The service will be moved to the courtyard, which has step-free access, on the day if required.

Contact Us
Four smiling people sitting on a bench outdoors in the Southwood garden at St James church Piccadilly. Everyone is wearing warm clothing and hats. A woman on the right is holding a small brown dog wearing a blue jacket.

Join Us Online

All our services are shared online via Zoom.

The link and service sheet are available on this page and via the St James’s Weekly Newsletter, and the meeting will usually be opened by 9.35am. You are invited to be outside if possible, or near a window, plant or other link to the natural world. Those online will be invited to read or contribute reflections alongside those offered by people in the garden, or you may choose to participate silently.

Join online
Service Sheet
The canopy of green leaves of plane trees, looking through to the blue sky and clouds beyond in Southwood Garden at St James' Piccadilly.

Our Previous Liturgies

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“The Eco Liturgies are the highlights of my month. Always fresh with insights and blessings held within a simple flexible framework, with opportunities for creativity. They are a lovely gathering of the different personalities and interests of the people in the group.”

Reflection from a participant at a recent Eco-Contemplative Liturgy

Wooden memorial sign in the Southwood Garden at St James's Piccadilly about the bombing damage at the church during the Second World War, honouring the courage and fortitude of the people of London.
A weathered statue of a woman with a peaceful expression holding an olive branch in one hand. Her other hand is raised and open in welcome. She stands in the Southwood Garden of St James's Piccadilly. There are trees in the background.
A wide angled image of the Southwood garden of St James's Piccadilly. There are neatly trimmed lawn rectangles with benches with London plane trees overhead. The garden is shady and peaceful.

“Being outside in the garden is the most natural place to celebrate our part in God’s creation. Today when I looked up at the sky, a gull came by and its call seemed to be responding to my gaze, which was inspiring. I enjoy the range of approaches by different facilitators and the opportunity to hear how people respond to their time in the garden.”

Reflection from participants at a recent Eco-Contemplative Liturgy