Name: Society of St. John the Evangelist
Denomination: Anglican
Address: St. Edward’s House, 22 Great College Street. SW1P 3QA
Telephone: 020 7222 9234
Web Site: http://www.ssje.org.uk/
Superior: Father Peter Huckle SSJE Email: Email
For any enquiries with regard to the Order contact the Administration Officer: lindensheffield@fsje.org.uk
The Society of Saint John the Evangelist is the oldest of the Anglican orders for men, out of which the North American Congregation (and others worldwide) grew. We have been at the forefront of the Religious life since then, and have pioneered a new and more flexible way into the Community for the 21st Century. New members first of all become ‘Seekers’ and then take simple annual vows as ‘Internal Oblates’ and live alongside us for a period of years before coming into First Vows. In this way, we escape the rigidity of the old system as people these days come from a much wider background than was formerly the case.
We seek to make use of their individual God-given talents as they seek to become what our Founder, Father Benson, envisaged: mission priests and lay brothers, based on their Community and its prayer life, but proclaiming Christ to the world. So we are engaged in running quiet days and retreats, both within and outside the House, counselling and spiritual direction. We look to befriend people whose English is limited and teach them as well as helping with students from overseas. We work in liturgics and preach and run parish missions. St. Edward’s House is a centre for private retreats and hospitality and is used by many religious and charitable groups for meetings, prayer etc.
History
The Society of St John the Evangelist was founded at Cowley in Oxford by Fr Richard Meux Benson in 1866 and from that foundation has come its popular title ‘the Cowley Fathers’. It was founded as a Society of Mission Priests, and that has always been its main work, both here and overseas. Houses were established in South Africa, India, Japan, Canada and USA, the House in America being now an independent congregation. The other Houses have closed, as have some of those in the UK, and St Edward’s House is now our Mother House.
The House
St Edward’s House was built for the Society in 1904. it has two chapels and a large library. There are several other meeting and counselling rooms. In addition, there are guest rooms where we can accommodate up to ten residents in single rooms. Some of the original Bodley vestments for the chapel are still in our possession, and the main chapel is still in its original condition with only minor alterations. In the Lady Chapel, is a supposed fragment of the True Cross.
Worship
The worship is Anglican in form, but we have always been right in the forefront of the ecumenical movement from very early days. One of our proudest possessions is an icon given by the Russian church as far back as 1912 in recognition of that.
Work
The brothers and fathers are still involved in many areas of their traditional work. Preaching, leading missions, leading retreats and quiet days, teaching, counselling and spiritual direction are still the mainstay of Religious as it always was. But that is not all.
Those in Vows are encouraged to use and develop their strengths. Thus we have people involved in drop-in centres, teaching languages to overseas students, working with people with dyslexia and other educational problems; there are people involved with arts and drama, with overseas students and so the list goes on. We have always been a mission Society rather than contemplative, and we are recovering this vision.
Guests
Guests are welcome to stay for a few days for a period of quiet or more formal retreat, whether individual or guided, in addition to the organised retreats and quiet days in the House. For further details on this, or on anything else, please contact the Father Guestmaster on 020 7222 9234.