The Return of Canterbury Fellowship

Roman Sculpture, disc. 1551

After beginning the year with a Bible study only a few days after the official start of term at the University, Canterbury convened last week (08/30) for our annual Blessing of the Canterbury House.  Each year, at the start of the fall semester, we gather at 120 Chancellor Street (the Canterbury House) to engage in the earliest, most extant Eucharistic liturgy known to the Western church:  that which we attribute to St. Hippolytus of Rome and taken from his writings The Apostolic Tradition.

This particular Eucharist characterizes a very intimate setting, wherein the participants quite literally gather around a table laid out with olives, cheese, bread, wine, and various other foods.  As we proceed through the liturgy, each of the gifts receives a blessing.  Once the host and wine have been consecrated by the priest -- who in this tradition we refer to as the President -- those gathered commune one another by passing the bread and wine around the circle.  When the liturgy itself closes, we then begin the meal.  It's a way to more fully remember the last supper with one another.

Our gathering was a lovely way to begin the new term and enjoy one another's company as we look forward to spending the coming weeks and months together.  And it's always nice to dedicate the use of a space to a particular purpose.  If you haven't visited us before and are a student at the University of Virginia, or are a student considering attending within the next year or two, please check back here regularly for updates on what activities we as a group participate in; or if you're an alumnus/alumna of Mr. Jefferson's University (& Canterbury), this place would also be a fantastic way to stay connected to the four years spent in Charlottesville.

For the Autumn term, the Canterbury Leaders have decided to pursue a theme of Christian practices.  Our next meeting will be held at the Canterbury House (again 120 Chancellor Street, Charlottesville, VA) starting at 5.30pm with a dinner.  Following the meal we've planed to visit a local putt-putt golf course for a trip down memory lane!  Please join us.  If you have any questions, do write me an e-mail at spb2g@virginia.edu .  Alternatively, our Chaplain -- the Reverence Nicholas Forti -- at uva.chaplain@stpaulsmemorialchurch.org .