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 .

Visit with Bishop Ted

Sunday, we had the privilege to visit with one of the Diocese of Virginia's Bishops, Bishop Ted.  I'd never met him before and really didn't know what to expect.  Bishops can be such interesting characters that none are ever the same

During his time here he performed Baptisms, Confirmations, and Receptions into the church; but he also was very interested in meeting the members of U.Va.'s Canterbury Connection, showing his (and the diocese's) interest in supporting youth/campus ministry at several colleges and universities around the state.

There was a lovely catered lunch, courtesy of St. Paul's and great conversation on not just our concerns for campus ministry, but also the bishop's experiences in other parts of the country where he previously worked to help other youth/campus ministry programs flourish.  Especially in this day, it was very refreshing to know that the church's administration was not only aware of, but committed to the importance of ministering to their youth since, with the predominant trend among people our age being disillusionment towards organized religion (and yes, I often count myself amongst those people), we're in danger of losing very talented individuals from the body of the church.  He really emphasized the responsibility we have, as people of faith, to encourage others (either those who grew up in the church or are thinking of coming to it for the first time),  to think about their faith, to think about those tough questions, and to not just "sweep them underneath the rug" -- so to speak.  We have a duty to let people know that it's OKAY to not have all the answers and that it's good, in fact (my own opinion), healthy to question a belief system: rather than taking it for granted. 


I snapped a few pictures for you all on my internet phone to share with the community. 


Here are some photos of the lovely spread and interested group that assembled at the Canterbury House this Sunday.