The Festival of Silence was the first event of its kind taking place at St Columba’s, inviting the public into our beautiful building for a day of quiet, contemplative and peaceful activities amidst the hustle and bustle of the capital city. Offering a mixture of artistic workshops, music-framed communal silence and prayer, the day offered something for those already familiar with the fascination of silence and those curious to explore new terrain.
From whichever tradition of prayer you come or none, there was an activity for everyone at the Festival of Silence including:
Sketching Into Silence: A guided drawing class with London’s oldest sketch club, the Langham Sketch Club and the Royal Drawing School’s Sharon Brindle.
Turning Into Silence – Movement to Prayer: Revd. Pauline Steenbergen combines body, breath and mediation in a powerful, accessible yoga session.
Speech Without Words: A masterclass in mime with theatre producer and practitioner Rowan Tolley. Profound Simplicity: Internationally renowned Scottish poet, Kenneth Steven, offers a prerecorded soundscape of poems, read and curated by him.
Silence In The Sanctuary: With a selection of Scottish nature-influenced compositions, classical saxophonist Jonathan Radford frames periods of intermittent meditative silence.
CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony: Groundbreaking sound installation created by Rainforests of Wales and Environmental Sound Artist, Cheryl Beer.
A house of prayer: Opportunity throughout the day to find quiet in the prayerful space of the London Scottish Regimental Chapel, with prayer resources provided by the World Council of Christian Meditation (WCCM).
“A moment to reflect on beauty; to slow down; a restorative day; wonderfully gentle and helpful. A good silence. Silence is powerful. Silence, I have learnt today, is empowering. Silence is God healing.”
“On a personal level, a day in silence at St Columba’s has been restorative for me at a busy time of year. The spiritual solitude in the company of strangers yet kindred spirits brought much peace. I loved the fresh variety of mime, art, music, poetry, movement and serene candle lit space.”
These were some of the comments made by visitors to the Festival of Silence at St Columba’s. Others wrote: “Yoga – so beautiful and calming. The Rainforest symphony, captivating, such an enchanting piece of work. Mime workshop awesome! All ages and sizes!”
Cross over the square into Sloane Street. Walk along Sloane Street until the traffic lights at the corner of Pont Street. Turn left into Pont Street. St Columba’s will then be in sight.
Knightsbridge Station
Take the Harrods exit if open (front car if coming from the East, rear car if coming from the West). Come up the stairs to street level, carry on keeping Harrods on your right. Turn right into Basil Street. Carry straight on into Walton Place with St Saviour’s Church on your left. At the traffic lights, St Columba’s is to your left across the street. If the Harrods exit is closed, take the Sloane Street exit, turn right into Basil Street. Carry straight on past Harrods with the shop on your right, into Walton Place as before.
South Kensington Station
Come up the stairs out of the station and turn left into the shopping arcade. Turn left again into Pelham Street. At the traffic lights at the end of Pelham Street cross Brompton Road, turn left then immediately right into the narrow street of Draycott Avenue. After just a few yards turn left into Walton Street. Carry on walking up Walton Street until the traffic lights at the corner of Pont Street. Turn right and after a few steps you will be at St Columba’s!
These were some of the comments made by visitors to the Festival of Silence at St Columba’s. Others wrote: “Yoga – so beautiful and calming. The Rainforest symphony, captivating, such an enchanting piece of work. Mime workshop awesome! All ages and sizes!” 
