Evening Prayer, Tuesday 23rd April 2024 - St George's Day

Welcome to the Garden Congregation KZbin Channel!
Thank you for joining us!
This St George's Day join Dean Robert ("The Green Dean") and partner Fletcher on a tour of the Black Mountains, incorporating visits to some of their favourite places and the grave of metaphysical poet Henry Vaughan whilst enjoying Evening Prayer and Compline.
The Garden Congregation:
When the Archbishop decided to close all churches to their clergy because of the Covid pandemic in March 2020, in addition and separately to the closure of churches to their congregations - which did make sense to stop the spread of the virus - the then Dean, Robert Willis, although not governed by the Archbishop (Deans of medieval cathedrals are crown appointments and sit outside of the church and are effectively on the same level as their bishop to serve as a check and balance to them), decided that out of loyalty to his fellow clergy he would also stop broadcasting from inside the cathedral. Instead he and his partner Fletcher held a daily communion inside the cathedral each day in a rotation of different chapels to ensure the tradition of a daily service which dates back to the time of Augustine was upheld and unbroken and also took to filming daily services in their garden through to May 2022. Usually joined each day by at least one of their cats (Monkey, Lilly, Tiger or Leo) and a whole host of their own menagerie from pigs and chickens to hedgehogs and newts and whilst sitting in the gardens through all seasons, this is a wonderful way to switch off and meditate whilst listening to a mix of poetry, recitals, current affairs, music - and of course the daily psalms and readings from the bible which are then explored and unpicked by Dean Robert. The original intention by Fletcher was to connect with "one or two members of our community who might be feeling lonely" and they could not have known that they would in fact connect with hundreds of thousands of people of all faiths and none from every part of the world who named themselves the Garden Congregation. Although initially the broadcasts were all on the cathedral website and other platforms, when they were unexpectedly caused to leave Canterbury Fletcher transferred their films to this new site so that they might still be enjoyed by anyone in the future.
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Thank you again for visiting this Channel and we hope that you will enjoy the films if this is your first time here - and if so then welcome to the Garden Congregation!
For Evening Prayer Dean Robert uses the Church of England book, “Common Worship Daily Prayer 2005” (Church House publishing). The bible is the English Standard Version (Collins), and occasionally - though always stated - Dean Robert uses the New Revised Standard Version or the King James.

[@robynwozab5745]

Can't thank you both enough , Praise The Lord

[@emiliayonekokumata7167]

Magnificent landscape! It is a piece of Paradise on Earth! Thank you!

[@sonyaparkin7841]

Oh how beautiful 💙💚🩵🙏🙏😊

[@PamRote-ny5ip]

Because of family commitments, I’ve just been able to watch Evening Prayer on St George’s Day. Fletcher, you do such a wonderful job of putting this all together! The scenery reminds me a lot of the Berkshires where I grew up in Western Massachusetts. Dean Robert, thank you for this wonderful Evening Prayer. I’ve missed you so much since you retired. Thank you both for this beautiful, calming video. Pam Rote

[@argentinagalos6205]

You and Fletcher are wonderful people and I cannot thank you enough for what you are giving us ! You are a well of blessings for me ,a joy for my mind and soul ! Thank you and may God less you !

[@chrishall62]

Absolutely beautiful scenery and churches. It has been many years since I visited that part of Wales

[@elizabethmagee7740]

I can't tell you how special and precious these evening prayers and compline were. And the shared memories of the passing of the queen brought tears. Thank you and Fletcher for your faithful sharing of faith with all of us around the world

[@jeangerow7177]

These prayers, along with the beauty of the Welsh countryside, bring me peace. For this I am deeply grateful to Dean Robert and Fletcher.

[@elizabethtallman3280]

These holy places do give us a sense of peace,healing and forgiveness. Compline is my favorite service of the day.

[@drewk3402]

What a wonderful and special evening prayer. Thank you for taking us with you to these special places (and I loved when your shadow waved to us, Fletcher, from the gateway).

[@johnandharrietwhitehouse4862]

Thank you for taking us to your special places. Such a beautiful Evening Prayer! I am finishing my day in such peace.

[@caroledrury1411]

This was wonderful for someone like me who lives in Vermont and can connect with my ancestry in your area via your ministry and poetic commentary. The connection with nature and sounds of birds is so soothing.

[@janetyoung4915]

Absolutely mesmerizing

[@lucjagrabowska2726]

pure joy to see you and pray with you again, dear Dean Robert!

[@christinesimpkin570]

How absolutely beautiful 🙏 Thank you Dean Robert and Fletcher, for allowing us to accompany you on this amazing tour. We are so lucky to have been with you both albeit virtually. Gratitude for the gorgeous sights and prayers and thoughts 🙏🕯️🕊️ Such soul-coaxing churches, thank you for taking the time to take us to them.. and their environs 🙏 🙏

[@carolingimundson1392]

This evening prayer was most wonderful. I felt such peace after this evening prayer .My favourite of church services. The scenery was awesome. I felt such a part as you travelled along& then finally closing with compline🙏 Dean Robert & Fletcher .I cannot thank you enough👏👏

[@deborahc9033]

We are all blessed by your generosity, Thank You for sharing!😇🙏💚

[@francesham8756]

Peace. Peace to you both. Thank you for this this spiritual journey. God Bless you both. I am very grateful for this ministry and connection to our Garden Congregation .

[@Mo21-v5c]

Thank you, as always❤

[@joannejohnson]

Absolutely beautiful edition of evening prayer showing God's creation Thank-you Dean Robert and Fletcher love and God Bless to you both.❤

[@eileentindall9678]

So homesick for Wales watching this . Congratulations on a perfect pronunciation of Llanthony , Dean Robert . 👍

[@margaretinsydney3856]

Thank you both so much. It's late here now, and very quiet, and I am in perfect peace. I'm so grateful for everything you do for us. This video was particularly beautiful, moving, and enriching. What absolutely lovely countryside, and the churches have such an atmosphere of holiness and peace. Thank you for taking us to these places that you cherish. I am honoured. 🙏

[@stella448]

I really enjoyed this evening's prayer! I loved all the beautiful sites and churches, so beautiful! What gorgeous sunset photos as well, thank you Dean Robert and Fletcher for sharing.

[@elainekeech5292]

❤ thank you both so much, l had a sense of being with you both on such a beautiful peaceful journey, bless you ❤

[@Susan-un9dw]

So beautiful! Thank you so much for taking us on this peaceful and meaningful journey.

[@sonifranc3551]

❤❤❤ Love from Sāo Paulo .God bless you for the beauty you add to our lives .

[@ctlo4403]

Thank you. ❤

[@oldmanstone9048]

This was really wonderful. Thank you.

[@celestialvoices4531]

Magnificent! Good night precious friends. ❤

[@drewk3402]

I think this was my favorite Garden Congregation worship ever. Absolutely spiritual. Thank you Dean Robert and Fletcher!

[@choosekindness5677]

I agree 🥰

[@annalisapoirel7409]

Me too!

[@joannejohnson]

Me too

[@staceys1870]

Absolutely agree!

[@sandrahodgetts908]

Thankyou so much

[@DeniseTomlin-gc6tq]

Thank you for so generously sharing your travels, your memories, and the lovely details of these special places.

[@tatecohan5735]

Thank you-thinking of t s Eliot’s words. You are here to kneel. Where prayer has been valid. For showing us these special places and landscapes.

[@gloriangarner9146]

In 1949 I was confirmed at Holy Trinity in Honolulu Hawaii. In 2014 I went to my first Evensong at the Minster. In 2017 I went to Canterbury Cathedral. Tonight another gift from you. This is so beautiful. I cannot thank you enough.

[@dawnellis9351]

I adore the old graveyards. My husband and I have walked through many and LOVE LOVE LOVE WALES.

[@claudette4113]

Beautiful film. Thank you both, my husband and I watch and pray with your videos

[@judywilson9757]

What a treat! Thank you for this beautiful walking tour and the evening services at these lovely churches. I so appreciate your sharing with us your memories of how you both marked Queen Elizabeth’s passing in such a spiritual and precious way. What a gift you have blessed us with today. I almost feel as though I have visited these picturesque villages and countryside scenes in person.

[@victoriaoliver9958]

Fletcher, your photos and cinematography feed my soul. And Dean Robert, your narratives and insight feed my spirit. I can't imagine my mornings without the calm and beauty of your broadcasts.

[@exTTVM]

My favorite Psalm of protection 121 instead of famous 91. Thanks for even song!

[@choosekindness5677]

I believe in Fletcher's dream to convert the stone building into a home. It would be glorious and so peaceful. If a GoFundMe page is started toward this, or similar, endeavor, please let the Garden Congregation know. I would gladly make a contribution. You both have given us so much. Blessing to both of you.

[@annebalderston2520]

Yes, do!🙏🏻

[@violetporter6842]

Peace, perfect peace.

[@lauram7385]

Always a joy when your videos show up. Beautiful little church and scenery is gorgeous.

[@Ghandi2nd]

Beautiful landscapes, and very nice to see the churches still offering their hospitality after all these centuries

[@eileen6928]

Absolutely breathtaking from beginning to the glorious sunset. It was such a special experience I felt I was with you. Thank you Dean Robert for all your kind and thoughtful words and what stamina. Thank you Fletcher for all your extraordinary talents of creating the video. A wonderful gift to treasure always.

[@jmlloyd40]

Thank you 🙏

[@sauces_official]

a most wonderful video

[@gillianmorris5784]

That was truly special. Thank you both for sharing the beauties of those areas with us and doing evening prayer and compline in such meaningful places. My prayer is that you both will soon have your own home and car where you can settle with the cats and other animals. I miss Tiger so much!

[@annharrington6778]

Dean Robert & Fletcher, Peace ☮☮ & Love💟💟 Thank you for this prayerful travelogue along the valleys, fields & hedgerows. God Bless you both & your Ministry.

[@bertgeorge3357]

Thank you Dean Robert and Fletcher for wonderful gift you have given through this broadcast. God bless and keep you both.

[@davidyeung1148]

For me, this particular Evening Prayer is a classic. I will always remember your long evening shadow cast on the grass lawn inside the church ruin. Although I live on the other side of the Globe, every word and every image touches me deeply. I feel a sense of connection with this, I am grateful that we are in the same family of the Anglican community. The beautiful photography is much appreciated.

[@karenhyman3678]

I have been sitting on my back porch in the setting sun and sharing these beautiful vistas of Wales with you - almost as if I was there. Thank you so much for this extraordinary evening prayer! Much love, Karen and Joe

[@MonicaDescalzi]

Thank you both for a blessedly peaceful video 🙏

[@christinesimpkin570]

I have just watched this for the second consecutive afternoon and it brings such great joy and peace to the heart and soul 💐 Thank you Dean Robert and Fletcher 🙏🕯️🕊️

[@stfdressage]

Lovely. Thank you.

[@charmainepavy4775]

God's Awesome Creation ❤

[@kimschmidt2779]

What a beautiful place thank you for sharing❤ Right Rev Dr Willis May the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless you and make his face to shine upon you and give you peace. Thank you for the wonderful and inspirational prayers ❤

[@tazstanley4552]

Beautiful, thank you.

[@terriblair6972]

I am so grateful for your ministry to us this evening filtered through the culture, history, and beauty of Wales. Peace, my friends

[@JillCooper-oy8dl]

Lovely video. I particularly enjoyed the Compline portion. I always enjoyed the Compline videos made in the early days if the pandemic. Thank you.

[@christijirinec8262]

Thank you for this. ❤

[@vhughes7651]

Wonder Full.

[@janetyoung4915]

What a glorious gift you gave us today. I can't imagine more spiritual surroundings for evening prayer. It would make a wonderful retreat. The churches remind me of a beautiful tiny church I visited in 2016. It was high on a cliff overlooking Cardigan Bay, and one had to pick their way carefully over boulders to get to it. I remember there were sheep wandering through the churchyard .Sadly it was no longer in use, but your narratve describing these beautiful churches, and the magnificent scenery surrounding them brings back all the memories.

[@nrossi1215]

Absolutely glorious! My late Mother called vistas such as this, “eye pasture”, as, unlike our NYC and London street level city views, limited by buildings in every direction, a country view such as this let our eyes go “out to pasture” to enjoy 360degree vistas. She claimed her eyes needed such a “pasture” respite often. She would have adored this. Thank you Fletcher for your brilliant camera work. Nini

[@ChrystalHutka]

A beautiful and peaceful worship. Thank you.

[@alisonbrown7701]

Exceptional. The camera, poetry, prayers, sense of God’s presence in creation and our mortal life. Thank you as many have echoed over the years. Peace and Blessings to both of you.

[@MaraleeCrandon]

Thank you for sharing the beauty of this holy place! Having Welsh ancestors, I marvelled that they ever could have left this land. Thank you for continuing your ministry of the Word. M. Crandon

[@karenhardie291]

What a beautiful, quaint and peaceful place, how wonderful to be there. Thank you for sharing this with me.

[@calliopec6903]

Absolutely amazing little Prayer tour - Pilgrimage 🌳💒🌳☀️ There is something to watch a several times 💗 Thank you so much 💕

[@riittanykanen9758]

I am selling all that I have and traveling to Wales and England next spring! Thank you so very much! I feel blessed.

[@victoriaoliver9958]

One of my favorites ever, too! I'll repeatedly watch it. Thank you so much.

[@Jo1066milton]

I watched this on my tablet, lying in bed with one of my cats. She bounced, purred, rubbed, fidgeted and got in the way. Until we got to the Compline part. Then she sat down staring silently at the screen, listening intently. She always used to watch morning prayer with me from the Deanery Garden. I'm pretty sure she remembers Dean Robert's voice. I'm not certain whether she was listening to Compline or hoping to see Tiger again, but her behaviour was remarkable.

[@heatherstewart5118]

Yes

[@staceys1870]

Dearest Dean Robert and Fletcher this particular evening prayer and compline was beyond spectacular. It was heartfelt, holy, and magical. My mom and I will be re watching this over and over. Everything about it was mesmerizing...Love and gratitude from Los Angeles, Ca.

[@februarygelushia3204]

Lovely tour and prayer. Thank you.

[@exTTVM]

Bigger than my tinytinychurch, and it shows a complete difference in history between Christian based country's glory and other countries. It IS interested in. Thanks.

[@scrat1119]

Thank you so very much for showing me some of the "green and pleasant land" , love from Australia.

[@lindamakson5215]

This is spectacular. Prayer happens regardless of when it is viewed. Thank you for this tour and history.

[@KarenBrusina]

Absolutely lovely! I really enjoyed this, thank you both. And I waved back to Fletcher at 27:15. 🙂

[@staceys1870]

So did I!! = )

[@irenemanfredini9150]

Let me say it in Italian. Meraviglioso! Grazie, grazie di cuore! ❤️

[@pamelahood]

😂 At 2:34 mark I hoped the sign on left was PASS IN PEACE! May you both deep, deep within feel our gratitude and love. ❤ from California Bay Area.

[@jessiemacintosh6627]

That was simply wonderful, you both must be exhausted.

[@maryfilippou6667]

Probably the air is Marvelous there. Something few city- dwellers can boast. That is a lovely maps signboard. Gill did enticing graphics. I have a book somewhere. Enough said on him. Fascinating to behold those ancient churches in high country.

[@catherineloxton5727]

Well, Fletcher, you've really put the area on the map with this little gem! Unique video, excellent editing and as always a lovely service, this time from remote Welsh churches ... thank you both so much for your blog and videos. Send love to Lilly, Tiger and Leo&co back in Kent ... 🙏🐑💜🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈💜🐑🙏 ...

[@nancywalizer8234]

Beautiful country and churches. Loved the tour and sites where evening prayer and compline were shared. What perfect settings. And a special thanks to Dean Robert for sharing the page in the book of Common Worship so that I could follow along for Compline. On my pilgrimage to Canterbury in June 2022, I made sure to get my own book of Common Worship as well as the Ancient & Modern hymnal so I could always follow along with Morning Prayer, and sing along with the hymns during Sung Eucharist. 😇

[@deborahbaker1879]

Came back from singing our St. George’s Day Choral Evensong and so enjoyed this extended Evening Prayer and Compline. The stories and history of these locales you’re visiting provide such a rich and descriptive context for worship opportunities. 🙏🏼❤️

[@yvonnefarrell1029]

A great big hug to you both from here in the US. That is a landscape reminiscent of WV or NE, wild and untamed, that simply cries out for holiness. Thanks to you both for teaching us from pandemic times that "church" yes it is a building, but the Gospel is not only there, it is out here, wherever "here" is. God bless you and all of us and again great thanks.

[@drewk3402]

It was quite interesting to learn more of the history of St. Issui church in Patricio from the National Churches website.

[@mba63]

Thank you both for showing us these beautiful places. You both got your exercise this day - Fletcher had a job to keep up with Dean Robert! Sending you greetings from the States.

[@dawnellis9351]

I adore the wee book town. Trouble is sending the books home to USA IS SO EXPENSIVE.

[@janeeuzile]

you are giving me my second tour of the Welsh country side . My husband and I were out and about looking for the place of his maternal family homestead in Glen Ammon several years ago. I think you would benefit from a Gandalf staff while traversing the country side, Robert. My husband has one with a bell to let the bears know that we are in the area. I caught the shadow wave on the second viewing, Fletcher. Of my religious services that I view , I connect most with the garden congregation, so thank you again. I watch the ones from the pandemic daily, and get excited to reconnect with current worship time with you. May God bless and keep you both in his embrace. Jane in Sammamish, WA. USA

[@eleanorbennett7478]

Thank you for continuing. There are things I want to tell you. Ways I feel God has spoken to me but not in this public space. Your strong belief & willingness to share has helped make this happen-I believe. Thank you ❤️

[@PedroMPereira]

In addition to praising the beauty of the location, I would also like to compliment Fletcher on his filming and editing skills, which just keeps getting better! The partnership of this duo is truly inspiring! Thank you Dean Robert and Fletcher for bringing so much blessings for us!

[@user-iw6un9qh6c]

So interesting that Dean Robert and Fletcher were in this area in Wales when the Queen passed... And my husband and I (traveling from the US) were in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral at a Julian meeting of contemplative prayer that September 8th.

[@stephaniehart4527]

That is a beautiful road, and lovely pub in the priory! But up top, the wind it does bloooow..

[@sallyhundley6170]

Do you have a favorite edition of Henry Vaughan?

[@maramorrison3144]

No sound on the video. I did enjoy the beautiful countryside with the churches and fields of sheep. Very peaceful. Thank you both for bringing God a little closer to us.

[@GardenCongregation]

Good Morning! I am very sorry that you have had difficulty with the viewing - or rather the hearing - of this broadcast. You are the first person to have reported a difficulty with sound and certainly from our end we have watched the video on a phone, computer and tv and the sound has been fine BUT I am wondering if it might be something to do with the speakers your end and wonder if you could tell me what you were watching the broadcast on? The reason I think this may be significant, and indeed the only thing I can guess might be wrong, is that the mic I used was one which is designed to work with another mic and to avoid the need for an equaliser the way that it works is to use the left side of the audio for one and the right side for the other. This usually works just fine as speakers carry both but the way in which one would normally tell the difference is that one might only hear it in one earphone if listening through earphones and on speakers that are not balanced but split - such as on my laptop for example - the sound may sound a little 'thin' compared with a situation where you have audio feeding from both sides of the mic as would normally be the case, basically because you only have one feed and not two - but your hearing soon adjusts to this. If you have no sound then I think this might mean that there is a problem with your speakers and that you have only been having the sound from one side coming through - which, as I mentioned, means you can still hear most recordings as the audio has typically not been split in the way it was necessary to do to make this recording. May I ask what you were attempting to watch the film on please? I am very keen to try to solve this difficulty for you and am sad that you have had some issues with the broadcast. Fx

[@joannesnyder3717]

lovely! Do you still have Leo and Tiger ... cats. joanne Snyder

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

I would very much like to know what camera you are using for these videos as they are so beautiful. Very much enjoyed the travels in the countryside. Thank you x

[@GardenCongregation]

Hi there, Thank you for reaching out! I have actually had no end of problems with the tech - something wrong with the audio port I suspect - but as a consequence I have actually used three different cameras, a Panasonic HC-V700 and a Panasonic HC-VXF1 BUT because I was walking round I in fact used my phone - Samsung S22 Ultra, which does a nice zoom except for zoom. I hope this helps? F

[@eleanorbennett7478]

My daughter, Jennifer, is asking for prayers that she be granted a divorce from a monster of a husband. She has been trying for four years & some how he manages to get a continuance. Is that something you can pray for ?

[@exTTVM]

Your face looks very hurt. And I am still awaiting a taxi and airticket to the UK at my house, now 13:18 pm. What is happening? Does it the same in December 2021, I couldn't fly and Lily flew.

[@jenni48.32]

Buon giorno from a kitchen table in Rome with ai cup of tea .🫖☕ Finally I have just had the chance to sit down in silence and watched the most memorable film footage by Fletcher on an evening in Wales with Emeritus Dean Robert Willis starting a journey from a nearby red telephone box in the countryside bringing all people's together in the warmth of evening prayer.The fragrant words of spring array bring spiritual harmony by discovering the beauty of walking and listening to the sacred words of God in pastures new.We as pilgrim's are meandering in spiritual presence with God to sacred ground,through sacred roads that lead to sacred places where we unearth charasmatic blissful joy to a 'voice of one in the wilderness '.DR helps us all with the book of prayer to increase our faith in the light of Gods presence. Also I love the way Fletcher captured the shadow of his waving hand by saying hello when he walked through the lychgate at Patricio church in Wales.This was a beautiful gesture.Your presence is a constant joy to all . The sunset with DR was splendidly awesome.God bless you both in Canterbury Kent.Continue with the garden congregation and we look forward to seeing you both soon . God's friendship is the unexpected joy we find when we reach His outstretched hand.