Poetry Talk: "The Heart by Way of Breath to the Line", Ludlow Assembly Rooms 8th August, 2024

Welcome to the Garden Congregation KZbin Channel!
Thank you for joining us!
We hope that you will enjoy this special evening of discussion between poet Pelé Cox, former Poet in Residence at the TATE and at the Royal Academy, and Dean Robert Willis who explore some of their poetry and some of their favourite poets and discuss the codes and mysteries of poetry and its vital role in our spiritual and civic lives and how their many poetry commissions and collaborations have become tools for transformation and spiritual growth in the Church and in the Arts.
Dean Robert recites poems from an oratorio on which he is currently working with James MacMillan, ‘Angels Unawares’, as well as from a selection of his hymns, explaining his process and technique of composition. He talks of his love of writing, of the psalms and of the poetry of the Bible; of his deep connection to poetry and to song. He talks about the libretti of WS Gilbert; the spiritual nature of Housman, Bunyan, Hardy and of Dante.
Pelé shares stories about the commission to compose the longest verse inscription in the West on an apartment building for the Chelsea Barracks development, London, with Eric Parry Architects and of her work, the Mistress Account - the story of a love affair from the perspective of the lover.
Pelé Cox
Pelé Cox is a poet and dramaturgist, working with poetry through the fine arts. During lockdown she made her first short film, 'Lift Me Up, I Am Dying' about the death of John Keats and streamed to thousands of viewers; Damian Lewis and Nicholas Rowe starred. Her next film, 'Dreamboat', has been commissioned to commemorate the bi-centenary of Shelley’s death. Her live events have been performed widely in the UK and Italy, including at The Courtauld; The Royal Academy (where she was Poet in Residence); BAFTA; the Keats-Shelley House; John Murray; the British School in Rome; the Cheltenham Literature Festival; the Todi Festival; the Ledbury Poetry Festival; Bradford Literature Festival and the British Embassy in Rome. In 2019 she was commissioned by Eric Parry Architects to write ‘Cento’, a long poem to cover four elevations for the Chelsea Barracks development. Her work has been featured and reviewed in the Sunday Times Magazine; the Sunday Times Culture section; the RA magazine; the TATE; the Oldie; the London Magazine and The Guardian. She teaches poetry and creative writing at ‘GATHER’ in Ludlow.
Dean Robert Willis
Robert Willis is an Anglican priest and is known for being a theologian, hymn-writer and pastor. He served as Dean of Canterbury, running the mother church of the Anglican Communion and the King’s School in Canterbury (the World’s oldest school) and advising three archbishops, government and the crown from 2001 to 2022 during which time he raised the funds to undertake the largest renovations and expansion programme in centuries; doubled the workforce, expanding the highly-skilled departments which are world-class centres for archives, stone, glass, hospitality, education...; started residential courses in his new hotel and conference centre to break down barriers in both the church and political worlds; expanded the music and started the first girls' choir to sing alongside the residential boys' choir and professional and volunteer lay clerks; worked with dozens of different charities both locally and globally on everything from the arts to health-care and the environment to music and oversaw the school's expansion to become a family of five schools spanning the state and private sectors and in three different countries, ensuring the ethos of Christian giving and kindness to all with active pro-bono initiatives throughout the local area. Prior to Canterbury he spent nine years as Dean of Hereford (where he undertook extensive renovations, saved the Mappa Mundi from being sold off and the Chain Library and used the same architect, his late friend William Whitfield, as his hotel in Canterbury to build the new visitor centre and secured the finances to safeguard both and the future of the musical foundation) and before that similar works for five years as Vicar of Sherborne Abbey. He is well-known for the broadcasts of Morning Prayer that he and his civil-partner, Fletcher Banner (with whom he has had a co-ministry in Canterbury for 20+ years) made every day for 26 months during the pandemic which attracted and still attract millions of views from all over the world of people of all faiths and none. A keen musician and writer, he is currently working on various commissions and is an active supporter of the arts and architecture, music, the environment, education and many other subjects consulting both nationally and internationally.
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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!

[@sylvieblanc4506]

Thank you Dean Robert and Fletcher. Sylvie

[@christinesimpkin570]

Thank you Dean Robert and Fletcher, and all involved ,for bringing us this amazing recital. Truly beautiful 🙏🕯️✨

[@riittanykanen9758]

Listening, searching, savoring and learning. A delight for at least for a week. Thank you Pelé, Dean Robert and Fletcher!

[@anniepudussery5097]

One can sit for hours and listen to Dean Robert speak. You have beautifully set the biblical passages to such lovely poems. Thank you.

[@jennifercampion9154]

What a really enjoyable evening you gave us with Pele and Dean Robert. What I would really love is a book of Robert's poems .Please do not keep them hidden in a folder.! Thank you Fletcher for all you do especially for an evening such as this.❤❤🙏

[@joannejohnson]

Hi Fletcher and Dean Robert Thank-you for posting this .very enjoyable evening love and God Bless to you both from Joanne ❤

[@violetporter6842]

This is certainly worth waiting for. It will be watched over and again!

[@irenebruntsch6773]

Very inspirational!!!! going back ones own Poetry- Lane THANKS A LOT for sharing

[@kokoerper]

That was very encouraging and wonderfully inspirational. Thank you.

[@jenni48.32]

A small introduction -'Let us light a candle' by Emeritus Dean Robert' and to Pele 'The Mistress Account' what worlds we find in each other through expression of the inner voice and yes through poetry yet spiritual and even with everyday life experiences is simply wonderful.This is a spectacular moment to be invited and introduced into the masterful voices of collective creative bliss of two individuals unearthing their own poetical and musical life from past,present,future experiences -words from 'heart to heart' and profound grace in delighting us all with outstanding lyrical beauty to be heard by others and an insight into why poetry is a theatre of art that continues to this present day.Thank you so much in opening our hearts and minds to the inner voices of poetry. Congratulations at it's best

[@vhughes7651]

Wonderful conversation between two heartfelt, insightful and brave creative souls. Thank you!

[@Parisianamapola]

I was waiting for your presence dear Dean Robert, and am very happy for I have missed you. Thank you Fletcher for sharing!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@joannejohnson]

I am sorry I do apologise I thought I read on a comment Leo it was Otto a cat from a long time ago so lovely Leo is okay.

[@adriennebeecker5000]

Honesty in poetry enlightens us all ,

[@yvonnefarrell1029]

Thank you! I remember understanding poetry as a child, even the Sitwell Facade recording we had fascinated me. It is harder now, the imagination perhaps not quite so bright. Good discussion and talking points, with our dear Dean Robert.

[@rhocroft9394]

What joy when I looked at the notifcation to see this video appear. I will wait until tomorrow when I am not so tired. It has now been a doubly joyous day. My dearest Zoe, mixed Siamese, has terminal cancer. It seemed on Sunday that the time had come and we had a vet appt today made yesterday. But last night and this morning, she made it quite clear that she was not ready, and her wonderful vet , whom I have known for 22 yrs, agreed.

[@milkweedlake]

Aww so very sorry ❤️ Prayers for you and sweet Zoe 🤍🙏🏻🐾

[@rhocroft9394]

@@milkweedlake Thank you.

[@joannejohnson]

Sending my love and prayers to you and Zoe❤🙏

[@GardenCongregation]

@@rhocroft9394 we are so sad to read this and as you know we have been through the loss of Monkey and Otto so can empathise as to how very hard this time is for you. Know that we're keeping you in our prayers and dearest Zoë too! 🙏🏻❤️

[@PedroMPereira]

Sending our love and prayers for you and Zoe 🙏 May her last days be as sweet and lovely as her whole life. And may the certainty that she was much loved by you and had the best life warm your heart in these moments. ❤

[@MelissaBarclay-n7z]

❤ 💙 💜 💖 this, have always loved poetry since childhood. I will have to watch this again

[@joantooby3670]

I was delighted to find this video and have watched as captivated and enchanted by the discussions as on Thursday evening live! Thankyou very much indeed. 💕💕

[@GardenCongregation]

@@joantooby3670 And thank you for being there! X

[@joannejohnson]

Hello Joan I hope you don't mind me asking how did the Garden Congregation tea go..I was so disappointed that I could not come to Ludlow for the two events last week. Kind Regards From Joanne.

[@joantooby3670]

@@joannejohnsonSipping refreshing tea and indulging in delicious cake in a charming traditional tearoom with delightful company, a very pleasurable hour flew by all too quickly! Kind regards, Joan

[@joannejohnson]

​@joantooby3670 sounds wonderful I hope I Will get the chance to meet Dean Robert and Fletcher and yourself and other members of the Garden congregation another time I enjoyed the video from Last Thursday night very much love and God Bless from Joanne. xx

[@janeallen7679]

What an interesting video. A gem. Thank you both

[@eleanorbennett7478]

Thank you! I enjoyed every moment ❤️

[@victoriaoliver9958]

"She knew how to make pain into something majestic" -Pelé about Sylvia Plath It was fascinating to hear about Van Gogh and Pelé's studies of how poets and artists influence(d) each other. "The light is stronger than the darkness; and the day will overcome the night. Though the shadows linger all around us, let us turn our faces to the light"- Just wonderful to hear these words from Dean Robert's hymn that was inspired by Terry Waite. And then, later to hear it sung by the ethereal voices of the choir. And "Love, the wedding guest" poem was beautiful. And the poem set to music about wandering and "No room at the inn" was set to such a pretty folk tune! What a treat to hear the stories behind your poems. I wish I could've been there. But it was so generous of you to upload this for us! "Let the singing never be done." -Sassoon

[@catherineloxton5727]

Just catching up after being in hospital. Nothing serious, just demands your full attention. Thank you so much for putting the Assembly Rooms talk on KZbin. I must go to the website and DONATE a somewhat belated 'ticket'! I can now see from GCC videos that you are catching up with filming done earlier in the summer across the pond! So relieved to see you well on video, Sir. Keep filming ... 🌐✈️🙏💚🐈🌳🙏✈️🌐...

[@Parisianamapola]

O, I am devastated to hear that Leo passed away! It is thanks to him that I met Dean Robert! He was so cute and friendly! Condolences dear Dean Robert and Fletcher 😥

[@GardenCongregation]

@@Parisianamapola Oh my word!!! I am so sorry - that was a typo last night and it should have read Otto! (Leo's father!) Leo is JUST FINE and is sitting with me at the moment putmrring away and helping me with work with a very important look on his face! Apologies - but thank you for your lovely message! X

[@Parisianamapola]

Thank you!! I am so relieved! And happy! Please caress Leo for me. Kind regards to you all❤❤❤

[@joannejohnson]

I am so relieved that lovely Leo is alive and well I love the Garden Congregation cats 🐈

[@sandrahodgetts908]

It is a relief! Thankyou so much for all of this .

[@Parisianamapola]

@@sandrahodgetts908 Oh YES 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

[@deborahc9033]

Very Moving!❤🙏

[@maryevans9082]

Such a treat!

[@vhughes7651]

“Is this the way of love” stunning DR!

[@jayharding4773]

R speaking of angels and the second readings at evensong - there were angels in the very last words of the last one at Canters, it was 1 Peter 1-12, angels long to look

[@cynthiastory-cs1vm]

Thank you - with joy i watched this program from the Ludlow Assembly Rooms, in Adelaide, South Australia. I had seen the program advertised, and so glad i had opportunity to share in it. The beautiful sharing of The. Mistress heart, laid bare for us to feel our own heart's healing. All words read were indeed clear and welcomed understanding.. God bless you for your great insight . Love, Cynthia

[@jeangerow7177]

That was so enjoyable!

[@stonehenge1963]

I will have to wait till tomorrow

[@stonehenge1963]

I wish I'd known your parents more than I did...xxx