Prayer

Central to students' formation at Westcott House is attention to becoming people of prayer who grow and mature in relationship with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Prayer is fundamental to the exercise of Christian ministry. We ask students at Westcott to devote a great deal of time, energy and concentration to the development of their spiritual lives. This takes place in a number of ways:

The college's corporate life revolves around prayer. On most days of the week we all say morning and evening prayer together. There is a daily eucharist offered, as well as time for meditation and sung compline. At ordination, those to be made deacons or priests vow that they will be "diligent in prayer and in reading Holy Scripture". Westcott's corporate life prepares students for this way of life.

As well as its corporate life of prayer, Westcott students take part in a wide range of different informal prayer groups. These include cell groups, where small groups of students meet to pray together and to share their concerns. Coming from our wide range of church backgrounds, Westcott students also meet together for "prayer and praise" and gather too to say the rosary - membership of these groups is often interchangeable!

All students at Westcott make a regular commitment to a pattern of personal prayer. In college teaching, students at Westcott learn more about the many different means of personal prayer that exist, including contemplative imagination, praying with icons, using the Jesus prayer, Celtic prayer and others.

Spiritual Direction

Students meet regularly with a spiritual director with whom they can explore their relationship with God. The college chaplain helps those who have not worked with a director before to find an appropriate person. Each spring Westcott enables students to meet four times with an experienced prayer guide as part of the "term of guided prayer" offered by the Cambridge Theological Federation. In addition, each term, two Franciscan brothers visit Westcott for three days, to meet and talk with students. For those who wish to take part in the sacrament of reconciliation, the Chaplain is available for confession or can arrange a confessor from outside the college.

All students at Westcott are encouraged to make an annual retreat. In addition the college undertakes an annual pilgrimage to Walsingham.