Vicar visits SSJE Boston, MA
I have just returned from spending some time in New York and in Boston for a bit of a break; and whilst in Boston I was delighted to be able to visit the Monastery of the Society of St John the Evangelist (SSJE) in Harvard. Br James Koester, their Superior has visited St Barnabas on two occasions during the past five years, and he preached here in 2019. I was very pleased to reconnect with him and to meet other members of the monastic community. SSJE roots are very firmly in Oxford (founded here in 1865 as the first Anglican male monastic community since the Reformation): their founding Father was Fr Meux-Benson who was Vicar of Ss Mary and John in Cowley, and he preached more than once at St Thomas the Martyr, when Fr Chamberlain was Vicar. There are some beautiful stained glass windows in the Monastery Church in Boston, of both Fr Meux Benson and St Frideswide (see above and click the images to enlarge). So the Oxford connection is strong. Nowadays however, the HQ of the SSJE is very firmly in Boston. There are now no SSJE communities in the UK. Their original monastery in Oxford is home to St Stephen’s House on Iffley Road/Marston Street, who continue to honour the original SSJE tradition.
One of the aspects of the monastery’s worship in Boston which struck me was the joyfulness and delight which exudes from their celebration. Firmly Catholic and liturgical, with the monks singing the psalms and propers, there was a deep sense of gladness which characterised their community Mass and offices. The lunch to which I was delighted to be invited on the Sunday in the monastic refectory, and cooked by one of the monks himself, was simply delightful! Most of their meals are in silence, but Sunday lunches are ‘talking lunches’, and this change of atmosphere adds to the joy of the experience.
My reflection on returning to the UK was that one of the great gifts of our tradition is the joy and delight that can be offered through our worship and our music. Solemnity does not need to be stuffy or dry, and we have much learn from the monastic charism. I have extended an open invitation to Br James SSJE and other members of the community to visit us in St Barnabas again in the future.
Fr Christopher Woods, Vicar
