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LATE SUMMER IN OXFORDSHIRE 5TH-7TH SEPTEMBER 2025
Wednesday 10th September 2025
Sue Peachey
On a beautifully sunny day ten pilgrims gathered at St Mary’s Convent in Wantage, to spend the weekend together enjoying our surroundings and each other’s company.
The Convent is a large building with a Retreat Wing, which is where we were based. It has an art room, various sitting rooms, a library and the lovely St Mary’s Chapel. It is a very welcoming place and we were able to join the Sisters in as many of their regular services as we wished. The beautifully tended grounds were amazing, with several gardens and an apple orchard in which to sit and relax, or simply to walk around at our own pace and in our own time.
On our first afternoon we visited the John Betjeman Millennium Park, as he had lived in Wantage for several years. We found that it was an oasis of calm and greenery, with no traffic noise and surrounded on three sides by a brook and a stream. We were lucky enough to be joined by one of the Trustees of the Park, together with a member of the local Betjeman Poetry Society. Between them we learnt a lot about the man and his poetry, and several of his poems, relevant to the area, were read to us beside a series of six "Stone Poetry Plaque" sculptures celebrating his work.
The following day we did a short circular walk from the Convent, at an easy pace, part of which followed the disused Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal. Again, this was in glorious sunshine. The walk included a short diversion through a Nature Reserve, where we were joined by a great many butterflies, escorting us along the path. This was particularly moving as we had just heard a reading named “God Speaking” (below). There was also a bountiful selection of wild fruit along the Way, which some of us took advantage of!
On the Sunday morning there was a Prayer Walk around the grounds, which we found very mindful and relaxing. After a wonderful Sunday lunch we went our separate ways home, feeling refreshed and blessed to have spent a few days “away from it all”.
God speaking
The man whispered, “God, speak to me”
and a meadowlark sang.
But the man did not hear.
So, the man yelled, “God speak to me”
and the thunder rolled across the sky.
But the man did not listen.
The man looked around and said, “God let me see you”
and a star shined brightly.
But the man did not see.
And the man shouted, “God show me a miracle”
and a life was born.
But the man did not notice.
So, the man cried out in despair,
“Touch me God, and let me know you’re here”
whereupon God reached down and touched the man.
But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.
(Author unknown)