What if the whole kingdom thing is a paradox of deep discipline and holy improvisation, of risking prayer and playfulness? What if being in flow, in the Stream, is about attentiveness to minute particulars while connecting to the larger pattern and the surprising syncopation of the Holy Spirit?
Philip is percussionist and composer with Sheer Sound, Founder-Director of The Quiet Garden Movement, author, speaker, leader of Contemplative Fire and recovering hyperactivist.
For the past thirty years Philip has been variously working as a teacher and trainer with schools and with teaching staff, in training ordinands and as lecturer in theology and spirituality in the Universities of Wales and Oxford. In addition, for the past ten years, he has travelled extensively on both sides of the Atlantic as keynote speaker and workshop leader, from the Greenbelt Festival in the UK to national conferences and consultations in different parts of the US.
In 2004, having been working as a parish priest in Amersham, South Bucks, again in the Diocese of Oxford, Philip was authorized to launch Contemplative Fire both by the Diocese's Cutting Edge Ministries Board and by Archbishop Rowan Williams and his 'Fresh Expressions of Church' initiative. A personal sponsor, who knew of Philip's international work with The Quiet Garden Movement, provided the partnership funding to enable this adventure in faith to take shape. There are now in place regular small and large Contemplative Fire group events, Gatherings and trainings. Twenty four Contemplative Fire leaders and facilitators are now in formation and the network is beginning to seed itself, take root and bear fruit in different parts.
Philip is married to Jill, the administrator of Contemplative Fire and a ceramic sculptor. They have two children in their early twenties, Justin and Hannah.
