Upcoming events at the House of the Open Door Community
The Community hosts many events throughout the year, using some of the facilities in our Retreat Centre; we list those coming up in a calendar below.
Our Tithe Barn is sometimes reserved for guest groups but is at other times is an ideal event space for meetings or conferences hosted by the community such as our Friday night Fellowship meetings, or those visiting for discipleship. Smaller meetings such as craft retreats take place in our Craft Studio.
If you are visiting for one of the events it may be possible for us to cater for you in our Dining Room; during your visit you are welcome to spend any spare time in our Retreat Centre Gardens.
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This is a Lent retreat day in which we’ll reflect on some of the ways in which we can be ‘alive to God’ in our daily lives.
‘Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 6.11)
said St Paul, and again
‘God made you alive together with Christ’ (Colossians 2.13).
Led by Andy Swinford, we’ll use scripture, creation, words and music to explore some refreshing takes on this ‘aliveness’.
There will be time set aside during the day for prayer, contemplation, and wandering in the beautiful grounds of The House of the Open Door.
Join us as we seek the Lord together.
We suggest a donation for the day of £20, including refreshments.
Please bring your own packed lunch.
To book a place, please contact us by phone or email.
Andy lives in Birmingham and is a former teacher of English.
He delivers multimedia presentations and on-line classes about the two friends C S Lewis and Tolkien, and is the author of ‘The Practice of Joy: insights from the stories of C S Lewis’ (Grove Books) and a contributor to ‘The Christian Tradition in English Literature’ (Zondervan).
Since retiring from teaching, enjoying the countryside and beekeeping are among his chief joys. He is a long-standing friend of The House of the Open Door, and has spoken before at our Friday Night Fellowship Meetings.
Andy Swinford
On Friday March 28 2025 our Friday Night Fellowship Meeting speaker will be Maria Heath.
Our fellowship meeting will be in the Tithe Barn at HOD for those who live locally. All welcome. We sometimes post recordings of our Friday night speakers afterwards on our YouTube channel.
See the Calendar of Events for Friday night speakers on other dates.
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Maria works as the Director of Mission Northampton, an evangelisation office in the Diocese of Northampton and is also the former co-ordinator for CHARIS England & Wales.
Maria is married to Alex, they have 5 children aged 6 to 21. In her free time, she enjoys all things Italian with friends and family.
Terl Bryant will lead us in a special Friday night on 4 April 2025.
Terl is a well known Percussionist and Speaker – see terl.uk for his inspiring stories and clips, or his Wikipedia entry for more information on his career as a musician.
Terl’s Voice of Drums project :
Since 1996, I’ve been working with individuals and groups to inspire change through education, rhythm, music and storytelling.
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- STORYTELLING
- PERFORMANCE
- EDUCATION
- WORKSHOPS
VoD initiatives are non-exclusive but have a legacy of work amongst Christian faith communities. Core values include open dialogue, mutual respect and the pursuit of grace.
The evening will be hosted in the Tithe barn at HOD. All welcome.
See the Calendar of Events for Friday night speakers on other dates.
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It has been said “speaking your truth is the most powerful tool you have”.
I left school at 16 to pursue a rock ’n’ roll dream as a drummer. In my early 20’s I had a transforming faith experience and became a follower of Jesus.
Adventures in music brought the privilege of playing with many wonderful and well known artists and on the way stories emerged; stories of faith, hope and a love that is there for all.
I look forward to sharing these with you – Terl Bryant
This is a springtime retreat day set during the season of Easter in which we’ll reflect on themes of resurrection and new life, particularly as we enjoy them in the natural world around us.
For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise.
Led by Andy Swinford, we’ll use scripture, creation, words and music to help us enjoy and celebrate the twin theme of creation and resurrection.
There will be time set aside during the day for prayer, contemplation, and wandering in the beautiful grounds of The House of the Open Door.
Join us as we seek the Lord together.
We suggest a donation for the day of £20, including refreshments.
Please bring your own packed lunch.
To book a place, please contact us by phone or email.
Andy Swinford
Poster: For the Beauty of the Earth
Our guest speaker will be Nev Green, Pastor of the Vale of Evesham Christian Centre.
Our guest speaker will be Fr Bernard Murphy CFR, a member of the Franciscans Friars of the Renewal serving at St. Fidelis Friary, London.
Fr. Bernard Marie Murphy, CFR is the former Community Servant (Superior General) of the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a new Franciscan community established in 1987 in the Bronx, NY under the patronage of the late John Cardinal O’Connor, Catholic Archbishop of New York. Prior to his position of Community Servant, Fr. Bernard served as Vocation Director, Postulant Director, and Novice Master. Initially entering religious life as a brother in another community, Fr. Bernard transferred to the Friars in 1993 and was ordained a priest in 1998. Fr. Bernard presently resides in his community’s London residence, St. Fidelis Friary.
The primary mission of the Franciscans of the Renewal is to serve the materially poor, most especially the destitute and homeless. Fr. Bernard, along with the other friars in Canning Town, serves our less fortunate brothers and sisters at the Friar Benet Kitchen. Fr. Bernard has also been on the Board of Directors for Good Counsel Homes, a “safe haven” for single mothers in a crisis pregnancy situated in New York City, as well as the Saint Benedict Joseph Medical Center in Comayagua, Honduras, a medical outreach facility sponsored by the friars in Central America.
The Franciscans of the Renewal are also involved in evangelistic efforts inspired by the call of our late Holy Father, St. John Paul II, for the New Evangelization. Fr. Bernard has been actively involved in conducting parish missions and youth retreats extensively throughout the U.S., Europe, Africa, and the Far East. He is a regular Retreat Master for priests and communities of Religious Sisters, most particularly Saint Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.
