ABOUT US

The London Centre for Spiritual Direction is an independent charity which offers resources, training and support for all those interested and involved in Christian spiritual direction.

As an independent charity, LCSD relies on course fees and donations to fund its work.

If you would like to support us financially, you can donate here. Thank you.

Meet the Team

  • Beki Rogers

    DIRECTOR

    Beki is the Director of the Centre, being responsible for the day to day running and strategic vision. She is a Spiritual Director, who trained on the Encounter Course, as well as being involved in Lay Training and Discipleship with the London Diocese. She is ordained and served her curacy in north Birmingham, she and her family now live in East London, where she and her husband lead one of the Stepney churches.

    Works for LCSD 2.5 days a week.

  • Dr Antonia Lynn

    COMMUNITY WARDEN & DEVELOPMENT

    Antonia’s role is to oversee the ongoing formation, support and membership of spiritual directors affiliated to the Centre, and to assist those looking for a spiritual director. Her work for us is informed by her experience as an Ignatian spiritual director, supervisor and practical theologian. She is Co-Director of the Ignatian Spirituality Course, and teaches Ignatian spirituality and the art of spiritual direction.

    Works for LCSD 1.5 days a week.

  • Maria Manuela Silva

    ENCOUNTER DIRECTOR

    In addition to being the Encounter Director, Maria is a Year 3 Tutor for the Encounter course and co-leads the Centre’s Supervision Skills course.

    Her interest in the Enneagram began about a decade ago and she has delivered workshops in local church settings as well as for the Centre.

    Maria has been involved in church ministry in some of the most economically and ethnically diverse London boroughs. Maria is passionate about human flourishing, spiritual formation, the Portuguese sun and her three grandchildren!

    Works for LCSD 1 day a week.

  • Roanna Quirke

    ADMINISTRATOR & COMMUNICATION

    Roanna is an administrator and oversees communication for LCSD. She is a trained as a spiritual director eight years ago and loves this work. When not working for LCSD she trains people to be spiritual directors and in contemplative spirituality.

    Roanna is known for being ready with a karaoke song, being the first one in the sea and making people welcome around a table.

    Works for LCSD 3 days a week.

  • Chris Blower

    Administrator

    Chris recently joined the LCSD as assistant administrator and brings with her many years of experience, having previously held roles as office manager, human resources officer and other administrative posts.

    Chris enjoys being an active part of her local church, supporting students and young graduates along with her husband. She is also a passionate jigsaw puzzler and regularly walks her gorgeous cocker spaniel, Bramble.

    Works for LCSD 1 day a week.

OUR TRUSTEES

  • Karen Wellman

    CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

    Karen is the vicar of St Mark’s Church Teddington and the Advisor for Spiritual Formation in the Diocese of Kensington. She completed the Encounter Course in 2020. Prior to ordination, she worked in publishing, computers and in local authority social care. She has a long term interest in online mission and has moderated large Christian discussion boards. She is currently working on an exploration of dance and gesture in prayer.

  • Robin Hepburn

    Robin has been involved as a trustee since The Centre was first conceived. He trainied as a Spiritual Director on the Encounter course in 2013 and he is now enjoying this new vocation.

  • Andrew Cornish

    Having retired from City life, Andrew is now the Chair of Trustees for a couple of charities, Trustee of LCSD, Spiritual Director, busy grandfather, walker, church leader and gardener.

  • Catherine Pickford

    Catherine Pickford became the Archdeacon of Northolt in September 2020.

    Previously, she served in the diocese of Newcastle for 20 years, as Team Rector in Newcastle’s multicultural west end, and latterly as priest in charge of a Northumbrian village and Diocesan Clergy Development Officer.

    She was Chair of the House of Clergy and served on General Synod. As a northerner in London, Catherine is particularly interested in the interaction between faith and regional identity.

    Catherine is married to John, a sculptor, and they have 3 school aged children.

  • The Reverend Canon Jack Noble

    The Reverend Canon Jack Noble is the Rector of St Giles’ Cripplegate in the City of London. He is a Trustee of the London Centre for Spiritual Direction and the Two Cities (Diocese of London) Bishop’s Advisor for Prayer and Spiritual Direction.

OUR HISTORY


Accompanied journey: deepening prayer: growing faith

The Centre’s rich history of nurturing spiritual direction began in 1999 when our first Director, Andrew Walker, was invited by the Bishop of London to ‘develop a centre for spirituality’. Its focus was to work collaboratively and ecumenically on promoting spirituality in London and be a resource for people seeking to grow in faith, with a variety of training courses and events. We have been fulfilling that invitation ever since, moving into the church of St Edmund the King in 2003, and refurbishing it so that it was a place of welcome to all those who come in person or use the resources here on our website. For many years we ran a popular bookshop as part of our welcome. Ken Browne served as interim Director from 2011 to 2012 before Mark Godson was appointed as the Centre Director in June 2012. Mark led a faithful team of staff and volunteers whose passion and commitment delivered and surpassed the Bishop’s original invitation until he left in 2015.

Our links with the Diocese of London were further strengthened by the next Director, Neil Evans who combined his Centre role with being Diocesan Director of Ministry. In 2019, Neil was succeeded by our current Director, Beki Rogers, who is also the Principal of the St Edmund’s Christian Studies and Licensed Lay Ministry training courses both of which operate from St Edmund’s.

In 2016, the Centre was renamed as the London Centre for Spiritual Direction as we recognised the focus of our work on encouraging people to discover for themselves the benefits and joys of having a wise ‘accompanier’ on their journey of faith, together with provision of highly-regarded training and supervision for new and established spiritual directors, and our offering of a range of workshops and courses, all underpinned by our Code of Practice and by the London Diocese safeguarding protocols.

In 2020, in response to the pandemic, we moved much of our work online. This involved a great deal of work and support from our team of directors, tutors and administrators, but it also led us to recognise our decision to save resources and to move our office out of St Edmund’s Church and be based remotely for the time being.

We continue to look ahead in faith seeking to fulfil our mission in the best way possible. We hope our story will continue long into the future.