DEGIBNA PRAYER CHAPEL
Degibna Prayer Chapel and Prayer Garden
Spring Newsletter 2026
“All things are possible for one who believes”
Mark 10:27
Dear Friends,
I am writing this early in Lent with Easter some weeks away. Nevertheless Spring is definitely on the way – the snowdrops have been showing well for some weeks in the Prayer Garden! We look forward to seeing many of you at one or more of our planned events in the coming months (please see Events Page).
Currently we have 81 Friends but there is always room for more, so if you know anyone who would like to support Degibna Prayer Chapel and the Prayer Garden, do encourage them.
Easter Reflection
The Dream of the Rood is an Old English poem by an unknown author. In a vision, the Cross of Christ appears to the poet and speaks of its role in Christ’s crucifixion. It remembers when it was a tree, hewn down and then set up on a hillside until it saw ‘mankind’s brave King’ coming to be crucified upon it.
I was reminded of this poem and the voice of the tree when the famous landmark sycamore at Hadrian’s Wall was cruelly felled in 2023. The two culprits were imprisoned last year. I wondered what the sycamore says to us now, in this time of environmental challenge, for new shoots have appeared at its stump and its many saplings have been planted and given to people and places, ready to grow again, as trees of hope. At Easter I will reflect on the tree as The Cross, the person of Jesus it bore on its beams and the two culprits also crucified. I will reflect on the legend that fragments of the Cross were scattered across the world and give thanks for the possibilities of new life and signs of hope among us. Rev Amanda
Easter Walk of Witness
Local Friends are encouraged to pray for and attend, if possible, the annual Easter Praise/Walk of Witness event in Coronation Park, organised by Churches Together. This year it is at 11am on Saturday 4th April. We hope to see many of you there!
Praying & Feasting
There are 2 new events during May on our Events Sheet which we hope will be of interest.
1) ‘Praying the Gospels Creatively’, led by Rev Amanda, will explore the use of imagination in prayer. Our prayer life can easily become routine. As a Prayer Chapel we want to encourage people to discover and experience for themselves the amazing variety of prayer. Here is one such opportunity!
2) ‘FEAST – Friends Exploring and Sharing Together’ – is an informal time for questions and discussion about our Degibna Prayer Chapel vision. All this while we share in Afternoon Tea (including cake!).
These may be one-off events or, if there is interest, something we repeat occasionally or regularly.
Events & Bookings
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Another successful (very) Muddy Church event was held on Ash Wednesday during half-term break. 24 children + accompanying adults took part in a ramble, an animal hunt in the Garden, and various crafts in the Chapel. Some avoided puddles, others not!
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Our Social on March 7th unfortunately clashed with several other local events. Nevertheless 20 people attended and £101.20 was raised for the Bible Society. See photo above.
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In April Degibna has been booked by the WI for a trial ‘Chair Pilates’ session. If there is enough interest this may become a regular booking.
Degibna News
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Our annual Churches Together Prayer & Soup Lunch on January 24th was cancelled due to a power-cut following one of the many winter storms. Thanks to National Grid who fixed the problem within 24 hours, so subsequent bookings were not affected.
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That same weekend we again took part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. In one hour on a (rare) sunny afternoon 12 species were seen: Blue Tits and Great Tits in abundance, but also 2 wintering Chiffchaffs, a Pied Woodpecker and, best of all, a Firecrest.
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Franklyn Moyle has now stepped down from the Vision & Management Team. We give thanks for his many years of service and his wonderful knowledge of all things Degibna! Though he is irreplaceable, we shall be seeking an additional Team member so please pray for the right person to be found.
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‘Explore Prayer Cards’ are a new addition to our prayer resources: 12 attractive A7 cards with different themes (Feeling Alone, Being Thankful, Finding Peace etc.) each with a bible verse and short prayer. These are free for any of our friends & visitors to take for themselves or for someone they know. Please take a look when next at Degibna.
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In May we shall again be taking part in ‘No Mow May’ and encourage all our Friends who have a lawn to consider joining in. You can just leave a section of lawn or the whole lawn unmowed for a month. Biodiversity will thrive!
Some Prayer Points
As we move through Spring to Summer let us pray:
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with gratitude for the hope we are offered in the Easter Message
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with thanksgiving for the beauty of the natural world
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for God’s Peace and Justice in our troubled world
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for those struggling financially and for charities like CAP – Christians Against Poverty
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for God’s blessing upon all who attend our Events & Bookings or visit the Prayer Garden
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for one another as Friends of Degibna Prayer Chapel
Every blessing, as we continue to support one another in prayer.
Rev Andrew Hill (01326 569803) & Rev Amanda Stevens (01326 561792)
