October 2025
Perhaps there's no better theme for this month than Quiet Gardens themselves, given that the founder of today's worldwide association of them died just a few weeks ago, on 27 August.
Back in 1992, the Reverend Philip Roderick was an Anglican priest working in the diocese of Oxford. In his varied contacts with people on every social level, he observed that few seemed to have access to places where they could experience the silence and stillness of the natural world - something he viewed as essential to mental and spiritual well being. As he put it,
'We live in a world where we are swamped by methods of communication and yet we find ourselves unable to communicate. Silence is the missing and vital ingredient. Even as little as five minutes can be restorative and healing.'
One day, while enjoying the peace of his own garden, he realised that all that was needed for this simple ministry was a host with a home and a garden. The first Quiet Garden belonged to two of his parishioners, living in Stoke Poges in Buckinghamshire. Since then, more than 250 Quiet Gardens have opened in the UK and internationally, loosely associated under the umbrella of the non-profit Quiet Gardens Trust, Christian in origin but universal in its openness to all faiths and traditions.
Quiet Gardens are private spaces whose owners open them to others for contemplation, prayer and the enjoyment of nature. They can be large or small, set in the countryside or havens of peace in bustling cities. Most belong to individuals, but today they can also be found in the grounds of churches, schools, hospitals, prisons and retreat centres. If those who visit Quiet Gardens benefit from their experience, I can testify that seeing people enjoy 'El Jardin del Laberinto' here in La Laguna is also very satisfying. This was Spain's first Quiet Garden when it opened in 2015, but there are now three, which is encouraging, as are the many queries I receive from visitors for whom the concept is new. For those who wish to know more, there's a lot online about them, and about Philip Roderick, whose simple idea continues to inspire.