A little while ago in my Ponderings I mentioned the former Dean of Johannesburg, Gonville ffrench-Beytagh. When he returned to England after his time of imprisonment for giving Holy Communion to blacks and whites at the same altar, he was taken on a visit to some London churches. One he visited was a modern circular church. Apart from the main space here was no other place to say ones prayers and he asked if he might leave. What was the problem? “There is no corner to weep in” was his reply.

On the face of it that doesn’t seem to be a problem in St. John’s. There are all sorts of odd corners from the Lady Chapel to the back of the church. Yet there isn’t the ‘private’ quiet space where one can sit unobtrusively and be still with God.

Or rather, there wasn’t. Now we have the Transfiguration Chapel, created in a space which was too long a ‘glory hole’ that was more of a dumping ground for all manner of bits and pieces.

It is clear, however, that George Frederick Bodley intended it to be used for some special purpose. Constructed like the Lady Chapel it was intended for a sacred purpose. The new Transfiguration Chapel has given it just that purpose. We use it for Morning Prayer every day and it is a place to reflect quietly after walking the Labyrinth. Our now regular Laying-on-of-Hands with prayer for healing on the 4th Sunday (today) takes place there, as does our Fortnightly late-night Night Hawk Prayer .

It is also available during the day for quiet reflection.

The fitting for the Icon is being made and the final touches of decoration will begin this week. On September 14th during Choral evensong, Archdeacon Peter will dedicate the Chapel which has been made possible through generous donations.

It is already proving its worth and hopefully many will come to value it as a place of tranquillity, an oasis in our personal spiritual journey. In our busy world it is important that we try to create moments of stillness. Jesus in his busy ministry often withdrew to a private place where he could get back in touch with His Father. These ‘Prayer Pauses’ punctuate the Gospel. They remind us that there must be a place for re-creation, for touching base with God. He longs to speak to us and to simply love us but if we are always behaving as if we live in the midst of a whirlwind how shall we hear his still, small voice? Even if we can’t get to the Transfiguration Chapel we need to find the odd moment of stillness in our daily lives which is just for God. In that way we become ‘Transfigured spaces’ and life takes on a whole new meaning. Try it!