Soulspace  - beginnings, philosophy and future

Soulspace emerged when, having come across Jonny Baker’s blog, one of our group had managed to visit ‘Grace’ in Ealing and returned inspired.  It began as an experiment with Sunday evening services, during an interregnum at Holy Trinity Church, Matlock Bath, where some of us were worshipping. 

Our primary aim was to made space available to all, for reflection, prayer and above all meeting with God. 

Soulspace provided time for personal reflection, prayer and response in a way that is sometimes difficult within the more wordy collective worship of other church services.  It consisted of a number of ‘prayer stations’ and always incorporated a rolling powerpoint with reflective words and images and a range of stimuli, with things to do, read, taste, make…

We lit candles for the areas of the world that needed our prayers

Soulspace was built on the belief that God is involved with and reaching out to all sorts of people who don’t come to church and that many people are on a journey towards him, whose language and theology might not quite match those within the church. Hospitality and inclusivity were a vital part of what was offered and we were delighted that numbers of people came regularly who didn’t attend any other church at any other time.

Themes have been:

Between a rock and a hard place;  Hide and Seek;  Who do you think you are?  I’ve started so I’ll finish;  Breathe; Rhythms and tides… and many more.

Words that hurt

So what’s with the past tense?

Just recently, founder members of the Soulspace team have moved away from Holy Trinity Church, to devote more time to ThirdSpace.  This has meant that, for now, the future of Soulspace is a little unclear.  To those who are missing it, we offer our real apologies.  We hope we might be able to resurrect a similar event before too long. 

So….if you can forgive the pun….watch this space..