My Journey to Iconography

This began after I entered the Vita et Pax (Life and Peace) Benedictine monastery of sisters in Cockfosters, north London many years ago!

The Foundation belonged to the Olivetan Benedictine Order to which our own founder, Abbot Constantine Boschaerts had joined way back in the early 20th century. His vision to work for Christian Unity was at the centre of his Benedictine calling and so chose the then Latin "Vita et Pax" (from St. Paul's letter Romans 8: 6 "the Spirit gives life and peace"), as the "motto" and title of his Foundation. He was given land by the Belgium authorities on which to build his monastery. As he envisioned working towards Christian Unity primarily between Churches of the East with Churches of the West, a chapel for the Eastern rites was established as well as one for the Western (then Latin rite). Because he was a Vatican three man in his vision (let alone a Vatican two visionary), the Church then was not ready for the full ecumenical movement and he was eventually told by the Church authorities to close the monastery of monks, but since the sisters were already established from an Olivetan Monastery in England, he could not close them.

After I entered the monastery of sisters in Cockfosters I was sent to see this foundation in Belgium and my Prioress had then asked the Prioress in Belgium if I could see the Byzantine Chapel. It was here that I attended the Eastern rite and also on seeing the icons in the chapel felt a very strong desire/calling to paint icons, and years later went to study for a short while with the sister who was undertaking this work full time. Also having entered the monastery at a youngish age, and the need to have another teacher in our primary school I was sent to undertake Teachers Training at a then Teachers Training College which was not far from where we were established. The focus of this particular college was primarily on art, drama and music and because of the high standard required from the students in these subjects a number of students, who though having to train as teachers, valued the high standard expected in these subjects. My own art tutor was keen for this students to have some kind of philosophical approach in their work and once asked me if I had ever thought of painting icons! However, I had to wait fifteen years before this was possible in order to go back to Belgium to study for a few weeks under Sister Elizabeth, after which I undertook some further short courses in U.K. …

To jump some years ahead I felt the need to establish some contact between those painting icons and those wanting to learn so came into being our British Association of Iconographers.

I am still learning via the icon commissions and am glad that it is possible to run Courses in this prayerful art form. I am discovering it is a joy to see those who, after having done an icon course go on to undertake others. We now have a small icon Support Group at Turvey Abbey so we can come together one day a week in a "drop in centre" and paint in a quiet atmosphere and encourage one another, especially since undertaking this prayerful art form one never ceases from learning.

Contact: icons@turveyabbey.org.uk
Turvey Abbey: https://www.turveyabbey.org.uk/
British Association of Iconographers: https://www.bai.org.uk