BA (Hons) P.G.C.E PGCert
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loam
(noun)
A rich, fertile soil
composed of a harmonious balance of sand, silt, and clay.
Cherished for its capacity to hold, nourish, and sustain life.
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A Contemplative Gathering for Soulful Living
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Nourishing.Life-giving.Enriching
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​​​Loam is a contemplative gathering seeking to cultivate good soil for soulful living
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Rooted in Christ, we believe people thrive as they lean into a life deeply loved by God:
authentically, joyfully, faithfully, and sustainably
To this end, we offer a hospitable space for adults to experience soul-nourishing practices and meaningful conversations that deepen life with God.
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Here, you are invited to discover the joys of the contemplative path
and find companions for the way
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Our Way
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​​Our way is simple:
We choose the slow, grace-filled formation of the soul—through presence, practice, and community—for the sake of God, our own becoming, and the good of others.
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As such, our intention is threefold: to offer a nurturing space to tend the inner life, to reflect on the outward journey as a loving response, and to enjoy companionship along the way.
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We do not exist as a "church"; some of us already belong to faith communities we call "home".
Rather, we gather as a people drawn to contemplative ways, trusting that through these ways,
God breathes: nourishing our souls and inspiring purposeful, loving action in the world.​​​​​​​​​
Our Offering
A space and place to nurture, notice and enjoy:
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The Inner Life
Cultivating The Heart
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We desire to listen for the good way that leads to life and rest, and so we walk attentively, with open hands and hopeful hearts.​
Following ancient paths and drawing from deep wells of wisdom, we tend to the inner life—trusting, in doing so, we will encounter a freer, fuller and more authentic way of being.
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Through prayerful practices and the invitation to slow down, we seek to become attuned to what stirs within—listening for the quiet leading of the Holy Spirit, who invites us with grace into loving communion with the Trinity.
This is a journey of receiving love and learning to love, of letting go and taking hold, of knowing and unknowing. Here, we hope to discover a deeper peace and growing awareness of the many ways God is present in the ordinary and everyday rhythms of our lives.
The Outward Journey
A Loving Response​​​
​​​'We are cradled close in your hands—and lavishly flung forth' R.M.Rilke.
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In light of God’s love, our heart is to respond in kind—to lovingly co-labour with authenticity where invitation and need meet. Inspired, we long to discover what it means to live life as a loving response—listening for the invitations that draw us toward the world around us, not out of obligation or fear, but from generosity and a trust in the Spirit who sends us.
Whatever our choosing, our desire is to live with integrity—allowing our actions to flow from the deepest sense of who we are. As the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote, “What I do is me: for that I came.” Though “duty” may have served us along the way, we are learning to discern that our love in action flows from our deepest God-given desires, believing this way of being will carry us further.
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Companions
Savouring Togetherness​​​​​​​
​Loam is a space for being-with.
Just as we are — in silence and speech, in stillness and stride, in fun and laughter, in sorrow and song.
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Through the shifting seasons — the uncertain and the clear, the weary and the wonder-filled — we journey as co-learners, not experts.
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Committed to attentive listening, compassionate presence, and honest reflection, we seek to nurture what is good, gently weaving a shared sacredness into our lives.
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Christ is our centre. Jesus is our Way, our Truth, and our Life — the Son who reveals the Father’s heart and draws us into life in the Spirit. We don’t come with all the answers, but we hold to a living faith. Like Peter, like the thief, we may not always understand, but we choose to stay — in the hope that our staying is worship enough.
Our Soil
Just as healthy soil is important for growth, so is the way we sojourn (rest) and journey together.
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Our soil is shaped by:
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Welcome
Hospitality
Attentive Listening
Compassionate Presence
Openness, Curiosity and Discovery
Gentleness and Humility
Patience with Process
Mutuality and Shared Learning
Reverence for Mystery
A Hope in the Loving and Attentive Nature of God​​​​​​​​​
We don’t come with all the answers, but we hold to a living faith.
Like Peter, like the thief, we may not always understand, but we choose to stay — in the hope that our staying is worship enough.
A Gathered Space
A need for inns on roads, islands in seas,
Halts for discoveries to be shared,
Maps checked, notes compared;
A need, at times, of each for each
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Not Love Perhaps - A S J Tessimond
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Loam gatherings take place each month and offer a gentle welcome to those seeking to slow down and explore the contemplative path.
Our time together is shaped by the sharing of a simple meal, guided prayer, quiet reflection, and a short interactive teaching rooted in the contemplative tradition. Whether you are new to these practices or have been walking this path for some time, there is room for you here.
These gatherings offer a spacious place to bring your story—your weariness and your wonder, your questions and your joy, your longing to rest and grow.
You are invited to come just as you are — to sit with others, to listen, to breathe, to simply be…and to journey the way together.
Dates, Times, Venue & Cost for 2025-26 TBC
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If you are interested, please connect with us for further information
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Lord my God, when your love spilled over into creation You thought of me.
I am from love, of love, for love.
Let my heart, O God, always recognise, cherish, and enjoy your goodness in all of creation.
Direct all that is in me toward your praise.
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Teach me reverence for every person, all things.
Energise me in your service.
Lord God
May nothing ever distract me from your love…
neither health nor sickness, wealth nor poverty, honour nor dishonour, long life or short life.
May I never seek to choose to be other than you intend or wish
Amen
Bergan & Schwan 1985
Facilitators & Friends
Sam Whiley
Drawn to beauty, connection, and the quiet wisdom of the contemplative path, Sam brings a deep attentiveness to her work with others. A natural extrovert who has come to treasure stillness and silence, she finds joy in good conversation, shared meals, creative expression, and the simple pleasures of life with friends and family. A lover of the arts, Sam is nourished by painting and creativity and finds great meaning in listening to people’s stories and holding space for what is unfolding in them.
Sam brings over three decades of experience in spiritual care, creative facilitation, and leadership. She holds a BA (Hons) in Education, Theology and Religious Studies, alongside a Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Ministry. Her formation as a spiritual director has been shaped by a two-year Certificate in Spiritual Direction, certification in Ignatian Spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises, and a Diploma in Art Therapy. She is also a trained educator, debriefer and certified Mental Health First Aider (MHFA), with ongoing development in trauma awareness, somatic practices, spiritual abuse, and cultivating healthy leadership cultures.
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For 20 years, Sam co-led a vibrant church, helping to nurture a creative and welcoming community. In 2021, sensing the invitation to a new season, she helped oversee a thoughtful and healthy leadership transition—an experience that deepened her heart for those navigating change and uncertainty.
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Today, Sam serves as a spiritual director and facilitator, accompanying leaders, therapists, and creatives around the world. She offers one-to-one direction, reflective group spaces, and retreats, with a particular focus on the contemplative path and spiritual formation. She is affiliated with the London Centre for Spiritual Direction and Sustainable Faith and works in alignment with their professional code of praxis.
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At the heart of her work is the desire to create grounded, spacious environments—places where others can come as they are, slow down, rest, and rediscover God’s gentle presence in the midst of ordinary life.
Jason Whiley
Jason is known for his kindness, sense of humour, and deep love for spending time with his family. He finds joy and restoration in nature and is often found walking, immersed in the beauty of the natural world. A musician at heart, he relaxes by playing the guitar. Jason also enjoys the practice of Systema, a form of movement and self-defence. Appreciative of a good film or two, he values the simple, soulful pleasures of everyday life.
Jason holds a joint honours degree in Psychology and Theology, along with a Postgraduate Certificate in Occupational Psychology. A qualified teacher with over 15 years of experience in teaching social sciences and humanities, he has played a significant role in pastoral leadership, as well as developing and leading departments within educational settings.
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For two decades, Jason planted and co-led a church, nurturing a vibrant, community-focused congregation known especially for its work with the wider community, facilitating several impactful projects. In 2022, he felt the invitation to a new season and oversaw a smooth and thoughtful leadership transition, ensuring the church’s continued health and direction.
Drawn to contemplative practice, Jason trained as a spiritual director and debriefer. He accompanies Christian men in leadership, both in the UK and internationally. Through one-to-one spiritual direction, the Ignatian Exercises, retreats, and mentoring, his work centres on spiritual formation and healthy leadership. A passionate advocate for the outdoors and embodied soul care, Jason creates space for deep reflection and spiritual growth.
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What’s the difference between Loam and "church"?Loam is a monthly gathering seeking to cultivate good soil for soulful living. Rooted in Christ, we offer a hospitable space shaped by presence and practice. We gather around simple rhythms: shared meals, guided prayer, quiet reflection, meaningful conversation, and interactive teachings drawn from the Christian contemplative tradition. Our desire is to create a welcoming and nurturing space for adults—to tend the inner life, to consider the outward journey as a loving response, and to enjoy companionship along the way. Loam is not a "church", but an invitation into a rhythm of rest, reflection, and belonging—much like a retreat. We do not offer weekly services, sermons, or sacraments like marriage or baptism (though we may occasionally offer communion). There is no formal pastoral care beyond the natural support of friendship, and no organisation or institution to join. Participation is open, informal, and rooted in what feels honest and nourishing. Many who walk with us simply long for a place to be.
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What kind of commitment is involved?There’s no formal membership at Loam, but there is a shared ethos— a way of being, sojourning, and traveling together that cultivates soil rich enough to nurture and hold space for all. Whether you come once or return often, you are invited to journey with us in a spirit of reverence, hospitality, and thoughtful participation—contributing to the shared life of Loam in ways that are faithful to its guiding principles and intentions: Welcome: To receive each person with warmth and generosity—just as Christ welcomes us. Hospitality: Offering ourselves—our time, presence, and attention—as a gift to God, to ourselves, and to one another. Attentive Listening: Being fully present to what is spoken and unspoken, holding space without rushing to fix, explain, or change. Compassionate Presence: Showing up with kindness and care, honouring both joy and sorrow in each other’s journey. Openness, Curiosity, and Discovery: Approaching God, self, and others with wonder—making room for questions, doubts, fresh insight, growth, and surprise. Gentleness and Humility: Choosing kindness, receptivity, and curiosity—holding both our certainties and uncertainties with openness, grace, and care. Patience with Process: Trusting that transformation is a gift and a grace that takes time—a slow unfolding rather than something to be hurried or forced. Mutuality and Shared Learning: Believing we each have something to offer—and something to receive—as we walk this path together. Reverence for Mystery: Embracing the unnameable, the sacred unknown, and the presence of God that is transcendent and mystery Hope in the Loving and Attentive Nature of God: Resting in the deep belief that God is near, tender, and ever-inviting us into love. A Trusting Stance: Following St Ignatius’s invitation, that we allow the "Creator to deal directly with the created" —trusting that God is guiding and leading each of us in our unique path.
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Who facilitates Loam and what is their role?Loam's founders and current facilitators are Sam and Jason Whiley. At Loam, facilitators serve gently and collaboratively—they are guides, not experts; hosts, not authorities. Their role is to help hold space, offer gentle structure, and nurture the contemplative rhythms that shape our gatherings. They: Prepare and hold the space with care and prayerful attention Welcome participants and help create an atmosphere of hospitality and openness Offer gentle guidance through shared practices—such as silence, prayer, reflection, and dialogue Support group process, ensuring everyone feels safe and seen, without pressure to speak or share Encourage shared wisdom—trusting that the Spirit moves through the whole group, not just one voice Model a posture of humility, presence, and curiosity, rather than performance or certainty Facilitators rotate or share responsibility. Their role, while delivering key reflections, is more about holding space for encounter—with God, self, and others—in a way that is slow, spacious, and sacred.
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Is there a cost?Yes, there is a minimal set contribution to help cover shared expenses such as food, venue hire, and materials. This cost is communicated clearly in advance and helps sustain the life of Loam. We understand that circumstances vary, so if cost is a barrier, please let us know. Costs for 2025-2026 will be available October 2025