Restoring the Woven Cord

by Michael Mitton

When they discover Celtic spirituality, many Christians feel that in some sense they have come home. As they begin to explore the people and places significant in the early centuries of Christianity in the British Isles, they find an expression of faith that weaves together strands of being and belonging, worship and witness in a unique and powerful way. Restoring the Woven Cord takes 15 leading figures from that era - ranging from Patrick of Ireland to John of Beverley - and shares something of their stories, showing their burning love for the Bible, their depth of prayer, their radical commitment to the poor and to caring for creation. Reflecting on their lives and works, we can find powerful inspiration for our own walk with God and rich resources for the ministry of the local church. This is a revised edition of a best-selling book first published in 1995. It now includes insights on the continuing popularity and development of Celtic spirituality from Ray Simpson of the Community of Aiden and Hilda, Lindisfarne, Jack Stapleton of the USA branch of the Community, Bishop Eric Pike of South Africa and Liz Hoare, Tutor in Prayer, Mission and Spirituality at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Christian, Christianity, Christian Living, Spirituality

204 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 1995

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to Celtic Christianity. Mitton takes a chapter for each emphasis of Celtic spirituality, showing how these many strands weave together to make a stronger whole. These strands include theologies and practices of community, creation, authenticity, creativity, death, etc. He uses various Celtic saints, giving their background and way of life, to serve as examples in these various areas, allowing you to know both the foundational teachers and the way of life they exemplified for the monastic communities they founded and/or led. You will also be introduced to the various islands and locations where Celtic communities were founded, many of which can still be visited today.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explains the different strands of Celtic Christianity, such as miracles, evangelism, creationcare, hospitality, etc. It makes he case that modern Christianity tends to focus on one strand to the detriment of others, and we should be looking to the Celtic model of weaving them all together. Each chapter takes a strand and uses the example of one or two saints. Columba, Patrick, Aidan and Cuthbert dominate but lots of other voices are heard too.

This makes a good companion to Celtic Lent and Celtic Advent.

[Rachel Worthington · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant read, I could barely put it down in the small window I have for reading these days. Informative, challenging and a very great reminder that before Rome came calling the British had their own ways of being Christian, which we've allowed to fade. For me, not any more!

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book about Celtic Church / Christianity. I wished I had started with it. This is a great introduction to the different strands of Celtic Christianity. These strands each start with an introduction to some of the main Celtic saints. Don’t let that out you off. These men and women were very down to earth and practical people and I feel that I have learned quite from them and wish to know more. Some of the strands include chapters on: Authenticity and holiness (I found this particularly interesting and quite revolutionary), children, community, death and the dead (I found this very enlightening and thought provoking), ministry of women and evangelism, to name a few. I read through this book fairly slowly and want to reread it. There is much to chew on. On a personal level there is something I find very attractive about what I am learning about the early Celtic church. There seems to be a freedom about it. I feel that is it very life affirming. I think there is much that the ‘modern’ church could benefit from rediscovering some of the ancient wisdom and practical living as lived-out from our early Christian brothers and sisters.

[Simon Bardwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives a bit of a helicopter view of the whole of Celtic Christianity. I enjoyed it and it made me feel I would like to know more about some of the Saints he talks about. Probably a 3.5 in my view. Visited Holy Island and did a boat trip round the Farne Islands the same week I was reading. Pleasant therefore to picture some of the locations.

[Laura Prather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye-opening

Fairly new to learning about early Celtic saints and this book easily identifies aspects and expressions of the Christian faith and show us examples of how that was lived out in the daily lives of Celtic Christians- not as separate expressions but as a whole. Intriguing and challenging.

[David De · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een van de beste boeken die ik laatste tijd gelezen heb. Gaf me het gevoel dat ik thuis kwam in een kerk die past bij mij. Alleen geboren in de verkeerde tijd. Mooie oproep om deze celtische spiritualiteit die zo accuraat is voor de tijd waarin we leven te implementeren in de kerk van nu!

[Tristan Sherwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been on my ‘to read’ pile for a few months, and it seemed the right follow on after Bede’s Ecclesiastical History. I wasn’t wrong.

Mitten has written a very accessible and inspiring survey of the passions and patterns of the Celtic tradition. Plenty of food for thought, here.

[Matthew C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mitton does a wonderful job of introducing readers to the "highlight reels" of Celtic Christianity. By the end of the reading experience, one feels drawn to visit the many holy islands and monasteries once haunted by these great saints of old.

[Pat Loughery · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough and broad summary of the Celtic Christian church. This one is unique in that it emphasizes the evangelical and charismatic flavors of this early church.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, even if I did read it rather slowly. It's not a page turner, but good to think about and look at my own ideas of Christianity. I did feel quite an affinity with the celts and got excited about the wild adventuring Goose. Wondered what the book would look like if Mitton had added all the less positive bits about Celtic Christianity too? We all have our faults and obviously it got taken over in the end. However, still inspiring to take a fresh look at my own faith and carry on reading more about our ancient mothers and fathers.