A FEW years ago things in church life were pretty stressful for me, and I thought ‘I need to spend more time in God’s prayer, I need to rest in God’s presence’, so I grabbed some spare wood that had been thrown out by a neighbour and built a prayer shed.

Afterwards, I decided to build a mobile one that I can take with me as and when I move, and I thought ‘I like the idea of these old shepherd huts found in days gone by’. I found myself reflecting on what shepherding means. Jesus was described as The Good Shepherd and ministers are shepherds of a flock, and so the idea to build a shepherd’s hut was born.

Researching how to build my own was an insight into tradition. Apart from the chassis and roof, everything is salvaged material – a valuable lesson in the teaching that God’s love can make the best out of anything or anyone. I have appreciated having so many materials given to me. I feel cocooned in the goodwill, encouragement and support of those who gave me bits and pieces.

Primarily the idea behind it is that of a monastic cell, a place to be alone from the world and cut off from what’s going on around, while at the same time being completely available to God and completely aware that God is available to me. As I’ve been a Christian for longer and longer, prayer times for me are quiet times of contemplation and just resting in God’s presence, so it’s for that purpose. I’ve got in the habit of using a regular daily prayer that a religious community published, so it’s a place to go to, to say my prayers in that formal sense, and do my bible readings, and reflect.

I called the shepherd’s hut ‘Hilda’. St Hilda of Whitby is one of my favourite Christian British Saints from the seventh century. She was born a princess but became a nun, and one of the things she’s famous for is overseeing a council held in Whitby in the year 644 where there was controversy between various leaders in the church. She was a wise woman who provided a space and an opportunity for those leaders to come together, and at that council they thought through the way forward for the church. So it’s a place where I aspire to be a bit like Hilda, I’m a Christian leader, I seek wisdom and I always seek God’s will when it comes to conflict and leading the church Initially the shed was just for me, but I started posting the progress on Facebook. I built it during a three month sabbatical earlier in the year and I was amazed at the interest shown by all sorts of people on Facebook. So people have been coming round and seeing it, and we had an open day for the people at my church and people were very supportive. I’m also open to opening it up for anybody who wants to use it to just sit still, and be quiet and pray – they’re welcome to come and use it!

Rev Rob Hilton, Christchurch, Ilkley

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