The Borough Common is a home for richer conversations.
We gather over brunch each month in Camberwell to take on a topic together, with two simple intentions: we want to nurture our spiritual growth and make the world a bit better.
Everyone is welcome.
1130am to 130pm
St Giles Centre, Camberwell SE5 8RB
First Sunday of every month
The need for richer conversations
We live in a changing world that feels increasingly fragmented. As we are facing a whole host of challenges, there is no shortage of opinions. But straightforward answers often feel insufficient.
In that context, The Borough Common has spent the last decade being a place for those who want to gather and explore what it means to live well – those looking for spiritual and emotional growth (in many forms) and to do good in a meaningful way.
We don't pretend to have answers, but we are a home for richer conversations, which to us means:
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We value conversations rooted in reality that orientate us towards the practical
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We value conversations that include the wisdom of spiritual traditions
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We value conversations that point us towards hopeful possibilities – looking for a society that works
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We value conversations that foster ongoing connection – relationships are the root of change
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We value different voices – views can be valued even (especially?) when we disagree
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We value conversations that are alive – good company and stimulating ideas bring energy and life
Topics
For more details stay in touch via our Facebook group
2019
January - Digital Detox
February - Suicide
10th March - Social Processes of Religion
April - Death & Grief
12th May - London Folklore
June - Ageing and Legacy
July - Empathy in the City
August - Touch points with the divine
September - Artificial Intelligence and the Data Revolution
October - TBC
November - TBC
December - TBC
2018
Jan 18 - Into the new year
Feb 18 - Love is all around
March 18 - Social justice & the changing city
April 18 - Food & rituals
May 18 - Peace meal
June 18 - Embodiement & movement
July 18 - Local walk in Camberwell
Aug 18 - Words we like
Sept 18 - 9th Birthday!
Oct 18 - Power & Corruption
Nov 18 - Mind the gap: challenges, questions, unknowns
Dec 18 - Sensuality and aliveness
2017
Mar 17 Building Bridges & Making a Stand
Apr 17 Finding Solid Ground
May 17 Myth & Meaning
June 17 Belonging
July 17 Growth & Change
Sep 17 Words we like
Oct 17 8th Birthday Party
Nov 17 Fireworks! Passions!
Dec 17 - Advent / waiting
What to expect
A simple continental brunch with good people, and a topic to take on together.
A host will frame the conversation to get things going - perhaps sharing a poem, an idea, or a piece of old wisdom.
It's not all talk
We try to do good in meaningful ways
Every six months since 2010 we have hosted a tea party for socially isolated older people in Southwark in partnership with Contact The Elderly.
In the winter for the last four years, we have been taking part in Robes Project – hosting homeless guests on Friday nights in partnership with St George The Martyr in Borough.
To get involved in these things, join the facebook group.
Our story
It started as a church experiment in 2009
The Borough Common was born in 2009 out of Headspace, an experimental open-minded community-run evening service attached to what is now Oasis Church Waterloo. Over the summer of 2009 Headspace was coming to an end and a group of friends hosted community dinners to explore what becoming our own entity might look like. What emerged were the founding principles and structures of Borough Common, along with a group who wanted to give it a go. We would be a group without dogma/creed or hierarchy - but hold the group as 'common property' and a twofold intention (1) to grow together spiritually (with a deliberately vague sense of what that might mean) and (2) to do good in the world.
From 2009-2015 the community met every sunday evening at the Welsh Chapel in Borough. We took it in turns to host services, facilitated by 'open planning' sessions every 6-8 weeks. Every 6 months or so we held a 'deep planning' session to reflect on where we were as a community and what changes might be needed. At Greenbelt in 2013 we gave a talk that gives a bit more texture about the whole process and where we were at that point. You can listen here or look over our old blog.
For 2016 we moved to meeting monthly in the mornings, and moved to St Giles Centre in Camberwell. In 2017 we felt the need for a spring clean and so (after a survey assessing where we were) refreshed the format, switching to these monthly 'richer conversations' over brunch.
The community is maintained by a group of regulars who manage the logistics, finances and hosting. If you come regularly (and want to) you can join the regulars group and access the vast aray of perks and privileges, like whats app messages about what croissants to buy.