The Thomas Merton Society
of Great Britain & Ireland
Since 1993, The Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain & Ireland has been at the forefront of exploring the life & writings of Merton and his impact on the contemporary world, with conferences, retreats and the publication of the Merton Journal.
Oakham Conference 2018
Our 2018 Residential Conference, fifty years after Merton's death in December, 1968,
was held at Oakham School at the start of April. The theme of the conference was:
Facing the Life-and-Death Issues
The keynote speakers were Pat Gaffney & Gordon Oyer
There were further 10 presenters of papers. The conference artist was Ric Stott
2018 Conference Programme
The Merton Collection
Over the years the Society has built up a comprehensive collection of books, journals and volumes of letters by Merton along with a wide range of critical commentaries on Merton's work as well as recordings of talks and conferences given by Merton. The collection is now housed at St Michael's Priory, Willen outside Milton Keynes, where it may be freely consulted by all.
St Michael's Priory website Details about the Collection Link to the Merton Collection
Dates for your diary
Alive to the Splendour:
A Weekend with Thomas Merton
Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th June 2018
Led by Stephen Dunhill, Canon John McLuckie & Canon Anne Tomlinson
It will be held at The Cathedral of the Isles on The Isle of Cumbrae in the Forth of Clyde,
a 10 minute ferry ride from Largs, 35 miles west of Glasgow.
Thomas Merton: Prophecy and Renewal
Tuesday 12th - Friday 15th June 2018
A Residential Symposium held at Sant'Anselmo, Rome
Keynote Speakers: Dr Paul M. Pearson & Michael Casey OCSO
By the time of his death in 1968, Thomas Merton’s writings had amply illustrated his expansive interests, experience and faith. As a practicing monk, he also had taken part in the social movements of the time by writing books on the monastic experience and its relationship to peace, nonviolence, racial inclusiveness and world justice. Pope Francis recently named him one of four great Americans. Fifty years after his death, we may well ask: How does Merton’s legacy remain relevant today?
Merton & Barth – A Shared Legacy
Saturday 24 November 2018
A study day held at St Michael’s Priory, Milton Keynes
The Catholic monk and writer Thomas Merton and the Protestant theologian Karl Barth both died
on December 10th, 1968. From their differing backgrounds both have since emerged as extremely
influential figures, shaping both twentieth-century Christian thought and yet remaining
increasingly relevant to our present times.
with Gary Hall & Ashley Cocksworth
This event is in an advanced stage of planning. Full details will be included in due course.
The Spiritual Roots of Protest & Merton's Enduring Legacy
Saturday 8 December 2018
A study day held at The Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
led by Jim Forest
Jim Forest has been a tireless worker for peace since the early 1960s. He was a co-founder of the
Catholic Peace Fellowship in the 1960s while serving alongside Dorothy Day as managing editor of
The Catholic Worker. He is one of the few people still living who knew Merton as a friend and co-worker.
with James Cronin, Hugh Foy, Leah Robinson & Jeffrey Smith
This events is in an advanced stage of planning. Full details will be included in due course.
Selected Recent Publications
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Thomas Merton Meets the Unspeakable: by Jerome Donovan - pub. 1 May 2018 |
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What I Am Living For: Lessons for life by Jon M. Seeney - pub. 30 April 2018 |
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The Monk's Record Player: Thomas Merton, Bob Dylan by Robert Hudson - pub. 30 April 2018 |
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Merton's Palace of Nowhere: 40th Anniversary Edition by James Finley - 30 March 2018 |
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The Martyrdom of Thomas Merton: by Hugh Turley & David Martin - pub. 7 March 2018 |
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The Art of Thomas Merton: by John Moses - pub. 13 February 2018 |
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At Play in the Lion's Den: by Jim Forest - pub. 30 December 2017 |
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The Spirit of Simplicity by Jean-Baptiste Chautard pub. 10 November 2017 |
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From the Monastery to the World: ed Jessie Sandoval - pub. 26 September 2017 |
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The Pocket Thomas Merton ed Robert Inchausti - pub. 20 August 2017 |
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A Course in Christian Mysticism: by Thomas Merton - pub. 15 August 2017 |
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Merton and the Protestant Tradition by William O Pausel - pub. 1 July 2017 |
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The ABCs of Thomas Merton: by Gregory & Eliabeth Ryan - pub. 10 June 2017 |
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Pure Act: The Uncommon Life of Robert Lax by Michael N. McGregor - pub. 1 May 2017 |
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Natural Spirituality, Thomas Merton and Christian Renewal by Kenneth Bragan - pub. 12 April 2017 |
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The Way of the Hermit by Mario I Aguilar - pub. 21 March 2017 |
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The Only Mind Worth Having: by Fiona Gardner - pbk. pub. 29 Nov 2016 |
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Our Centenary Edition of The Merton Journal, Universal Vision, is an enlarged volume of 200 pages with contributors from across Europe. It explores Merton's profound legacy in a unique collection of essays and meditations; and it also includes some of Merton's own newly-discovered student articles from his time at Cambridge University in 1933-34. All members receive copies of the Journal. Further copies are available for £8.99 +P&P. Contact centenary.edition@thomasmertonsociety.org.uk for further details. |
Further recent publications can be found under the 'Publications' tab
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Returning to Reality by Phillip M. Thompson Thomas Merton's Wisdom for a Technological Age Publisher's Details nn |