The Soulful Magic of
Mark Townsend
Mark Townsend is an ordained Anglican Priest who no longer
works within parochial ministry. He has had much experience of
the Greater Church environment, for his curacy was spent under
Dr. Brian Curnew’s leadership of the Ludlow Team Ministry.
Malvern Priory
What is a Greater
Church?
In the words of the Dean of
Hereford, one of the founding
members of the group, former
Chairman and now President,
they are, first and foremost:
• places of prayer and pilgrimage;
• theatres of grand worship and
quiet meditation;
• concert halls and places of
However, Mark is also someone entertaining everyone from Maasai
commercial activity;
who describes himself as having a Warriors to Catholic nuns! • venues for exhibitions;
‘love-hate’ relationship to the world
Mark is also the author of four books which
• centres of hospitality;
of organized Christianity, not least
because he senses a growing trend of
all manage to combine the two worlds of
• and for holiday makers, often the
magic and religion. He leads retreats and
largest umbrella in town!
literalism and even sectarianism within
parts of the Church. He feels this trend
also offers special sacred ceremonies and
rites of passage to those who find
The Greater Churches are places
is robbing folk of the deep mystery and
where the Good News of Jesus
the real inclusivity that Anglicanism
themselves squeezed out of the formal
Christ is proclaimed in an open and
has always stood for. Unless we do
religious world yet still deeply spiritual.
accessible way to all who come within
something to re-evoke the wonder,
Mark’s deepest passion is thus to use both their walls, where the worship of
Mark feels we are in danger of being
magic and writing to help re-awaken Almighty God is offered on a daily
left with a largely de-mystified and
people’s self-belief and even re-connect basis and is of a high standard, and
dis-enchanted spirituality.
them to their own often long forgotten where a warm welcome is on hand for
sense of child-like wonder and awe. all who visit them. First impressions are
This is why he delights in sharing his gifts
always important and play such a vital
as a magician. Far from being opposing
He is immensely excited about his
part in the spread of the Gospel.
forces, Mark sees stage magic and religion
forthcoming visit to perform at the Greater
To have an open door with a
as both coming from the same deep
Churches Convention, not least because
welcoming face inside is part of the
human quest for meaning. While religion
the beautiful, huge churches and
role they play in the ministry of
may be a human attempt to connect with
cathedrals of this land are still such rich
Christian hospitality, whether it is
the ultimate mystery, magic (properly
and powerful reminders of the divine
simply for a visit to an ancient building
performed) can stimulate the imagination
mystery itself. As Mark says, ‘These ancient
to marvel at its architecture, to say a
and beautifully symbolize the same reality.
monuments to deity are gifts of
prayer, to join in the regular worship of
Mark thus uses his magic to re-ignite the unfathomable beauty and richness, and we
the local Christian community, to
often long lost sense of wonder and are privileged to have them in our
attend a concert, or for a cup of tea
enchantment that can be but a distant possession. So let’s celebrate them and
and something to eat in the refectory.
memory for many adults. He has taken his use them to rekindle the inner magic –
‘soulful magic’ all over the world, the universal spark of God - in all.’
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