The Community of St Anselm (CoSA), the monastic-inspired community for young Christians, has celebrated its 10th anniversary at Lambeth Palace.
Eighty current and former members from 10 different cohorts gathered in central London for three days of events and worship (18-21 June), focusing on themes of coming home, thanksgiving and journeying, whilst renewing their commitment to reconciliation and service.
During the main celebration service, members were invited to an act of renewal, with their hands and CoSA crosses anointed with oil, using the same blessing given at commitment services over the past decade.
Testimonies were heard throughout the weekend. Current CoSA member Bornface Oduor, who comes from a Pentecostal background, shared that meeting God in silence inspired him and his wife to start a community for young people in Kenya. Sister Gemma Simmonds spoke at the Celebration Dinner about how the founder of her religious community, Mary Ward, was persecuted for being a Catholic in the 1500s, with some of her peers tried near Lambeth Palace. Sister Gemma reflected that 500 years later, CoSA has brought together Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Orthodox and other Christian denominations to live together at Lambeth Palace.
In CoSA tradition, members prayed together, washed up together, prepared meals together, and celebrated together.
A decade of prayer
- The religious community, which invites young people to pray, study and serve for a year at the palace, was founded by former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, as part of his priority of the renewal of prayer.
- The first cohort arrived at Lambeth Palace in September 2015.
- Since then, 175 people have graduated from CoSA, after living, working and worshipping at Lambeth Palace.
- They have represented different Christian denominations and 36 different countries, including the UK, France, Portugal, Germany, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, USA, Pakistan, India, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Argentina and Brazil.
- Members of CoSA took part in rehearsals for King Charles III’s Coronation and later supported the youth event on the day of the Coronation (some receiving the King’s Coronation Medal). They have been a praying presence at General Synod in London each year since 2015, as well as at Primate’s Meetings and the Lambeth Conference in 2022.
- CoSA has two streams – integrated and immersive – allowing people to live and work with the community at Lambeth Palace, or be part of the community alongside their main work.
A day in the life of CoSA
Members have a daily rhythm of prayer and silence whilst living at Lambeth. Young people from different cultures, backgrounds, Christian denominations, and, simply with different personalities, share daily tasks such as cooking, sacristy, and hospitality. There are study sessions with visiting lecturers leading sessions on theology, ethics, leadership, and, in 2024-2025, decision-making. All cohorts have volunteered in the local community, with each year sending members to Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust to support their chaplaincy department.
Looking ahead
The Community completed a discernment process in May 2025. A small community will remain at Lambeth Palace through part of the transition period and then resume as a community of formation in Autumn 2026. The residential location has not yet been finalised. The community will remain dispersed, with meetings held primarily virtually. CoSA will continue as a community of prayer, reconciliation, and learning, drawing on the spirituality of St Benedict, St Francis and St Ignatius, and the figure of St Anselm.
Shannon Preston, Chaplain to CoSA, said: “Drawing on ancient traditions, the combination of prayer, community, silence, study and service with diverse young adults has been truly life-changing for its members. CoSA has been inspired by so many communities and religious Sisters and Brothers around the UK and I hope, has inspired new communities to begin in cathedrals, churches, and homes around the globe. There have been challenges over the ten years, but abidingly and overwhelmingly, CoSA finds and points to hope in Jesus Christ. I look forward to what unfolds next for CoSA.”
The Revd Tosin Oladipo, Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, said: “This year marks a really special anniversary for the Community of St Anselm at Lambeth Palace. For ten years, young Christians have come here, to the middle of this bustling city, to be beacons of Jesus Christ's love. For ten years, they have enriched community life at Lambeth, offering prayer, worship and different perspectives from all around God's rich and vibrant world. We give thanks for them and welcome them back to celebrate this important milestone.”
