This Lent, churches and individuals across the Diocese of London and beyond gathered for Treasures of Darkness: a five-week journey of theological reflection, prayer, and shared practice. Hosted by our bishops and archdeacons, the offering invited participants to encounter God in places often left unexplored: mystery, struggle, and unknowing.
With over 340 participants, the offering brought together a diverse community – clergy, lay leaders, and church members – many joining as groups gathered within their local churches. While the format was online, the experience was anything but distant.
I have explored other offerings about ‘darkness’, and this was the best. This is because of how the content was scripturally based, curated and designed… This offering was a powerful example of what belonging in the church can be like.
Encountering God in the midst of real life
At the heart of the offering was a willingness to engage honestly with the realities of life – pain, grief, vulnerability, and uncertainty – without rushing to easy answers. Through Scripture, personal testimony, and reflective practices, participants were invited not simply to learn, but to encounter God in the midst of their own stories.
For many, this led to a noticeable shift in how they understand faith and discipleship:
I have started to notice much more in my daily living where I shut God out… I have felt less afraid of others’ pain and my own inability to fix it… more courageous to simply ‘be with’… to see presence rather than solution as the way comfort and love can speak.
Others described a growing trust in God’s presence, even where clarity was absent:
A reminder that with God darkness is not something to be feared.
And a deepening willingness to live with mystery:
The seeds sown will take time to grow… it is OK not to know, and to rest in that space.
The power of sharing the journey
While many joined individually, one of the clearest insights from this year’s offering was the depth of impact when people were able to reflect together in community.
Nearly 50 churches chose to host the Lent offering within their parish communities. In these local contexts, listening groups, meeting in person or online, created space for deeper sharing, with participants describing a significantly richer level of engagement:
It was really beautiful to see people’s stories unfold… it went very deep with people.
The group members felt liberated after disclosing events in their lives that they have never spoken about before.
At St Barnabas Northolt Park, a group of ten participants journeyed through the offering together, marking the end of Lent by celebrating their shared experience and receiving certificates of participation. Reflecting on the offering, they described it as “very empowering”, highlighting the sense of connection not only within their own church, but with the wider diocesan community.
Individual reflections from the group included:
This gave me hope for the year. Worthy time spent with people sharing the same experience with the wider church family.
A very real sense that we were all being companions of compassion and courage as we shared together.
The sessions helped me really get closer to my inner feelings and remember that Jesus is there for me always.
Their reflections point to something essential about discipleship: it is not only personal, but communal. It is formed not just through content, but through relationship, listening, and shared experience.
Looking ahead
Treasures of Darkness has shown the value of creating space for honesty, depth, and encounter with God in the realities of everyday life. It has also highlighted the importance of continuing to root these experiences within local church communities, where shared discipleship can flourish over time.
Resources from the Treasures of Darkness Lent offering remain available for individuals and churches to engage with beyond Lent at lent2026.wayoflife.london.
