The Garden Congregation

“You go into the garden and I will bring a camera…” – and so started a daily ministry spanning 26 months and beyond and reaching millions following the forced closure of all churches to their congregations and then their clergy in England during the Covid pandemic of 2020.

In responding to Dean Robert Willis’ anger and frustration at the enforced closures at a time when people needed their faith leaders more than ever, Fletcher’s intention had been to respond to that need “…and maybe to reach one or two members of our community who may be feeling scared or isolated”. Somehow, with no experience of camera work or editing or online broadcasting, a rather hesitant film was made, edited and uploaded then again the following day and then on the next as they tried to connect from their garden during lockdown – later to be joined by their cats, pigs, chickens… and a camera! Three days after that first somewhat shaky film an email arrived from Australia expressing joy at “tuning in and joining Dean Robert (or DR as he became known) and Fletcher in their garden from across the World”, much to the surprise of the two! They could have no idea that their over 1000 broadcasts would at their peak go on to attract millions from all continents - peoples of all faiths and none. Later it would be the members of this extended online community who would call themselves “The Garden Congregation”, a name which perfectly connected with the spirit and intention of the daily meditations, of their beautiful gardens and of their numerous animals who feature throughout, many becoming well-known and well-loved characters in their own right. Emails and letters started to arrive and then grew to be in considerable numbers and DR and Fletcher would call or write back to as many as they could to try to bring comfort and companionship and often connected folk to one another, forging wonderful friendships across the globe to lessen the fear, to break down the isolation; many of these friendships are still going strong to this day! In so doing the community became one of flesh and blood and not just virtual, something that has always been important to the pair – who, prior to Covid, were well used to receiving up to two million visitors to Canterbury Cathedral each year and tens of thousands to their historic home and gardens. Their much-loved Deanery and the spaces around it, many created by Fletcher during their 21 years as guardians to this precious and unique place, feature throughout the films. These films tell the stories of the long history of the site, the home of the head of the community at the Mother Church of England and the Anglican Communion since its foundation by Augustine in 597. They tell of times still older by far.

Welcome to the home of The Garden Congregation! We hope that you will stay awhile to enjoy the gardens and discussions about art, music, historical dates and to meditate in an online space of peace and tranquillity which allows a break from the pressures and demands of our tortured world, all based around the structure and routine of a simple daily service and discussion about the scriptures. Thank you for joining us.

To access the films, which run in daily sequence from the Deanery from 16th March 2020 till 16th May 2022 and then include films made whilst working overseas since that time as part of Dean Robert’s and Fletcher “Ministry of Encouragement”, navigate the date or the topic / the subject you are looking for in the search bar above. We are so pleased you came to visit!