Community. Exploration. Transformation.
Deepen your faith life, in a year of exploration of spiritual practices, rooted in community.
Designed for 18-35s alongside regular work and study.
What?
The Alban Way is a year long programme of practice based teaching, in community, designed for participants to be equipped and formed as disciples and leaders. In this time of intentional exploration we are seeking to be transformed in our relationships with Jesus, that our faith might grow and flourish.
The Plan
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We’ll kick off with a residential weekend in February. This will be a great opportunity to meet new people, worship God and begin to think about the importance of a healthy spiritual life.
There will be a variety of teaching sessions, worship, discussion groups and space for personal reflection. A key part of the weekend will be developing a rule of life (a tool used to help us cultivate our relationship with Jesus).
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The Alban Way wants to make space for our hearts and minds to be sharpened as we spend time with each other and with God. This growth happens best in community. So for the rest of the year we will meet monthly at someone’s house with a meal together. This will be a great space to build community and reflect on what God is doing in your life. Each month we will continue to develop our rules of life as we explore and experiment with different spiritual practices.
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In the Autumn each group will travel to take part in a pilgrimage. This is a spiritual practice which involves journeying across a long distance - giving space to pray, build community and live in a different rhythm. The 2025 cohorts will either travel for seven days along the Camino de Santiago towards the shrine of St James, or take a four day journey driving to the North of England ending at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. More information on each of the pilgrimages can be found below.
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The year concludes with a commissioning service where we celebrate your achievement of completing the Alban Way, pray for you and send you out into all that God has called you to.
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Additionally, we offer all the participants the opportunity to have coaching sessions and to meet in small groups. Coaching is a space to explore and process everything you are learning about yourself and your relationship with God. We take the approach of ‘coaching through a spiritual lens’. This gives space to process all that you are learning surrounded by prayer and encouragement.
Small groups are designed to sit alongside the monthly gatherings as a space to further build community, journey through this season of life together and to go deeper in your relationship with God.
2025 Key Dates
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11th February, Intro Zoom
14th - 16th February, Residential Weekend
11th May, Leadership Day
26th July, Retreat Day
4th September, Evening Gathering
1st November, Commissioning
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4th March, Evening Gathering
1st April, Evening Gathering
3rd June, Evening Gathering
1st July, Evening Gathering
30th September, Pre-pilgrimage Zoom
3rd - 6th October, UK Pilgrimage
21st October, Evening Gathering
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6th March, Evening Gathering
3rd April, Evening Gathering
5th June, Evening Gathering
3rd July, Evening Gathering
9th September, Pre-pilgrimage Zoom
13th - 20th September, Spanish Pilgrimage
23rd October, Evening Gathering
The Pilgrimage
In 2023 and 2024, The Alban Way Cohorts embarked on transformative pilgrimages along the Camino de Santiago. In 2025 we’re excited to expand our offering with a second pilgrimage option in the UK. Each pilgrimage offers a unique blend of adventure, reflection and shared journey.
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The UK pilgrimage will be a scenic road trip to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, visiting historic sights and allowing participants to reflect and connect over a 4 day weekend.
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During the week long trek in Spain you will walk through the northern Spanish hills with daily ascents and descents of around 300m providing a physical challenge as well as a deep, immersive experience.
The 2024 cohort
Questions
Who is it for?
The Alban way is designed for people between the ages of 18-35.
Where is it based?
Our monthly meetings will be held at various locations across St Albans Diocese
How much does it cost?
The cost for the year will be £200 plus a contribution towards the Camino. We never want finances to be the reason you don't join us. Get in touch with us, we're happy to chat through some options with you.
When does it run?
From February 2025 to November 2025. Have a look at the key dates to have an idea of the time commitment.
Still got questions?
Why Spiritual Formation?
Interested?
Contributors