Thomas Merton – monk and mystic, poet and activist
Merton was a Trappist monk of the mid-twentieth century. Born in France, to a New Zealander father and American mother, he grew up in the United States, France and England. His conversion to Catholicism came via the help of a Hindu monk, and eventually entered the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where he was based for the rest of his life. From a very diverse experience of life before he entered the monastery, he was able to weave a spirituality that connected well with seekers, and he became a prolific spiritual writer. His ability to connect, together with his opposition to the Vietnam war made him something of a counter-cultural guru for many in and after the 1960s. His status was cemented by his dying under mysterious circumstances while visiting a monastic conference in Asia, and he has remained one of the 2oth centuries most influential spiritual writers.
This lunchtime session is being led by the Rev’d Dr Gary Hall. Gary is Superintendent Methodist Minister of the Hidden River Circuit in the West Midlands, and recently taught ethics and contextual ministry at the Queen’s Foundation. He is a former editor of The Merton Journal, an adviser to the International Thomas Merton Society, and on the committee of the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland. In 2025 he received an international award for his contribution to promoting understanding of the life and work of Thomas Merton.