Christchurch Hitchin is to start a series of midweek meditation sessions aimed at helping people "calm down and slow down."

The free sessions will run each Tuesday from 1-2pm and are open to people of all beliefs.

Christchurch's Rev Val Reid, who will lead the sessions, says "the last 18 months have been stressful for all of us, and we all benefit from a chance to slow down and relax.

"The aim of these sessions is to help us calm our thoughts, so that we can feel refreshed and with clearer minds."

Each session will see people gather from 1pm with a chance to chat or sit quietly, depending on how each person feels.

The session will start at 115pm with a brief reading before moving into silent meditation for about 25 minutes, and Val promises that it will be finished by 2pm sharp so that people can get back to work or on with their day.

Although they will take place in a church, the sessions will not be explicitly Christian and the readings will come from a range of sources.

Says Val: "All will be welcome at these sessions, whatever they believe. They will be a chance to sit and think quietly – how you approach it and what you think about it up to you."

The sessions will be in a Covid safe setting, and people can attend as many or as few as they like. Christchurch's location on Bedford Road makes it easy for people to pop-in.

Val says: "One of the things I love about Hitchin is how busy the town centre is throughout the week and at all times of year. It's wonderful to live in a place that is so active.

"But amongst all the shopping, working and rushing about, we are offering a chance to be quiet in a constructive, friendly way."

The midweek meditation sessions start at 1pm on Tuesday, September 7 and will run weekly until Christmas. More information can be found here