Brother Roger and Taizé

Taizé in eastern France is a world-famous centre of ecumenical prayer and pilgrimage, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, especially young people.

This booklet explores both the place itself, giving practical advice for people travelling there, and the man behind it, Brother Roger Schutz.

Born and raised in Switzerland where he became the leader of the Swiss Student Christian Movement, Brother Roger arrived in Taizé amidst the Nazi invasion of France in 1940, convinced that his calling was to help the poor. For the next 65 years, up to his tragic death in 2005, he worked to bring all people closer to Christ through prayer and reflection.

That desire is still key to the work of the Taizé Community today.

Fr. Bryan Wells is priest-in-charge of St. James the Great, Petts Wood, in the Archdiocese of Southwark and a former Anglican priest.