Draw Near This Lent
By Michael Beasley, Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Church of England’s theme for Lent 2026 is ‘Draw Near: Life-giving habits for Lent’. It’s a very different way of thinking about the season. Often, we identify Lent as a time for prayer and fasting when we ‘give things up’. More recently many have decided to adopt an opposite approach – of ‘taking something up for Lent’. ‘Draw near’ has a much wider remit. Each week, it invites us to explore a different aspect of Christian discipleship – worshipping together, praying, exploring the Bible, sharing communion, offering service and sharing the good news with others.
The ‘Draw Near’ approach fits well with how Lent began. During the Church’s earliest days, those wishing to become Christians were known as ‘catechumens’, people who were learning to live as disciples of Jesus. Preparation was intensive. It took place particularly in the 40 days before new Christians were baptised on the Saturday night before Easter Sunday. Our season of Lent comes from this ancient practice.
When the Church began, it didn’t have the trappings we’re used to seeing around us such as buildings, hymn books, pews, or paid ministers. Church wasn’t an institution. It was known as ‘the Way’. Christians met in each other’s homes and sought to work out how to follow Jesus in their every day lives. This wasn’t so much about head knowledge, believing a particular set of doctrines. It was about the habits and practices that Christians constantly cultivated to help them draw nearer to God who is with us, in us, around us and beside us every moment of every day. ‘Draw Near’comes out of this heritage. It’s an invitation to make Lent a journey that brings us closer to God.
I invite you to make use of ‘Draw Near’this Lent. It includes materials for adults, for families and for children, resources for schools and encouragement for churches. More information can be found at www.cofeio/DrawNear. As we approach Lent, let’s draw near and join each other on the journey to God that is the Way.
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