BACC_AGM 2026 Area Reports
EAST Reports for BACC AGM 2026
Lincoln are struggling with sickness amongst key members, and have decided not to have a weekend again this year. I intend to ask our Ely Secretariat whether there are any ways that we can consider to help Lincoln. Ely have just had a very successful weekend, having found that the pilgrims had been well prepared by their sponsors. We had team members from Norwich and Leicester. We also had a successful study day, and a Harvest Ultreya which was in person and online. Despite requests, I have had no reports from Ed’s & Ips nor Norwich.
Lesley Bowring
North West Area Rep’s Report May 2026.
Currently Cumbria Cursillo is the only operating community in the North West but communication with Blackburn goes on and is an active concern of Council. Cumbria celebrated a rich two-night Weekend in October at Rydal Hall, our traditional venue.Ten pilgrims were tended by an unusually large residential team of over twenty, including Lizzie Bomber, our contact with Blackburn. God had taken care in advance by guiding so many to volunteer because, the day before we began, our Lay Director Margaret was rushed to intensive care and her husband Graham, one of our SAs, had to be with her. And a third team member had to leave early. By grace two of the team were present primarily as prayer warriors – vital but free to help in other areas – and one was our ex-SD and the other had experience as Head Gofor so could handle various tasks. Since then and into this year we have been organising more frequent, small-scale local ultreyas and inviting friends to join us. These have born fruit in drawing future Cursillistas. Distances in Cumbria are great but we held an ultreya in Sedbergh, in the south which is in range for people in Blackburn. The invitation went out but on the day none of our neighbours was able to attend. Our next Weekend is booked for October 16th to 18th.
Durham/Scotland
David Grieve newly appointed as Area Rep.
SOUTHEAST Area reports
Canterbury Anglican Cursillo: Lin Connor, Lay Director Canterbury Cursillo
Our AGM on 21st February at St Paul’s in Canterbury was a great success. Bishop Rose preached and presided at the AGM Eucharist and as usual was joyful and inspiring. Approximately 75 people attended. Bishop Rose then joined us for lunch and asked lots of questions about Cursillo, she also prayed personally with a couple of people who were undergoing challenging health problems.
My term as Lay Director finishes in February 2027 and we already have a new Lay Director lined up, he is shadowing me this year and I will stay and support him until after our Cursillo Weekend in May as he will also be Lay Rector then. Rev. Simon Tillotson is our Spiritual Director and has been a wonderful support to me and Cursillo. He also steps down in February 2027 and I am pleased to say that we have a volunteer to take over from him, again he is shadowing us for a year until taking up his post.
I have strongly emphasised succession planning for the secretariat but so far, we have no new faces.
Our weekend #65 takes place 7th-10th May at Aylesford Priory and we have 10 pilgrims. The Lay Rector has had some serious health issues and has stepped down and with the secretariat’s permission and as short notice, I have stepped in to become Lay Rector.
We have an Ultreya booked on the 13th June in All Saints Whitstable, and our annual Eucharist picnic on the 22nd August in the Western Crypt, Canterbury Cathedral. Canon Emma Pennington will preach and preside, and we will follow the service with a picnic in the Cathedral precinct and short tours of the Cathedral by those of us who are guides at the Cathedral.
Our last Ultreya of the year is 24th October at St Martin’s Church, Maidstone.
We have promoted the national Ultreya in Chichester at every opportunity and some of us are very keen to attend.
Report for Chichester Cursillo
We have had a busy year so far with planning for the National GB in September. We have made good progress and are now hoping for lots of Cursillistas to come and join in with what will be an enjoyable and joyous occasion. Our Ultreyas and Caminos have been well attended and we are looking forward to our AGM and Ultreya which takes place on the 16th May 2026. We are 2 short on our Secretariat but are hopeful that volunteers will come forward. Our Weekend #36 that was due to take place on the 29th to 31st May has had to be postponed and is now due to take place on the 16th to 18th October 2026. We will hold a Pilgrim’s Progress weekend in it’s place, where all cursillistas will be welcome and we will use the time to prepare for the National GB. We are holding a ‘Day of Deeper Understanding’ on the 11th July in Chichester that is being organised by Maggie Williams.
Irene Adams SE BAC Rep.