Is the Buddhist Group of Kendal Open to Beginners and How Can I Get Involved?

Yes. The Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada), often shortened to BGKT, states "All welcome" for both its drop-in and its monthly early evening meetings, and the drop-in session includes meditation and mindfulness. That wording, together with the fact that these are free gatherings supported by voluntary donations, means you can turn up without prior meditation experience or any formal commitment. The main practical conditions are that you check the website or Facebook page beforehand to confirm a meeting is going ahead, and that you can get to the centre of Kendal.

What the group is

BGKT was founded in 1991 and has been meeting for over 30 years. It describes itself as Theravada, the branch of Buddhism based on the Pali canon and common in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and neighbouring countries. In recent years its activities have included lay retreats and lay study meetings, and members also write articles about Buddhism. It has received visits and teachings from Buddhist monks, most often from Ketumati Buddhist Vihara in Manchester.

Ways to get involved

Drop-in meetings

The group holds occasional drop-in sessions in the centre of Kendal. The next one listed is Thursday 15 October 2026, 1.30–3pm, at the Unitarian Chapel, Branthwaite Brow, off Market Place, LA9 4TN. The session includes meditation and mindfulness.

Practical details for that venue:

• The chapel is at the bottom of the Market Place if you are walking from Stricklandgate.
• Entrance is via metal gates.
• The meeting is in the meeting room at the back of the chapel.
• To reach it, go round the chapel and up the disabled access slope to the back door.

These meetings are free, with donations welcome. The group says it hopes to hold further drop-ins, so check the website and Facebook page for confirmation before travelling.

Monthly early evening meetings

BGKT also holds a monthly early evening meeting in the centre of Kendal, except in December. It is free, donations are welcome, and all are welcome. The group asks that you contact it directly for the details, so this is the route to take if you want a regular rather than one-off way to join.

Monks' visits and teachings

The group receives visits and teachings from Buddhist monks, in recent years mostly from Ketumati Buddhist Vihara in Manchester. These are occasional rather than scheduled beginner sessions, so treat them as something to watch for on the website rather than a fixed entry point.

Cumbria Moon Day Meditation

The site also refers to CMDM, Cumbria Moon Day Meditation, described as Cumbrian Theravada Buddhists meditating together. If you want to meditate with others beyond Kendal, this is worth looking into alongside the Kendal meetings.

What to expect as a newcomer

• No experience needed. The drop-in format is a single session with meditation and mindfulness, and the group's "All welcome" applies to it.
• You can simply show up at the listed venue for a drop-in. For the monthly meeting, contact the group first for the details.
• Cost is not a barrier. Both meeting types are free, with donations invited rather than required.
• Confirmation matters. The group explicitly asks people to check its website and Facebook page to confirm meetings are taking place, so do that on the day or shortly before.

Checking before you go

The group's own guidance is to verify meetings on its website and Facebook page. Since drop-ins are described as occasional and the monthly meeting details are given on request, confirmation is the one step that prevents a wasted trip to Kendal. If you are unsure whether a session suits a complete beginner, contacting the group directly is the simplest way to ask.