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EnglishWhat is the Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) website?
Updated
buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk is the website of the Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada), usually shortened to BGKT — a local Theravada Buddhist group in Kendal, Cumbria, that was founded in 1991 and has been meeting for over 30 years. The site is mainly an information and contact point: it lists the group's drop-in sessions, monthly early evening meetings, monk visits, and other activities, and it points visitors to the group's Facebook page for confirmation that a given meeting is going ahead.
What the group is
The site identifies the group as Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada), founded in 1991, with a stated focus on continuing to meet together regularly. Its activities in recent years have included:
- Lay retreats
- Lay study meetings
- Writing articles about Buddhism
- Drop-in sessions and monthly early evening meetings
- Receiving visits and teachings from Buddhist monks
The group marked its 30th anniversary in 2021, and the site links to an external page about that anniversary.
Meetings and how to attend
The site describes two recurring kinds of gathering, both in the centre of Kendal and both free, with donations welcome.
Drop-in sessions
A drop-in is held in the centre of Kendal, typically in the afternoon. The example given on the site 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, and the group says all are welcome and that it hopes to hold further drop-ins.
Practical access details from the site:
- The Chapel is at the bottom of the Market Place if you are walking from Stricklandgate, with entrance via metal gates.
- The meeting is in the meeting room at the back of the Chapel.
- To reach it, go round the Chapel to the back and up the disabled access slope to the back door.
Monthly early evening meetings
The group also holds a monthly early evening meeting in the centre of Kendal, except in December. All are welcome, free, donations welcome. The site does not publish the venue or time for these — it asks you to contact the group for details.
Checking before you go
For both drop-ins and monthly meetings, the site explicitly asks visitors to check the BGKT website and Facebook page to confirm the meeting is taking place. If you are planning to travel to Kendal for a session, treat that check as a required step rather than an optional one.
Monk visits and teachings
The group receives visits and teachings from Buddhist monks, and in recent years most of these have come from Ketumati Buddhist Vihara (Monastery) in Manchester. The site records specific past visits, including:
- 28 July 2025 — Ven. Mahalova Ariyadhamma Thera, covered in an article titled "From Sri Lankan Forest to Civic Engagement in England" by Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes, published on Buddhistdoor.
- 15 April 2024 — an article on Ketumati Buddhist Vihara celebrating Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Nayaka Thero's appointment as Chief Sangha Nayaka for England, also by Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes on Buddhistdoor.
These entries show the group's wider links: it is connected to a monastic community in Manchester and to writers publishing on Buddhistdoor, rather than operating as an isolated local meetup.
Cumbria Moon Day Meditation
The site also references CMDM — Cumbria Moon Day Meditation, described as "Cumbrian Theravada Buddhists meditating together." This indicates the group's activity extends into a broader Cumbrian Theravada network rather than being confined to Kendal alone.
What the site is useful for
| If you want to… | The site gives you… |
|---|---|
| Attend a local Buddhist meeting in Kendal | Dates, times, venue and access details for drop-ins; contact route for monthly meetings |
| Know whether a meeting is on | A clear instruction to check the website and Facebook page first |
| Find out about monk-led teachings | A record of recent monk visits and links to write-ups |
| Understand the group's tradition | Its identification as Theravada, founded 1991 |
| Read Buddhist articles | References to articles written by group members |
| Connect with wider Cumbrian practice | The Cumbria Moon Day Meditation reference |
Limits to keep in mind
The site is a small group's information page, not a directory or booking service. It does not publish a full calendar, and the monthly meeting's location is only available by contacting the group. The page evidence is dated 19 September 2026, so any date you see should be verified against the current site and Facebook page before you rely on it.