WHAT DO WE OFFER?
Residential and non-residential Retreats and Quiet Days.
If you are looking for prayer and contemplation in solitude along with a short, daily conversation with a trained accompanier as the only content (aside from eating and sleeping!) – these are the Individually Guided Retreats, or IGRs for short. They vary from three to eight days duration.
If you are wary of too much silence, or want to practise extending it gradually, look for Creative Quiet Days and Contemplative Activity Retreats.
Because everyone is different, so too are the retreats we organise.
All retreats and quiet days are based around quiet and prayer but some are silent for the majority of your stay, and some not; some have programmed activities and some do not; some are done ‘solo’ and some as a small group.
Overview of retreats in 2026
Fuller details are listed beneath
Quiet Days:
February, Sat 21 Finding God in Threads and Patches
March, Sat 21 Creative Prayer for Beginners
April, Sat 25 Bible Stories Re-Worked
May, Sat 16 Creative Prayer for Beginners
July, Sat 18 Finding God in Threads and Patches
Contemplative Activity Retreats:
April, Thu 2 - Sun 5 Easter Retreat
Individually Guided Retreats:
May, Tue 26 -Sun 31 4-Day IGR
June, Fri 16 - July, Wed 1 4-Day IGR
August, Fri 28 - Mon 31 (Bank Holiday Weekend), 3-Day IGR
Sept, Sun 27 - Oct, Fri 2 4-Day IGR
Saturday 21st February 11.00 am - 4.00 pm
Finding God in Threads and Patches:
In a world that’s increasingly fast paced and digital, what can we learn from slowing right down and working with our hands?
In a world where more and more things are disposable, what can we learn from the old fashioned art of mending? How might God be at work in mending things that are broken?
Come and explore these themes, while learning some simple clothes mending skills, sharing stories and taking time to pray. Led by Claire Cullingworth
£40.00 includes a simple lunch and tea/coffee breaks. 20% discount for those attending two or more quiet days in 2026.
Saturday 21st March, 11.00 am - 4.00 pm
Creative Prayer for Beginners:
Collage, poetry, drawing, fabric and thread: all of these can help us deepen our connection to God and help us to pray. Come and try something new, in a supportive setting. No experience or art skills needed. Led by Claire Cullingworth
£40.00 includes a simple lunch and tea/coffee breaks. 20% discount for those attending two or more quiet days in 2026.
Thursday 2nd - Sunday 5th April
Easter Retreat:
Death, fragility and the hope of New Life explored and expressed through creating a vast cross of flowers as the image accompanying the worship from Maundy Thursday evening to Easter Day. Led by Rev Alison Hobbs
Arrive 4pm on Thursday, Depart after lunch on Sunday.
Full board, residential £400.00 Day attendance price on request
Saturday 25th April, 11.00 am - 4.00 pm
Bible Stories Re-Worked: Sunday School for Grown-ups!
In the morning: a well known Bible story told in a fresh way and chance to reflect on it together. In the afternoon: a range of creative ways to respond to the story. To finish the day: a simple act of worship and the chance to share what we've done. Led by Claire Cullingworth
40.00 includes a simple lunch and tea/coffee breaks. 20% discount for those attending two or more quiet days in 2026.
Saturday 16th May, 11.00 am - 4.00 pm
Creative Prayer for Beginners:
Collage, poetry, drawing, fabric and thread: all of these can help us deepen our connection to God and help us to pray. Come and try something new, in a supportive setting. No experience or art skills needed.
A stand-alone session exploring more ideas (see 21 March). Led by Claire Cullingworth
£40.00 includes a simple lunch and tea/coffee breaks. 20% discount for those attending two or more quiet days in 2026.
Thursday 26th May, 4pm - Sunday 31st May, 10am
Individually Guided Retreat
Four full days that are yours to spend with God as you choose, in a mix of formal and informal prayer. A meeting with your director on each of the four days will help you find your inner compass and ideas for resources, while worship and meals frame the day. Silence is maintained in the retreat areas of the house to aid prayer and contemplation.
Suitable for beginners who want to try silence and for experienced participants.
This silent, guided retreat is led by Alison Moore and Alison Hobbs.
Cost (residential, full board) £350
Friday 26th June, 4pm - Wednesday 1st July, 10am
Individually Guided Retreat
Four full days that are yours to spend with God as you choose, in a mix of formal and informal prayer. A meeting with your director on each of the four days will help you find your inner compass and ideas for resources, while worship and meals frame the day. Silence is maintained in the retreat areas of the house to aid prayer and contemplation.
Suitable for beginners who want to try silence and for experienced participants.
This silent, guided retreat is led by Michael O'Halloran and Alison Hobbs.
Cost (residential, full board) £350
Saturday 11th July 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
Finding God in Threads and Patches:
In a world that’s increasingly fast paced and digital, what can we learn from slowing right down and working with our hands?
In a world where more and more things are disposable, what can we learn from the old fashioned art of mending? How might God be at work in mending things that are broken?
Come and explore these themes, while learning some simple clothes mending skills, sharing stories and taking time to pray. Led by Claire Cullingworth
£40.00 includes a simple lunch and tea/coffee breaks. 20% discount for those attending two or more quiet days in 2026.
Friday 28th August, 4 pm - Monday 31st August, 4 pm
Beginners Individually Guided Retreat
Almost three full days that are yours to spend with God as you choose, in a mix of formal and informal prayer. A meeting with your director on each of the three days will help you find your inner compass and ideas for resources, while worship and meals frame the day. Silence is maintained in the retreat areas of the house to aid prayer and contemplation. Extra help and guidance with exploring silence will be offered on this retreat.
Particularly suitable for beginners who want to try silence in a supported and gentle way; also suitable for those more used to silence.
This silent, guided retreat is led by Michael O'Halloran and Alison Hobbs.
Cost (residential, full board) £300
Sunday 27th September, 4pm - Friday 2nd October, 10am
Individually Guided Retreat
Four full days that are yours to spend with God as you choose, in a mix of formal and informal prayer. A meeting with your director on each of the four days will help you find your inner compass and ideas for resources, while worship and meals frame the day. Silence is maintained in the retreat areas of the house to aid prayer and contemplation.
Suitable for beginners who want to try silence and for experienced participants.
This silent, guided retreat is led by Alison Moore and Alison Hobbs.
Cost (residential, full board) £350
Accommodation
We occupy a part of this vast, fabulous, c.14th building. We aim for a simple lifestyle, in tune with the environment. Much of the building is, therefore, un-heated for most of the year, which works for a lot of people but not everyone.
We have a surprisingly large and beautiful chapel, which is open 24/7 to retreatants. During retreats we hold a daily (Anglican) Eucharist. Throughout the year a midday eucharist is held several times a week, to which all are welcome.
It is a large site with plenty of contrasting areas to sit and walk, pray and talk; to find solitude and privacy. Good, easy walking countryside surrounds us. Pilgrim routes, more challenging walking, and areas of outstanding natural beauty are within reach. Bring outdoor shoes/boots.
Contemplative Activity Retreats use a room equipped for craft and art, and supervised use of equipment in workshops.
All our rooms are large, including most bedrooms so they are furnished as sitting and studying spaces as well as sleeping, and can be individually heated as requested.
Catering
We mostly host fully catered events, doing our own cooking from scratch: homemade soups and home baked breads are a speciality!
Partial self-catering is sometimes an option, and occasionally a requirement. Dietary needs can be accommodated but must be pre-arranged.
Reviews
August & October 2025, 4-day IGRs:
“This was a different 4-day silent retreat from others where I have been given 3-4/day passages of scripture to imagine in prayer for a defined time. I found the freedom this time liberating and refreshing.”
“It felt that I had journeyed both with God and closer to God. Thanks again for such a useful, prayerful and uplifting time - for soul and body!”
“A spacious, restful, thoughtful, experience, in a helpful (& fascinating) environment.”
“It was a space where I felt completely able to be myself and speak unguardedly and also to explore my thoughts, feelings and senses of God”
"An excellent listener, thoughtful prompting helped develop the conversation; made me re-evaluate my own personal needs in terms of where I wished to take my spiritual development."
“The building has a deep sense of calm and quiet. It feels a privilege to use the space and ‘precious things’ are not locked away. A great gift of trust is offered to us.”
“Really nice, well-cooked & presented, wholesome food, no shortage – including treats! Delicious.”
“The welcome was warm, and immediately put me at ease.” "All the people involved in the retreat made me feel safe and welcome."
“For me, the accommodation was fine, but for many en-suite is a pre-requisite these day, so on this basis I may add a caveat. And there are clear accessibility issues for anyone who isn’t good with stairs. Neither of these points affected my retreat experience, but I would have to consider them when recommending to others.”