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.

2025

October

4-Day, Individually Guided Retreat

Wednesday 1 October, 5:00pm - Monday 6 October, 10:00 am

This silent, guided retreat is led by Alison Hobbs and Michael O'Halloran.

The day is yours to spend with God as you choose. A short, daily meeting with your director will help you find your inner compass, while worship and meals frame the day.

Suitable for beginners who want to try silence and experienced participants.

Cost (fully catered) £430 - 50% discount offers on this retreat.

Book using an email

Book using downloadable form

2026

February

Sat 21 Finding God in Threads and Patches:

What damages us and our communities? What helps us to mend? Where is God in all of this? Come and explore these themes, while learning some simple clothes mending skills, sharing stories and taking time to pray. Claire Cullingworth

March

Sat 21 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. Claire Cullingworth

April

Thu 2 - Sun 5 Easter Retreat (A Contemplative Activity 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. Alison Hobbs

Sat 25 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. Claire Cullingworth

May

Sat 16 Creative Prayer for Beginners:

A stand-alone session exploring more ideas (see 21 March). Claire Cullingworth

Tue 26 -Sun 31 a 4-Day, Individually Guided Retreat. Alison Moore & Alison Hobbs

June - July

Fri 16 - Wed 1 a 4-Day, Individually Guided Retreat. Michael O’Halloran & Alison Hobbs

July

Sat 18* Finding God in Threads and Patches:

Come for the first time or to extend what you discovered in February (see 21 Feb). Claire Cullingworth

August

Fri 28 - Mon 31 Weekend, Individually Guided Retreat. Michael O’Halloran & Alison Hobbs

September – October

Sun 27 - Fri 2 a 4-Day, Individually Guided Retreat. Alison Moore & Alison Hobbs

This was originally advertised as 11th in The Retreat Handbook

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 4-day IGR:

“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”

“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.”

“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.”