RETREATS & QUIET DAYS
If you've never attended a Quiet Day, or gone on a retreat, scroll down for some FAQs and answers - if you have a question that is not included here and which is preventing you from joining us, please do contact us and we will endeavour to put your mind at rest!
Upcoming Events:
25 - 27 September 2026
Discovering the Gifts of Sacred Wandering
Come together to discover the riches of the practice of 'sacred wandering'
During this special Season of Creation, Julia invites us to come together to discover the riches of the practice of 'sacred wandering' - a practice which can open us to deeper encounter with the Divine through the sacred Book of Nature. We will enjoy space to learn about and explore the practice out in our beautiful grounds, share our experience through times of spiritual conversation and celebrate together gathered around the warmth of fire and under canopy of the stars.
Julia Ling-MacDonald is a spiritual director, facilitator and retreat leader with particular interest in the interplay between Ignatian spirituality, cosmology, ecology, creativity and embodied practice.
£230 for the weekend, to include two nights' accommodation, + full board from Friday evening, concluding with lunch on Sunday.
20 - 22 November 2026
CS Lewis and Prayer
The next in our CS Lewis Series
In Letters to Malcolm, in his other apologetic and devotional writings, and in his letters, Lewis reflected widely on what prayer does, and how to do it. Together, we will explore Lewis’ theology and practice of prayer, and think about our own.
£195 for the weekend, to include two nights' accommodation, + full board from Friday evening, concluding with lunch on Sunday.
27 - 29 November 2026
Advent Retreat
Pause at the start of Advent
A weekend to pause and embrace the mystery and anticipation of Advent. We will creatively explore where we are on our faith journeys, what our next step might be, and whether there is something we are waiting for?
£195 for the weekend, to include two nights' accommodation, + full board from Friday evening, concluding with lunch on Sunday.
Trained Prayer Guides for
Individually Guided Retreats
Jo has worked in Christian mission in the UK and East Africa most of her working life. She is an elder in her church where her favourite activity is facilitating conversation and prayer around the Bible.
Jo received training in spiritual direction from the Cumbria Ecumenical Spirituality Group (CESG). She is also a team member of the CESG and provides administrative support for them.
Jo enjoys growing food, finds a home in the wildness of silence, is a poet, and is inspired by the mystics and their poetry.
Sheena completed her training in Ignatian spiritual direction with the Epiphany Group in 2022. Since then she has accompanied people individually on an ongoing basis, on Retreats in Daily Life and facilitated a number of retreats and quiet days using images and art processes in prayer. She receives supervision, goes on retreat regularly and has recently completed a group coaching programme to nourish her own personal and spiritual growth.
Her favourite place of ‘finding God in all things’ at present is in ‘found poetry’ - words from old magazines, junk mail and recycling!
Amanda has had a growing interest in counselling and prayer guiding for some years, completing an introduction to counselling course, Acorn Christian Healing Foundation’s Listening modules and bereavement counselling with Cruse whilst living in the Isle of Man.
In January 2019, along with husband, Simon, she took on the role of Warden at Whitchester Christian Centre, and subsequently completed training with the Cumbrian Ecumenical Spirituality Group.
Amanda is nourished through her enjoyment of her location in the Scottish Borders and an appreciation of beauty in nature and creation.
F.A.Q's
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What is the format of a Quiet Day? We usually start with refreshments, welcome, house-keeping and introductions, followed by our first session with house prayers and a reflection led by one of the team. After this, the house goes quiet, and guests are free to use the time as they wish, and to make full use of the facilities the house offers - there is a comfortable lounge, new conservatory, a crafting room, snug, and library. Outside there is a prayer walk, a new enclosed summerhouse with chair and table, and in the corner of the walled garden, an arbour seat that gets the sun in the afternoons. We usually take a vote at the start whether lunch will be silent or not - usually not, so there is opportunity to chat with other guests while eating. A second session of guided reflection follows lunch and then the house goes quiet again until tea-time and plenary.
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What happens on a Retreat? Retreats usually commence with arrivals between 4-5pm, followed by the evening meal at 6.30pm. If sufficiently staffed, the day closes with evening prayers at 8.45pm. Evenings are otherwise free. Breakfast is served at 8.30am; the rest of the day follows the same format as for Quiet Days above.
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Will I be expected to pray aloud? No, although there is generally space for individual prayers during house prayers. Guests may be invited to take turns reading a verse each from a passage of scripture or devotional material, but you are under no obligation in this regard.
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Is there wifi/phone signal? Wifi is available throughout the house and if you have wifi calling enabled, it should also be possible to make calls and send/receive texts. If you're having difficulty connecting, outside the front of the house usually works best. As far as possible though, we would encourage minimal or no use of phones during a Quiet Day.
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I'm gluten free/lactose intolerant - can you cater for me? We always check with guests when booking whether they have any dietary requirements. Provided we have sufficient notice, we do our best to cater for individual needs.
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Do I need to attend all the sessions - I was hoping to just chill (or work on/use some material of my own)? There are many definitions for the word 'retreat' - we aim to provide a comfortable space for you to rest, relax, be refreshed and re-connect with God - how you choose to do this is entirely up to you! Just let us know if you don't plan to attend sessions, so we don't go looking for you.
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Will there be someone I can talk to in confidence? The wardens are both trained listeners and will be glad to provide this service to you. Booking in advance is advised; and a donation is invited, but not a requirement. (One of the wardens is also trained in spiritual direction - aka, prayer guiding/accompanying - basically someone to share your faith journey with in confidence.)
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Will there be alcohol? We are not a licensed premises, but many of our guests bring their own supply, and we have a fridge in the annexe kitchenette for guest use and a plentiful supply of wine glasses.