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Retreat needed- any ideas?

4 replies

Brightspark1 · 22/07/2012 00:24

Things have been pretty hard this past year. I need a quiet weekend, preferably in an all female environment to reflect and come to terms with what I have experienced this last year. My Anglican faith is rather shaky as a result. I am comfortable in an Anglican or Catholic environment, but I don't do new age. Does anyone have any suggestions?

OP posts:
Italiangreyhound · 24/07/2012 02:07

Brightspark I am sorry to hear that things have not gone well this year.

I really hope you will find peace this summer and a new sense of purpose in your faith.

In terms of retreats, it really depends where you are in the country and how far you are willing to travel. Here are places I have been to and enjoyed, in some cases loved! They have different programms and I would recommend the location but you would need to see if what they did suited what you need.

All Hallows Convent, Ditchingham, Suffolk, on the Norfolk border.
www.all-hallows.org/

It looks like they also have quiet houses in Norwich as well as Ditchingham. This is an Anglican convent but the weekends and events may well attract men as well as women (although really not many men if my memory serves me right!). There is also a guest house there and you can just go and stay. You can request to have meetings with one of the sisters. There are usually formal organised retreats, which are often silent but do check what is on offer. There used to be an amazing walled garden. It is a lovely tranquil place.

www.all-hallows.org/programme.php A quick look at the programme reveals art sessions and meditations, 'Circle Dance' a kind of liturgical dance (it's a long time since I did it so read up on it before you go/if you go, so you know what to expect!), there are quiet days too.

St Mary the Virgin, Convent, Wantage, Oxfordshire.

www.csmv.co.uk/

I really don't know this place well but have been and they do offer some day events and guest house accommodation. Have a look under the section Convent Guest Wing. I believe they too are Anglican nuns.

Lee Abbey in Devon
www.leeabbey.org.uk/devon/

This place gets booked up very fast so before choosing a weekend you like the look of and then finding out that it is all booked up, I would suggest emailing or calling and asking what is available. They may also have some sort of accommodation you can use for a weekend or a few days and just be there but not join an actual event.

The place is run by community not an order and people are both male and female, as are the guests.

The self-catering units are called 'Tinkerbell' (a small place) 'Lee Cabin' (for 4 people) 'Beach Chalet' (for 12 people).

If you go and stay in their accommodation and want some spiritual input ask what is available, they used to have a late evening service called 'Christ in Quiet' and they probably have a Sunday service too. They are ecumenical. It is right by the sea, beautiful and tranquil, but best to actually join a weekend, I am not sure I would exactly call it a retreat in that it is not silent but I think it might achieve the healing and restoration you may need. This is not all female but again, you could ask what they can offer that might suit you.

All the best.

ButtonButton · 24/07/2012 07:55

I have found peace twice in my life at Lee Abbey. I feel I have lost my faith but they let me go, stay, just be. They were kind, when I looked for company sat and held my hand whilst I wept. The setting is beautiful and I spent slot of time walking the area. They run structured weeks/w/e's and you can stay b and b or stay in one of the cottages. I stayed in the main house overlooking the sea. It helped and I shall be heading back there later in the year to walk along the coast in peace, enjoy the beauty of this world and reflect on how fat I have managed to come and where to go in life next.

Brightspark1 · 24/07/2012 20:09

Thank you, both of you. I'm in the southeast but I don't mind travelling. I've just had a look at Lee Abbey and that seems to be what I'm looking for. It sounds really peaceful , I don't think I'm very good at silence, but maybe I need to learn.

OP posts:
Italiangreyhound · 26/07/2012 02:29

Silence can help but also can be a problem for some, at least if there are others to talk to you can still find some peace and quiet. Hope it is useful, let me know how you get on (if you want to).

all best wishes,

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