A retreat is your chance to step aside from life for a while, to rest and just 'be' in a welcoming, peaceful place.
Penhurst Retreat Centre
Retreat Centre Description
Penhurst is a small, friendly, ecumenical Christian centre offering a warm welcome to all. The centre, a 17th century manor house, is sited next to a small parish church in a rural area of outstanding natural beauty, providing a haven of tranquility. The house is available for fully-catered individual or small group retreats and quiet days throughout the year. There is also a programme of led and accompanied retreats. This centre has a particular heart for UK and overseas mission and we offer dedicated retreats/workshops for those with mission connections and a 10% discount offered to associates of agencies/churches that are members of Global Connections.
Accommodation on Offer
Main house. Sitting room, dining room, small library, small meeting room for up to 4 people. Seven upstairs bedrooms: 4 twin ensuite, 1 double with designated shower-room, 1 single ensuite, 1 single with designated bathroom.
Annexe. Chapel and 2 ground floor twin ensuite bedrooms (1 adapted for wheel-chair users).
All bedrooms available for single-occupancy.
Beautiful grounds. Orchard, Prayer labyrinth. 3 summerhouses, well equipped art room.
Retreat Centre Facilities
Please see website for retreat centre facilities
Types of Retreat Offered
Please see website for retreats offered
2026 Events
January
18-23 5 Night Silent IGR. Roger Hagon with Dawn Pointing
February
6-8 Return of the Prodigal Son. Incorporating Henri Nouwen’s insights, Rembrandt’s depiction and Jesus’ parable to help us engage with head and heart. Val Freeman
9-12 New Directions. For mission partners returning to live in UK. Unpack and understand the process of transition. Jack & Sandra Telfer
March
2 Day of Prayer for Mission
6-8 I Can’t God Can. Explore letting go of striving and open up to what God can do. Mandy Callf
9-12 Deeper, Higher, Stronger…like a tree by the waters. Using Biblical references to trees explore growth in our life with God that is natural, unforced and grace-filled. Jack & Sandra Telfer
13 Creative Day. A choice of workshops and shared time together. Paper Flower Making, Creative Stitching, Prayer Shawl Making, Contemplative Photography. Viv Walkington, Viv Kilby, Vicki Cottingham, Jay Ashworth
13-15 Crossroads Retreat. If you’re at a crossroads in life, time to pause, step back and reflect on where you are and the way ahead. Jacqui Zanetti & Mary Monfries
16 A Day Devoted to Prayer. Rediscover the life-changing power of prayer. Fiona Bower
20-22 Divorce Recovery Workshop. At whatever stage of separation and divorce you find yourself, this workshop helps you make some sense of it all and find ways forward. Mandy Callf
April
2-6 Easter Retreat. Focus on the important themes of this most special time. The Penhurst Team
13 A New Name – Learning to Live in our God Given Identity. Marilyn Baker and Tracy Williamson
16-19 Attentive to God. Using six Biblical stories to explore why we are so often distracted, and how to become more aware of God’s presence in our everyday lives. Tony and Jilly Horsfall
20 Quiet Garden Day. Step aside from the busyness of life and into the peace and beauty of Penhurst for a day of reflection and refreshment. Jay Ashworth
23-26 Retiring Well. For those in ministry or secular work who have retired in the past year or are planning to do so in the next couple of years. Helen Calder
May
9-17 8 Night Silent IGR. Maureen Stringer
9-15 6 Night Silent IGR. Maureen Stringer and Chris Doust
June
1 Day of Prayer for Mission
5-7 Martha Reimagined. Consider Martha’s journey with Jesus, discover how she learns to like who she is, use her gifts to honour Jesus and makes a faith statement to equal Peter’s. Shirley Skrentny
15 Celebrating the Rural Church and Community. Explore the challenges and opportunities for our village churches. Revd Gary Cregeen
19-21 A Weekend with St Ignatius. Get to know St Ignatius and his ‘spirituality for everyday life’. Revd Roger Hagon
22-26 4 Night Silent IGR. Susan Oakes & Mandy Callf
July
2-5 A Sacred Journey. Based on the book, “Sensible Shoes” by Sharon Garlough Brown. A must for fans of her books and those inspired by the theme! Vicki Cottingham
13 – 17 Nature’s Table Captured in Watercolour. Use items found in the grounds and gardens to inspire you and develop new skills in observation and painting. Viv Walkington
24 – 26 Building an Ark: Creativity in Extraordinary Times. Look together at how any art form can work like an ark of the flood in difficult times, both for us individually and for others. Dan & Val Freeman
August
10-14 Healing Life’s Wounds. Come for rest, refreshment and meeting with the healer - drawing on themes from Pat’s latest book. Pat Marsh
24 – 28 Space to Rest. A week set aside for rest and spending time with God and one another. Ruth Traynar
September
3-6 Attentive to God. See 16-19 May
7 Day of Prayer for Mission
11 Creative Day. See 13 March
18-20 Reigniting Your Creative Spark. Look together at the spirituality of using our unique creativity and how to revive it when it’s gone cold. Dan and Val Freeman
21-25 4 Night Silent IGR. Dilys Threshie
28 Quiet Garden Day. See 20 April
October
5-11 6 Night Silent IGR. Maureen Stringer and Chris Doust
12 Understanding the Heart of God – Learning to Follow the Spirit’s Leading. Marilyn Baker and Tracy Williamson
16-18 Divorce Recovery Workshop. See 20-22 March
19 A Day Devoted to Prayer. See 16 March
November
13-15 Embodied Prayer: Reconnecting our Whole Selves to God. Explore, through Scripture stories and passages, how God has designed us to be fully integrated beings – soul, spirit, mind and body. Amy Boucher Pye
16-19 New Directions. See 9-12 February
November – December
30-4 Space to Rest. See 24 – 28 August
December
7 Day of Prayer for Mission
2027 Events
January
22-24 Listening to the Invitations of Jesus. Melinda Hendry & Jenny Brown
February
22-25 4 Night Silent Individually Guided Retreat. Dilys Threshie
26-28 Journey to Jesus. Explore the fulfilment of Old Testament covenants. Michael Eijgenraam
March
1 Day of Prayer for Mission.
1-5 Space to Rest. A week set aside for rest and spending time with God. Ruth Traynar
5-7 Crossroads. Pause, step back and reflect on where you are and the way ahead. Jacqui Zanetti & Mary Monfries
8 Space to Breathe. Step aside to rest and connect deeply with Jesus. Fiona Bower
12-14 Divorce and Separation Recovery. If you are separated, experiencing relationship breakdown or facing divorce whether recent or in the past, this could be for you. Carrie Vogel-Dennett & Allan Vogel
15 Creative Day. A choice of workshops and time spent together. Creative Stitching, Paper Flowers, Prayer Shawl, Contemplative Photography.
Viv Kilby, Viv Walkington, Vicki Cottingham, Jay Ashworth
18-21 Encountering Jesus: Grace for Every Season. Meet Him where we really are. Jack and Sandra Telfer
25-29 Easter Retreat. Focus on the important moments of this special weekend. The Penhurst Team
April
8-11 A Sacred Journey. Based on the book Sensible Shoes by Sharon Garlough Brown. A must for fans of the books and those inspired by the theme. Vicki Cottingham
12 Heart Space. Worship and teaching with Marilyn Baker & Tracy Williamson
19-22 Walking With God. A retreat for Leaders. Tony and Jilly Horsfall
26 Quiet Garden Day. Time for reflection and refreshment. Jay Ashworth
May
8-14 6 Night Silent Individually Guided Retreat. Maureen Stringer & Chris Doust
8-16 8 Night Silent Individually Guided Retreat. Maureen Stringer
17 Contemplate and Create. For anyone who has a desire for reflection and creativity. Revd Merriel Woodward
30-2 Hope for the Planet. Dream, hope and breathe. Andy Lester, Head of Conservation at A Rocha UK
June
4-6 Fragments of Hope. Consider the history of England’s Church through scripture and mosaic illustrations. Revd Clive Woodward
7 Day of Prayer for Mission
14 Space to Breathe. See 8 March
21-24 I Am who I Am. Explore our heart knowledge of God’s names and character. Marilyn Baker & Tracy Williamson
28-2 4 Night Silent Individually Guided Retreat. Susan Oakes & Mandy Callf
July
8-11 Passage into New Beginnings. A creative retreat for anyone navigating seasons of transition, loss or uncertainty. Katherine Snyder
12-16 Loosening Up the Landscape in Mixed Media. Paint the essence of what you see. Viv Walkington
30-1 Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. A retreat for women longing to feel more confident in the body they have. Carrie Baker
August
6-8 Return of the Prodigal Son. Explore the insights of artists and writers alongside your own responses to the story. Val and Dan Freeman
9-13 Healing Life’s Wounds. Come for rest, refreshment and healing. Pat Marsh
17-20 25 – Grace upon Grace. What this means for each of us in the lead up to Penhurst Retreat Centre’s 25th Anniversary. Richard & Storm Hann
September
6 Day of Prayer for Mission
9-12 Walking with God. Explore your lifelong journey with God. Tony and Jilly Horsfall
13 Contemplate and Create. See 17 May
19-24 5 Night Silent Individually Guided Retreat. Roger Hagon & Dawn Pointing
October
4 No Blame no Shame. Worship and teaching with Marilyn Baker & Tracy Williamson
4-10 6 Night Silent Individually Guided Retreat. Maureen Stringer & Chris Doust
11 Quiet Garden Day. See 26 April.
15 – 17 Crossroads. See 5-7 March.
25 Space to Breathe. See 8 March
November
1-5 Space to Rest. See 1-5 March.
15-18 New Directions. For mission partners returning to live in the UK. Unpack and understand the process of transition. Jack & Sandra Telfer
19-21 Emmanuel: Saying Yes to the God who is With us. Before Advent starts, engage with the deeper meaning of the season. Amy Boucher Pye
29 Advent Creative Day. A choice of workshops and time spent together. Creative Stitching, Paper Flowers, Crochet Christmas Decoration, Contemplative Photography. Viv Kilby, Viv Walkington, Vicki Cottingham, Jay Ashworth
December
2-5 A Sacred Journey – Advent. Exploring themes and spiritual practices from the second book in the Sensible Shoes series. Vicki Cottingham
6 Day of Prayer for Mission
Retreat Centre Location
The Manor House, Penhurst Ln, Penhurst, Battle, East Sussex, TN33 9QP, UK
This retreat centre is not currently listing on the Retreat Association website
Penhurst Retreat Centre
The Manor House, Penhurst Ln, Penhurst, Battle, East Sussex, TN33 9QP, UK