A retreat is your chance to step aside from life for a while, to rest and just 'be' in a welcoming, peaceful place.
Retreats 2027 Submission - Review Entry
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Brancepeth Castle/Community of the Well
Brancepeth Castle, Durham DH7 8DE, UK
07504 489089
Rooms
10 bedrooms (2 en suite). Several reception rooms for meeting, dining etc. Chapel (seats 70). Art space for textile, paint and pottery. The main dining room and four other rooms can be hired (each have capacity for 40–100). Capacity for 150 day visitors
Notes
Simple living in a grand and beautiful setting. The Community of the Well is an Anglican group including trained spiritual directors, based in part of a family-owned, medieval castle that is set in open countryside close to Durham City. It has good public transport links and pleasant walking. In addition to the programme, individuals can apply to make retreat in their own time. We have ten spacious bedrooms, enabling retreatants to spend time in the peace of their room without feeling cramped. However, the rooms have step access and only two rooms on the first floor are en suite, so please check ahead if steps are difficult for you. Indoor and outdoor areas are easily accessible for walking and sitting, as is our dedicated art space. Holy Communion is celebrated in the castle chapel. Home-cooked (catered) and self-catering options available
Contact
Rev Alison Hobbs
2027 Events
Creative Days
February
13
The Examen: Start Lent by exploring a centuries-old form of prayer that can help you to become aware of God in the ordinary details of your daily life.
March
13
“Who do you say that I am?”. In the run up to Holy Week, come and explore this question by spending time with images of Jesus by artists from around the world. Who is Jesus for you?
April
22 and 23
Quiet Days, optionally residential “Come unto me”: Many in ministry and community work are feeling weary. If that’s you, we invite you to come away and find refreshment. A chance to put down what you’re carrying for a while and take stock of how you are, with space, silence, conversation and good food in a lovely setting.
April-May
30 – 3
“Embodied Presence - Coming Home to Ourselves and to Mother Earth": A Bank Holiday weekend retreat exploring the intersection between Christian and Buddhist meditative practices, yoga, nature’s wisdom and silence.
May
7 – 12
4 – Day Individually Guided Retreat: Structured free-time to meet God in formal and informal prayer; to ponder and deepen the experience with the help of a retreat director who will meet with you daily. Silence is maintained in the retreat areas of the house to aid prayer and contemplation.
22
Exploring Creative Prayer: Collage, poetry, drawing, fabric and thread: all of these can help us deepen our connection to God and lead us into prayer. Come and try something new, in a supportive setting. No experience or art skills needed.
July
10
Jonah through Fresh Eyes: In the morning: hear the story of Jonah creatively retold with chance to reflect on it together. In the afternoon: a range of different ways to respond to the story. To finish the day: a simple act of worship and the chance to share what we've done.
August
12 and 13
Quiet Days, optionally residential: “Come unto me”: Many in ministry and community work are feeling weary. If that’s you, we invite you to come away and find refreshment. A chance to put down what you’re carrying for a while and take stock of how you are, with space, silence, conversation and good food in a lovely setting.
27 – 30
Weekend retreat for Beginner’s ‘Practising Silence’: A Bank Holiday weekend retreat, particularly suitable for beginners who want to try out how silence can open hearts and minds to God, in a supported and gentle way.
September
13 - 18
4 – Day Individually Guided Retreat: (see May 7-12)