National Retreat Week – renew:all (21 to 28 Sept 2024) is an initiative for individuals, churches and groups to promote contemplation, prayer and retreat in a variety of Christian traditions.
We are all busy juggling everyday life and it can be difficult to make space to reflect, contemplate or pray. The benefits of taking time out to pause, breathe and reset the rhythm of our lives is invaluable – time to trust in God more, nourish our souls, check in with our life’s direction, look afresh and renew our mind, body and soul.
Renew:all is an invitation to take time out to retreat at home, at church, or at one of over 200 Christian retreat centres across the UK. There are lots of ways to get involved, whether you are experienced or new to Christian retreats, and there are lots of opportunities for you to go individually or with a group or church.
Visit the website for inspiration and free resources from a range of well-known retreat leaders. This is the second year of the annual National Retreat Week, and renew:all have expanded their number of free resources available to help you retreat at anytime of the year.
Contributors include Brian Draper, Paula Gooder, Adjoa Andoh, Richard Carter and more. A new set of specially curated reflections and retreat activities from John Bell, Muyiwa Olarewaju, Chine McDonald and others are shared during National Retreat Week in late September. Please sign up online to receive them direct to your inbox.
For the duration of National Retreat Week specifically, you can sign up on their website to receive daily reflections and retreat resources.
Here are some of the local options available.
Framilode Riverside Retreats
St Peter’s Church, Framilode GL2 7LH
First Wednesday of the month, 10am to 3pm
Monthly Quiet Days provide an opportunity to give space for God in our lives: to still ourselves, listen for God, and share in quiet fellowship with others. Each day is shaped around a passage of scripture appropriate to the season which is offered as our starting point for reflection and prayer.
Cost: £15 to include lunch and refreshments
Contact: 01452 741410
More info and booking: Framilode Riverside Retreats – St Peter’s, Framilode
The Wellspring
Woolpits Farm, Parkway, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2JG
Quiet Days, Creative Arts and Venue Hire
The Wellspring offer a programme of events covering different activities all with a focus on drawing the participant into a deeper relationship with Jesus.
Cost: from £15
Contact: 01531 635727
More info and booking: The Wellspring | Christian Retreat and Activities Centre | Home
Harnhill Centre of Christian Healing
Harnhill, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 5PX
Rest and Refreshment Breaks
Harnhill offers a range of retreats, including resting breaks, guided retreats, bereavement retreats and healing retreats.
Cost: £325pp for three nights.
Contact: 01285 850283
More info and booking: Healing Weeks & Retreats | Harnhill Christian Centre
House of Bread
Burmington, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire CV36 5AF
Just a 45-minute drive from Gloucestershire is the House of Bread, a Christian community, retreat and conference centre situated in beautiful Cotswold countryside. Choose from a range of guided retreats bookable by the day to suit your schedule and budget.
Cost: From around £45pp per night
Contact: 01608 663952
More info and booking: Our events | The House of Bread
Rudford Retreats
Church Lane, Gloucester GL2 8DT
Offer a monthly programme of retreats in 2023, from February through until November, on the third Thursday of the month. Each retreat day will be shaped around a passage of scripture appropriate to the season, which is offered as our starting point for reflection and prayer. The days are suitable for all: for those familiar with retreats, as well as those exploring such days for the first time.
Cost: £15pp to include drinks and a light lunch
Contact: moc.liamg@staerterdrofdur
More info and booking: Rudford Retreats | The Highnam Benefice
Holland House
Main Street, Cropthorne, Pershore WR10 3NB
Just across the border in Worcestershire lies Holland House, a Christian retreat house and conference centre providing quiet spaces to reflect, to wonder, and be still. Every month from April to September, the centre offers a Quiet Garden Day. Organised by the Friends of Holland House, the day includes a short reflection at the start of the day, optional Communion before lunch and a shared group reflection to close before tea and cake.
Cost: £20pp to include lunch and refreshments
Contact: 01386 860330
More info and booking: Programme – Holland House
House of the Open Door
Childswickham House, Childswickham WR12 7HH
Tuesday 9 May, Seasons Creative Retreat Day (Spring)
Situated on the edge of the quiet village of Childswickham, two miles from Broadway in the Vale of Evesham, this retreat centre offers self-catering accommodation for individual and small group retreats as well as guided Creative Retreat Days.
Cost: £20pp for the Creative Retreat Days
Contact: 01386 852084
More info and booking: Seasons Creative Retreat Days 2023
Lenchwood Christian Centre
Spitten Farm, Ab Lench, Evesham, WR11 4UP
Also in Worcestershire is Lenchwood, a Christian charity providing rest and recuperation in the countryside and luxury accommodation to complement individual and group retreats.
Cost: variable
Contact: 07835 818 018
More info and booking: Retreats – Lenchwood Trust