Welcome to the Association for Promoting Retreats!

Are you looking for somewhere to go on retreat?

We can help!

On the interactive map above you will find all the APR member retreat houses, with contact details and a link to their website; we also have member houses in Ireland and South Africa. We support the work of several retreat leaders across the UK, many of whom can offer you an online retreat.

Promoting Christian Spirituality Through Retreats

The Association for Promoting Retreats exists to encourage more people to go on retreat and to support the ministry of our member retreat houses and retreat leaders. We also organise a biannual conference for Church of England diocesan spirituality advisers, and administer a bursary fund to enable individuals to go on retreat when cost is an obstacle.

Retreat Calendar

Calendar of Events

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

9 events,

Spring/summer sabbatical at Kinnoull Monastery
Writing retreat at Rydal Hall
Birdwatching retreat with Even Sparrows
Silent retreat at Ballyvaloo Retreat Centre
Meeting God in Creation retreat at Abernethy Kilmalieu
Recorder players retreat at Parcevall Hall

9 events,

-
-

11 events,

-

13 events,

Longing for God retreat at the House of Prayer
St Ignatius retreat at the House of the Resurrection, Mirfield
Storytelling retreat at Sarum College
Singing retreat at Parcevall Hall
-

16 events,

IGR at Ballyvaloo Retreat Centre
Garden Working party at Shallowford House

10 events,

Wellbeing retreat at Foxhill House
-

8 events,

-
-

6 events,

-

6 events,

-

10 events,

Dive deep with Jonah retreat at Abernethy Kilmalieu
-

11 events,

Silent retreat at Ballyvaloo Retreat Centre
-

10 events,

Retirement retreat at Launde Abbey
Contemplative retreat at Whalley Abbey

9 events,

-

9 events,

-
-

8 events,

-

10 events,

Creative retreat at the House of Prayer
Writing retreat at Parcevall Hall

12 events,

-

8 events,

IGR at the Franciscan Centre, Ladywell

9 events,

Guided Pilgrimage with the Julian Shrine, Norwich
-

10 events,

10 events,

-

9 events,

-

8 events,

Reconnecting with nature retreat at Hilfield Friary

11 events,

Silent retreat at Ballyvaloo Retreat Centre

6 events,

Monastic experience retreat at the House of the Resurrection, Mirfield

7 events,

Caring for the Carers retreat at Rydal Hall
-

8 events,

Craft week at Hilfield Friary
-

7 events,

9 events,

6-day IGR retreat at the House of Prayer
-

6 events,

Silent retreat at Ballyvaloo Retreat Centre

At the APR we aim to:

  • promote the value of retreats and the work of retreat houses and retreat leaders
  • support the provision of opportunities for quiet and reflection within the context of everyday life
  • encourage training in retreat leadership and spiritual direction
  • facilitate renewal and growth in spirituality
  • enable the exploration of different expressions of Christian spirituality

As a membership organisation, we rely on subscriptions and donations to enable our work. If you are not already a member, please do consider joining APR, or you can make a one-off donation by clicking the ‘Donate‘ button at the bottom of the page.

Announcements

New President: We are delighted to announce that Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani from the Diocese of Chelmsford will be the new President of the APR. Read the full press release here.

Cycling Fundraiser: In May/June, APR Administrator, Demelza Henderson, will be cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats in aid of the APR Bursary Fund. To find out more, or sponsor her, please click here.

Bookings are now open for the 2026 APR Autumn Retreat, which will be held at Holy Rood House (N Yorks), from 20-22 October and led by Cameron Butland, and for our Online Quiet Day (to be held on 9 July, and led by Alison Christian).

Spring E-Newsletter: Read all our latest news online here.

Searching for Retreats

If you are looking for an Individually Guided Retreat (IGR) or Quiet Day, simply type ‘IGR’ or ‘Quiet Day’ into the search function on our online calendar – there are dozens of both listed throughout the year! Or search by name for the place you would like to visit…

This week we are praying for...

Each week we pray for one of our member retreat houses or leaders. This week we are praying for Mark Winter, and all who seek refreshment with his Even Sparrows birdwatching retreats.

Are you looking for a new challenge?

There are vacancies for staff at the following APR Member Retreat Houses:

Pastoral team leader at the Bield at Blackruthven
Roles in reception, housekeeping, and night porters at Rydal Hall
Head Housekeeper and/or Office Manager at Abernethy Kilmalieu
Catering Lead at Othona Community (Essex)
Housekeeper at St Columba’s House, Woking
Residential Team member at Quiet Waters Retreat House
Housekeeper and/or Office administrator at the Sheldon Community
Warden at Edenham Regional House
Assistant manager at Hummingbird Retreat, Grenada
Pastoral Worker at the Bield at Blackruthven
Community member at the Sheldon Community

Membership

Please consider joining APR, and help us support retreat houses and extend the benefit of retreats to more people. See the membership page for more information.

Bursaries

Our Bursary Scheme is there to help our retreat house members enable more people to benefit from retreats, especially where cost might be an obstacle. See the Bursary page for details.

Resources

We regularly post articles and information on topics related to retreats, prayer, and Christian spirituality. We hope you will find something of interest; see the Resources Pages here.

Support the work of APR

As a membership organisation, we rely on subscriptions to enable our work. If you are not already a member, please do consider joining APR, so that we can do even more to promote retreats.

If you are a UK taxpayer, please consider Gift Aiding your donation. We are able to claim an additional 25% from HMRC on top of your donation, at no extra cost to you. All you need do is complete our online Gift Aid declaration form and we’ll take care of the rest.

How to Donate

If you would like to make a donation to support the work of APR, or specifically to the Bursary Fund, you can do so by means of the online donation button below.