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 a member house in 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

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

S Sun

3 events,

-

Woodworking prayer Day at Holland House

4 events,

-

Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay

3 events,

7 events,

Repair Shop at Hilfield Friary

IGR at the House of Prayer

First Timers retreat at Holland House

7 events,

5 events,

Birdwatching Retreat with Even Sparrows

7 events,

Julian of Norwich retreat at Holland House

- Event Series

Icon making workshop at the House of Prayer

11 events,

Story-telling retreat at Whalley Abbey

-

Quiet Day with Christian Retreats

7 events,

9 events,

Julian of Norwich festival in Norwich

Creative retreat at Penhurst Retreat Centre

Sacred nature retreat at Hilfield Friary

12 events,

-

Quiet Day at Whalley Abbey

6 events,

-

Creative quiet day at Penhurst Retreat Centre

4 events,

- Event Series

Icon making workshop at the House of Prayer

-

Online Oasis Day

1 event,

-

Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay

2 events,

6 events,

Ordering desire retreat at the House of Prayer

Residential retreat at the Community of St Mary the Virgin

-

Quiet Day at Epiphany House

10 events,

IGR at Penhurst Retreat Centre

7 events,

10 events,

Enneagram Retreat at Holland House

Birdwatching Retreat with Even Sparrows

-

Quiet Monday at Shallowford House

9 events,

- Event Series

Icon making workshop at the House of Prayer

14 events,

Craft Week at Hilfield Friary

-

Quiet day at Rydal hall

14 events,

-

Quiet Garden Day at Holland House

11 events,

John Bell Retreat at the Royal Foundation of St Katharine

9 events,

8 events,

Icon Painting Retreat at the Franciscan Centre, Ladywell

4 events,

7 events,

Spiritual Accompaniers’ retreat at Holland House

-

Quiet Day with Christian Retreats

- Event Series

Icon making workshop at the House of Prayer

6 events,

-

Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay

7 events,

9 events,

10 events,

-

Quiet Day at the House of Prayer

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 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.

Announcements

Bookings are now open for our 2025 Autumn retreat led by APR President, Bishop John Stroyan, at St Columba’s House, Woking from 21-23 October. To find out more, or book your place, please follow this link.

Read our 2025 Spring Newsletter online here! 

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!

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 Christy and Daniel Casley (Wardens), and for all who live, work or seek refreshment at the Open Pathway Retreat Centre in Somerset.

Are you looking for a new challenge?

There are vacancies for staff at the following APR Member Retreat Houses: Deputy Director at Penhurst Retreat Centre
Experienced chef at Holland House
Administrator at the Sheldon Community
Part-time Spiritual Direction Tutor at Sarum College
Resident Team Member at the Othona Community (Essex)
Catering Manager at Holy Rood House
Housekeeper and Assistant Cook at St Katharine’s Parmoor
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.