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
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5 events,
Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
Heartfulness Meditation Every Wednesday 07:15pm to 08:00pm We’re delighted to host a weekly Heartfulness Meditation session in our beautiful Library. These sessions are always free of charge and you can also continue at home with support. Available now in 160 countries worldwide supported by volunteers. Heartfulness meditation is based on ancient Raj Yoga but simplified for […]
2 events,
Online Compline with St Chad’s House, Leek
Online Compline with St Chad’s House, Leek
Online Epiphany Compline ~ Friday 3rd January 2025 7:30pm Evening Prayer online welcoming in the Light of New Year with Prayer.
2 events,
Online meditation with the School of Contemplative Life
Online meditation with the School of Contemplative Life
Meditation in the Christian tradition is an ancient and simple way of prayer. Our purpose is to teach meditation as a simple path to peace, community and oneness. Our vision is to help people establish peace in themselves and become places of peace in the world. Each session includes a short talk, a period of […]
1 event,
1 event,
Drop-In Day at Llangasty Retreat House
Drop-In Day at Llangasty Retreat House
An opportunity to pause for prayer and personal reflection – Come for all or part of the day. Bring your own lunch. Coffee and tea provided. No charge, but donations welcome. 10am – 4pm with Eucharist at 12 noon.
0 events,
1 event,
Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
Heartfulness Meditation Every Wednesday 07:15pm to 08:00pm We’re delighted to host a weekly Heartfulness Meditation session in our beautiful Library. These sessions are always free of charge and you can also continue at home with support. Available now in 160 countries worldwide supported by volunteers. Heartfulness meditation is based on ancient Raj Yoga but simplified for […]
0 events,
3 events,
Epiphany Retreat at Launde Abbey
Epiphany Retreat: In the Beauty of Holiness Join us as we seek to rest in the beauty of the holiness of the child, Saviour of the world and meet his spirit in the struggles and gifts of life today.
New beginnings – IGR at the House of Prayer
New Beginnings: Individually Guided Retreat Led by the House of Prayer Team At the beginning of a new year, this silent retreat offers an opportunity to reflect on your life and find your bearings for the year ahead. A trained spiritual director will be available for daily individual meetings to accompany you through the retreat. […]
Quiet Morning at the House of Prayer
Quiet Morning at the House of Prayer
Quiet Morning: A Time for Everything Led by Kerryn Penson A gentle and spacious morning to take time to listen to our lives and listen to God at the start of a new year. There will be led reflections and space for personal prayer.
4 events,
Online meditation with the School of Contemplative Life
Online meditation with the School of Contemplative Life
Meditation in the Christian tradition is an ancient and simple way of prayer. Our purpose is to teach meditation as a simple path to peace, community and oneness. Our vision is to help people establish peace in themselves and become places of peace in the world. Each session includes a short talk, a period of […]
Quiet day at Wydale Hall
Quiet day at Wydale Hall
Day Retreat for the new year: What do we believe in? An opportunity to look at the Nicene Creed and prepare for 2025! Led by: Helen Lawrence from the Wydale Community Cost: £30.00 including lunch and refreshments
3 events,
Open Reflective Day at the Royal Foundation of St Katharine
Open Reflective Day at the Royal Foundation of St Katharine
We are delighted to invite you to our Urban Oasis for our Open Reflective Days in 2024. These are our most popular retreats allowing you to have a personal quiet day to reflect and recharge away from the distractions of everyday life. You may use this day as time to pray, do some life admin or maybe to finish that project […]
Volunteers Day at the Greenhouse at Barnes Close
Volunteers Day at the Greenhouse at Barnes Close
We have five acres of beautiful land and grounds to cultivate and a Cadbury heritage home to care for so that people who really need it can come for space to rest, reflect and grow. Join our small growing group of volunteers as we dream, garden, prune, clear, paint, cook, administrate, fix and have a […]
Online Oasis Day
Online Oasis Day
13 January - 'The Quiet Path' Setting out and beginning led by Andrew Rudd Oasis days offer quiet reflection for people who need a day to re-charge their spiritual batteries and enjoy the stimulation of an excellent speaker. Please email janefranklinretreats@gmail.com if you would like to join.
3 events,
Quiet Day at Whalley Abbey
Quiet Day at Whalley Abbey
Held in God's Gaze: Richard Rolle Bishop Jill and Father Nicholas Heale host this event with a deep dive into the spiritual life of Richard Rolle
Epiphany Quiet Day at St Chad’s House, Leek
Epiphany Quiet Day at St Chad’s House, Leek
Everyone is very welcome to come and spend time by the cosy fire and light candles in our peaceful chapel to welcome in the New Year. Join our rhythm of prayer and short reflection on finding light in the darkness. Light refreshments served.
Creative Art Day at Holland House
Creative Art Day at Holland House
Come away for the day to reflect with gratitude on the past year, exploring new art journaling techniques working with images, texture, colour, and layering. Spend time seeking God for a “word of the year” to anchor you in his will for 2025. We will then use the afternoon to explore our word in our […]
1 event,
Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
Heartfulness Meditation Every Wednesday 07:15pm to 08:00pm We’re delighted to host a weekly Heartfulness Meditation session in our beautiful Library. These sessions are always free of charge and you can also continue at home with support. Available now in 160 countries worldwide supported by volunteers. Heartfulness meditation is based on ancient Raj Yoga but simplified for […]
1 event,
Private Retreat day at Wydale Hall
Private Retreat day at Wydale Hall
Private Retreat Day No progarmme, just spend a day with God at Wydale Cost: £21.00 including lunch and refreshments
3 events,
Finding commitment retreat at Penhurst Retreat Centre
I Can`t, God Can Leader: Mandy Callf Often on our Christian journey we are in the driving seat, route all planned, provisions for the journey made. But then life happens. an unexpected curve ball stops us in our tracks. `I can`t do this`, is the deep cry of our hearts. This retreat explores how we can […]
Centring Prayer retreat at the House of Prayer
Living Presence Led by Jill Benet ‘Silence moves into stillness and stillness morphs into Presence.’ Thomas Keating Join a small community for a weekend of prayer and practice, and reconnect with the Presence which surpasses all understanding - a Presence that we find missing and yet, at the deepest root of our self, is always […]
Quiet Day at Epiphany House
Quiet Day at Epiphany House
Doubt: A Help or Hindrance to God Present in Our Life? with Bryan West Reflecting on Jesus’ words to the disciple Thomas, “Blessed are they who have believed but have not seen” we will explore how doubt can be a catalyst for deeper faith and understanding.
5 events,
Online meditation with the School of Contemplative Life
Online meditation with the School of Contemplative Life
Meditation in the Christian tradition is an ancient and simple way of prayer. Our purpose is to teach meditation as a simple path to peace, community and oneness. Our vision is to help people establish peace in themselves and become places of peace in the world. Each session includes a short talk, a period of […]
3 events,
IGR at the Franciscan Centre, Ladywell
Step away from the noise and haste of your everyday life and into the quiet beauty of the Franciscan Centre Ladywell in the heart of Surrey. Each day you will be accompanied by a trained spiritual director.
5 events,
Textiles Retreat at Launde Abbey
Textiles Retreat Discover the perfect blend of relaxation and artistic inspiration at Launde Abbey, where the Revd Claire Goode invites you to immerse yourself in the world of textiles. This retreat promises a rejuvenating experience for your mind, body, and soul.
Penhurst Family Week at Penhurst Retreat Centre
Penhurst Family Week Leader: The Penhurst team For members of the Penhurst Family, join us at the start of the year to learn about how you can pray for and support us throughout the year while enjoying peaceful time away with God. Come and stay at a special discounted rate of £85 pppn. Join the team […]
Soul Craft Day at the Greenhouse at Barnes Close
Soul Craft Day at the Greenhouse at Barnes Close
Come and breathe deep for a day! Drawing, writing, walking, praying, painting, reading, alpaca whispering, knitting, crafting, running, meditating, crafting, chilling... whatever you like to do, bring it! We frame our time with a simple scriptural reflection, and invite you to use the house and the grounds as you like. Bring your own lunch, all […]
Quiet Day at St Columba’s House
Quiet Day at St Columba’s House
A Quiet Monday Morning with Jane Baker 20th January Monday 10.00am - 1.00pm
4 events,
Online Epiphany Meditation with Cameron Butland
Online Epiphany Meditation with Cameron Butland
Epiphany Online Meditation Date: Tuesdays 6-6.45pm 21 , 28 January and 4 , 11 February Leader: Cameron Butland Venue: Online via Zoom Cost: No charge but all participants need to book in beforehand Contact: derby.notts.cc@gmail.com Or cameronbutland@gmail.com Epiphany Online Meditation ‘God made known’. “Perhaps most of us spend so much of our time thinking about […]
5 events,
Community workparty at the Othona Community West Dorset
Roll Up Your Sleeves (January) Bargain Prices and Satisfying Community Jobs
Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
Heartfulness Meditation Every Wednesday 07:15pm to 08:00pm We’re delighted to host a weekly Heartfulness Meditation session in our beautiful Library. These sessions are always free of charge and you can also continue at home with support. Available now in 160 countries worldwide supported by volunteers. Heartfulness meditation is based on ancient Raj Yoga but simplified for […]
7 events,
Spiritual Spa Day at St Columba’s House
Spiritual Spa Day at St Columba’s House
A Deeper Detox, Spiritual Spa Day Thursday 23rd January OR Saturday 15th February
Quiet Garden Day at St Michael’s Convent
Quiet Garden Day at St Michael’s Convent
We are pleased to be associated with the Quiet Garden Movement which: nurtures access to outdoor space for prayer, reflection and rest in a variety of settings, such as private homes, churches, schools and hospitals, and creates opportunities for people to experience silence, restfulness and contemplative practices… Find out more Our garden is usually open […]
8 events,
Meditation Retreat at Launde Abbey
Resting in God: A Weekend Meditation Retreat With help from the teachings of Julian of Norwich, Martin Laird and others, we will explore the path of interior surrender, of releasing into and resting in God through our deepening stillness and shared silence.
Richard Rohr Retreat at Holy Rood House
The Divine Dance, inspired by Richard Rohr Led by Urs Mattmann and Ian Spencer View Leaflet
Navigating Grief retreat at the Othona Community, Essex
Navigating the Path from Grief to Relief: A Journey Beyond Heartache Due to demand and success from the previous retreat, Maria returns to help those experiencing trauma, grief and loss
9 events,
Online meditation with the School of Contemplative Life
Online meditation with the School of Contemplative Life
Meditation in the Christian tradition is an ancient and simple way of prayer. Our purpose is to teach meditation as a simple path to peace, community and oneness. Our vision is to help people establish peace in themselves and become places of peace in the world. Each session includes a short talk, a period of […]
Quiet Day at St Columba’s House
Quiet Day at St Columba’s House
Following Hildegard - A Quiet Day with David Cassian 25th January Saturday 10am - 4pm
Quiet Day at the House of Prayer
Quiet Day at the House of Prayer
Praying the Scriptures Led by Canon Peter Sills A prayerful exploration of the evolving story of the Bible Understanding the Bible can be a bit of a challenge, especially those parts of the scriptures that are remote from our experience. Beginning with the different pictures of God and Jesus that it presents, this exploration helps […]
7 events,
Winter IGR at Mirfield
Our IGRs are Ignatian-style retreats. There are no addresses as in preached or themed retreats. Rather, each person with the help of an experienced guide follows their own path as it seems God is leading them. The emphasis is on integrating body, mind and heart in faith. The pattern of the week is: Sunday: arrive […]
2 events,
Online Epiphany Meditation with Cameron Butland
Online Epiphany Meditation with Cameron Butland
Epiphany Online Meditation Date: Tuesdays 6-6.45pm 21 , 28 January and 4 , 11 February Leader: Cameron Butland Venue: Online via Zoom Cost: No charge but all participants need to book in beforehand Contact: derby.notts.cc@gmail.com Or cameronbutland@gmail.com Epiphany Online Meditation ‘God made known’. “Perhaps most of us spend so much of our time thinking about […]
4 events,
Telling stories retreat at Launde Abbey
Inhabiting the Bible through story: The use of Imagination for Interpreting the Bible During this retreat, we will explore what using imagination contributes to our reading of Scripture and what is lost when we don’t use it in our reading. There will be input reflecting on imagination and what it brings to our understanding of […]
Quiet Day at Rydal Hall
Quiet Day at Rydal Hall
Our first quiet day of 2025 will be Wednesday 29th January, with our Chaplain Revd Lawrence Basham. The cost is £10 which includes refreshments and lunch. Bookings are now being taken, email mail@rydalhall.org or call 015394 32050.
Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
Evening meditation at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
Heartfulness Meditation Every Wednesday 07:15pm to 08:00pm We’re delighted to host a weekly Heartfulness Meditation session in our beautiful Library. These sessions are always free of charge and you can also continue at home with support. Available now in 160 countries worldwide supported by volunteers. Heartfulness meditation is based on ancient Raj Yoga but simplified for […]
4 events,
Enneagram retreat at the Othona Community West Dorset
Further on with the Enneagram A workshop for anyone familiar with the Enneagram and their own type
Study day at Wydale Hall
Study day at Wydale Hall
The Incarnation - A Study Day A study day to explore the doctrine of the incarnation - what does it mean? Led by: Bishop Graham Cray Cost £30.00 including lunch and refreshments
7 events,
Young adults weekend at Whalley Abbey
Young Adults’ Weekend - led by Anna and Andy Walker Gathering at Whalley Abbey in the wake of the Taizé European meeting, for anyone interested in ecumenism, the challenge of solidarity within the human family and sharing our stories.
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 Spring Retreat 2025, to be held at Sheldon Retreat Centre from 7-9 March, and co-led by poet Helen Evans and Demelza Henderson. Find out more by clicking here.
There are many Individually Guided Retreats (IGRs) listed in our online calendar – simply type ‘IGR’ into the search function to find the right one for you!
The Minutes of our recent AGM are available to read online here, or you can access our Autumn Newsletter here.
This week we are praying for...
Each week we pray for one of our member retreat houses. This week we are praying for Helen Stanton (Warden), and for all who live, work or seek refreshment at Holland House in Worcestershire
Are you looking for a new challenge?
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.