The 2026 APR Autumn retreat will be held at Holy Rood House, Thirsk, from 20th – 22nd October, and will be led by APR Chair, the Revd Cameron Butland. Cameron has been Chair of the APR since 2024. Before he retired, Cameron was chaplain to the Bishop of Carlisle and Diocesan Spirituality Adviser. He is an experienced leader of retreats and quiet days, with a keen interest in both contemplative prayer and pilgrimage, and is the author of numerous books, including ‘Walking into Celtic Spirituality’ (2013), and ‘Soul Desire’ (2020).
Holy Rood House is a comfortable retreat house with beautiful gardens, set in a quiet location on the edge of Thirsk in North Yorkshire. Most of its bedrooms are en-suite. There is one fully-accessible room on the ground floor for those with disabilities, and upper floor rooms are accessible using stairs or a stairlift. Guests are encouraged to make use of the many outdoor sitting areas, as well as the chapel and oratory. The retreat will cost £350 per person for APR Members and for all bookings made before Friday 1st May 2026, and £360 per non-APR member thereafter; this will include all your meals. Please advise us of any dietary needs at the time of booking. You can book online here and pay via Paypal, or download a Booking Form here and post it to us with your payment.
Entitled, ‘Walking into Spirituality’, this retreat will be based on themes from Cameron’s forthcoming book. Cameron writes, ‘We will reflect on the encounters with God that are experienced in our life journeys. Beginning with the stories of Jesus in the Gospels, together with the experience of Christians such as St Helena, St Cuthbert, St Francis, George Fox, John Wesley and contemporary teachers, we will explore the way in which we can come to discern the Holy Spirit in thin places and in the people we meet ‘. This will be a largely silent retreat, with plenty of time for your own prayer and reflections.
