Desert Fathers and Mothers
Shepherd's Dene, Northumberland, has "Light Touch, Deep Wisdom -
Learning from Desert Fathers and Mothers", 11-15 May
(www.shepherdsdene.co.uk).
Douai Abbey, Reading, Berkshire, is running a retreat on the
Desert Fathers and Mothers, 15-17 May (www.douaiabbey.org.uk).
The Tŷ Croeso Centre, in Cwmbran, Torfaen, is running a preached
retreat on the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, 9-18 July
(www.tycroesocentre.co.uk).
Belmont Abbey, in Hereford, has "Bandits and Camel Drivers:
Meeting those extraordinary Desert Fathers", 20-23 July
(www.belmontabbey.org.uk).
Supporting family life
The Chemin Neuf Community is hosting a CANA weekend for couples
(children are looked after), from 28 February to 1 March at The
Priory, Storrington, West Sussex, and a CANA week at Sclerder
Abbey, Looe, Cornwall, from 2 to 8 August
(www.chemin-neuf.org.uk).
Minsteracres Retreat Centre, near Consett, Co. Durham, is
running a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend for married couples
who wish to enrich their relationship, 8-10 May
(www.wwme.org.uk).
Douai Abbey, Reading, Berkshire, is running a retreat for
mothers, 18-20 September (www.douaiabbey.org.uk).
Green Pastures, Poole, Dorset, is running a family week from 27
July to 1 August, and 17-22 August (www.green-pastures.org).
Marygate House, Holy Island, Northumberland, hosts a
young-explorers family retreat, sharing various all-age activities,
prayers, and meditations, 2-7 August
(www.marygatehouse.org.uk).
St Beuno's Ignatian Spirituality Centre, St Asaph, Denbighshire,
is running a marriage enrichment weeekend 18-20 September
(www.beunos.com).
Literature
Mill House Retreats, Tiverton, Devon, is planning a
creative-writing weekend from 6 to 8 February, and a
creative-writing week from 31 May to 4 June
(www.millhouseretreats.co.uk).
Otley Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk, has a one-day retreat, "Mariner! A
voyage with Samuel Taylor Coleridge", on 11 April; the poetry of
Christina Rossetti, on 28 April; Betjeman (and Brideshead)
revisited, on 11 September (www.otleyhall.co.uk).
Charney Manor, Wantage, Oxfordshire, has "Experiencing
Shakespeare", 15-19 June (www.charneymanor.com).
Minsteracres Retreat Centre, near Consett, Co. Durham, is
running a weekend retreat that explores the life and writings of
Etty Hillesum, a Dutch Jewish woman whose letters and diaries
describe life in Amsterdam during the Second World War, 26-28 June
(www.minsteracres.org).
The Well at Willen, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, has "The
Screwtape Letters and the banality of Evil: An exploration of
C. S. Lewis's work", on 27 June; and a retreat, "'Musick at
midnight': The poetry of George Herbert", 26 September
(www.thewellatwillen.org.uk).
Green Pastures, Poole, Dorset, hosts a writers' retreat, 10-12
July (www.green-pastures.org).
Cockfosters Centre for Spirituality, Oakwood, London, is putting
on "A Word in Your Ear: Poets reflect on prayer", on 6 November
(www.benedictinecentreretreats.org.uk).
House of Prayer, East Molesey, Surrey, is running a poetry
workshop on 10 October (www.christian-retreat.org).
Penhurst Retreat Centre, near Battle, East Sussex, is running a
writers' weekend workshop, 13-15 November
(www.penhurst.org.uk).
Icons
The House of Prayer, in East Molesey, Surrey, is planning "The
Holy Icon", on 28 February, and an icon-painting course, 25-30 May
(www.christian-retreat.org).
The Monastery of Our Lady of Hyning, in Lancashire, is running
an icon-making workshop (intermediate/advanced level), 16-20 March;
and for beginners, 1-5 June, and 5-9 October (www.hyning.org).
Minsteracres Retreat Centre, near Consett, Co. Durham, will run
an icon-painting workshop from 27 April to 1 May
(www.minsteracres.org).
Launde Abbey, Leicestershire, is running an icon-painting
retreat, 27-31 July, and 7-11 September
(www.laundeabbey.org.uk).
The Well at Willen, in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, is
running an icon workshop for beginners and experienced
iconographers, "St Francis: Humility, love, and joy", 3-7 August
(www.thewellatwillen.org.uk).
Worth Abbey, in West Sussex, has "Writing in Gold: Icons of
Christ, a way to prayer", 18-20 September (www.worthabbey.net).
St Beuno's Ignatian Spirtuality Centre, St Asaph, Denbighshire,
is running a retreat on praying with icons, 25-28 September
(www.beunos.com).
The Society of Mary and Martha, in Exeter, Devon, is planning a
workshop, "Intrigued by icons?", 21-22 October
(www.sheldon.uk.com).
Clergy retreats
Launde Abbey, Leicestershire, is running a retreat for clergy
who are about to retire, or who have retired in the past year, 9-12
February (www.laundeabbey.org.uk).
Penhurst Retreat Centre, near Battle, East Sussex, hosts
"Finishing well", for those in full-time ministry who are preparing
for retirement and beyond, 12-15 February
(www.penhurst.org.uk).
Marygate House, Holy Island, Northumberland, has a directed
retreat for clergy, 23-27 February (www.marygatehouse.org.uk).
The Society of Mary and Martha, Exeter, Devon, is running its
"12,000-mile Service", for ministers and/or their spouses to
recharge their batteries, 8-13 February, and again in 10-15 May,
5-10 July, 4-9 October, 15-20 November; a "Biology bites" workshop,
looking at stress, on 2 March, 24 June, and 19 October; and a
holiday week for families in ministry, 2-8 and 9-15 August
(www.sheldon.uk.com).
St Columba's House Retreat and Conference Centre, Woking,
Surrey, hosts an "Introducing the Enneagram" day for clergy (and
others in Christian leadership), on 16 July
(www.stcolumbashouse.org.uk).
The House of the Resurrection, Mirfield, West Yorkshire, is
running a clergy pre-Advent retreat, 16-20 November
(www.mirfieldcommunity.org.uk).