 There can be few, if any, more delightful and peaceful places than the Diocesan Retreat House of the Anglican Dioceses of Durham and Newcastle. It is set in many acres of beautiful grounds not far from the small village of Riding Mill, Northumberland. The house itself is spacious and comfortable, and all its rooms will have been converted to en-suite by next summer. Shepherd's Dene can be reached with relative ease by car, by bus, or by rail and taxi from the station. Click on the map to enlarge it.
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Individually
Guided Retreats 2010 For the past three years the St Antony's team has run highly successful individually-guided retreats at Shepherd's Dene, near Riding Mill, Northumberland (see map below). The retreats have proved so popular, and pressure of numbers has increased so much, that a third week has been added in 2010.
But please note - there are only 15 places for each of the retreats. It is best to book early to ensure you get a place. It will help us if you plan ahead as far as possible, since it can be difficult to make last-minute adjustments. To have a booking form for sent to you, please email us your name and address, telling us which of the three retreats you plan to attend. Click on the envelope to send an email to St Antony's Priory *. Each retreat seeks to enable each person to engage deeply with God in an atmosphere of silence and prayer. It's unusual to find this sort of retreat in the north-east of England and within easy reach of the major centres. Those who come need have no previous experience of doing a retreat. A special feature of the retreats is their ecumenical nature. St Antony's aims to be strongly inclusive of everyone - of those who attend church and those who don't. The retreat guides are experienced in being with those who are closely linked to tradition as well as with those who make their own way in life's spiritual journey. Each person is offered an experienced, skilled director to accompany him or her through the time of the retreat. The retreatant and the director meet each day for about half-an-hour, when guidance for prayer and meditation will be offered for the following day. This guidance is particularly useful if someone is new to this type of retreat. Art material will be available, and other forms of creativity are encouraged in the days of retreat. Therapeutic massage will also be available by prior arrangement. Much of each day is spent in silence and all meals are silent. Some are not used to silent meals - but participants quickly settle in to them and learn to value them. There is a daily Eucharist and shared silent prayer each evening. |
