A retreat is your chance to step aside from life for a while, to rest and just 'be' in a welcoming, peaceful place.
Sisters of St Andrew
99 Belmont Hill, Blackheath, London SE13 5DY, UK
Contact Details
Contact Name:
Sisters of St Andrew
Email:
Telephone:
020 8852 1662
Retreat Centre Description
Notes: The Sisters of St Andrew, an Ignatian congregation, was founded in the Middle Ages to welcome pilgrims en route to Compostela in Spain. Since 1231, we continue to welcome individuals and groups for times of retreat, silence and personal reflection. Our house of welcome is a real haven, a surprisingly peaceful oasis situated halfway between Lewisham and Blackheath, close to Greenwich and Lee. The beautiful round ‘Oast’ House Chapel with its stained-glass windows provides a space for both personal and group prayer. Visitors are welcome to join the community prayer. There are facilities for small and larger day groups, maximum 25. Self-catering only.
A well-equipped kitchen is available. Drinks are provided. Art materials, books, pictures, music and other resources are available for use in the house. The large garden surrounding the house is partly meadow, and includes a vegetable garden and a grass labyrinth. The house is situated close to Blackheath Common, Greenwich Park and smaller local parks as well as the Thames path.
The Sisters are available by request for input/facilitation/spiritual accompaniment/self-catering retreats/retreats in daily life (19th Annotation)/supervision and outreach.
Please check the website regularly for an update of forthcoming events not included
Accommodation on Offer
8 single with WC and washbasin, and 1 en suite.
Disabled access within the house including a lift and path access to the surrounding gardens. Fully-equipped kitchenettes. Self-catering only. Shops and amenities close by. Parking. Easily accessible from mainline stations to Blackheath/Lewisham, DLR and buses (bus stop outside the property). Proximity to A2 and A20.
There are facilities for small and larger day groups, maximum 25. Self-catering only.
A well-equipped kitchen is available. Drinks are provided. Art materials, books, pictures, music and other resources are available for use in the house. The large garden surrounding the house is partly meadow, and includes a vegetable garden and a grass labyrinth.
Retreat Centre Facilities
Please see website for retreat centre facilities
Types of Retreat Offered
Please see website for retreats offered
2024 Events
Friday 5 to Sunday 14 January: Epiphany retreat: A silent retreat with personal accompaniment by a sister (IGR). 3 to 8-Day retreats. 2 nights minimum.
Saturday 20 January: Extravagant love. ‘Meeting God through poetry’. With Mary Lean
Friday 2-Sunday 4 February: Stepping Stones into Silence:
A silent retreat for beginners with personal accompaniment by a sister (IGR) .
Sunday 18 February to Sunday 17 March:
Lent Retreat:A four-week retreat in daily life.
A time for God. Led by a team of spiritual accompaniers and the sisters (more information on our website)
Saturday 2 March: Lenten Quiet Day. with a sister
Sunday 24 to Thursday 25 March. Holy Week Retreat.
From Sunday 24, 5pm to Thursday 28,10am. Each morning at 10 am there will be an input to open the personal time of prayer and silence. In the evening, there will be a time of sharing (optional) and a meditative worship at 6.30pm (Sunday, Monday and Wednesday) or 7.30pm (Tuesday). Possibility to have a one to one meeting with one of the sisters. Come for one several several days. Booking essential.
From 6pm, the chapel is open to others who wish to join for the evening worship.
Saturday 27 April: "Looking into the Art of Ignatian Prayer 3” Exploring some of St Ignatius' ways of praying using Art Materials. A workshop day with Mary Chamberlin.
Saturday 18 May: 'Love was our Lord's meaning”- a reflective exploration of God's love for us, from the perspectives of Julian of Norwich and Ignatius of Loyola
A quiet day with Sheelagh Daly
Saturday 15 June: Celtic wisdom
with Kathleen O’Sullivan
Friday 19 to Sunday 28 July: An Urban Oasis Silent Retreat A silent retreat with personal accompaniment by a sister (IGR). “ nights minimum.
Saturday 28 September: “Stations of the Cosmos”, A day of prayer and reflection in the Season of Creation Led by Sr Regula
Friday 25-Sunday 27 October Stepping Stones into Silence A silent retreat for beginners with personal accompaniment by a sister(IGR)
Saturday 30 November Advent Quiet Day- With a sister.
Sunday 1st December: St Andrew’s Open Afternoon
Tuesday 10 December: Meditative Evening prayer including Taizé Chants (no Prayer on the last Tuesday of December)
Care of Our Common Home: some events inviting to reflect, share and pray about our commitment to the ‘Care of Our Common Home’. Consult the website.
‘Come away’. One Thursday a month: 10.30am – 12.30pm. For those who care for a loved one suffering from ill-health. A time to come away, pause, reflect, listen and share. Contact Sr Regula.
Meditative evening prayer including Taizé chants.
Change of day: From January 2024, the prayer will be on last TUESDAY and no more on Wednesday.
Each month except July, August and December. 7.30 to 8.30pm. Arrive at 7.00 if you wish to practice the songs. No need to book. 2024: 30/1, 27/2, 26/3, 30/4, 28/5, 25/6, 24/9, 29/10, 26/11, 10/12.
Mass with the community. Weekly Friday evenings 6.30-7.15pm. (call to check the previous day).
2025 Events
‘Come away’. One Thursday a month: 10.30am – 12.30pm. For those who care for a loved one suffering from ill-health. A time to come away, pause, reflect, listen and share. Contact Sister Regula.
Meditative evening prayer including Taizé chants.
Each last Tuesday of the month except July, August and December. 7.30 to 8.30pm. Arrive at 7.00 if you wish to practice the songs. No need to book. 2025: 28/1, 25/2, 25/3, 29/4, 27/5, 24/6. 30/9, 28/10, 25/11, 9/12.
Contact us for:
Groups for the day (up to 25), residential groups (up to 9), individual quiet day or retreat of several days with or without a personal accompaniment, online individually guided retreat, spiritual accompaniment and supervision of spiritual accompaniment. Mass with the community.
January
5 - 14 " Epiphany retreat" A silent retreat with personal accompaniment by a sister. 3 to 8-Days, 3 days minimuminimum.
February
14 - 16 "Stepping Stones into Silence" A silent retreat for beginners with personal accompaniment by a sister.
March
9 March - 6 April: "Lent Retreat" A four-week retreat in daily life. A time for God. Led by a team of spiritual accompaniers and the sisters (In person or online, see information on our website)
15 "Keeping Track of Lent". A Lent Quiet Day, using art materials. Led by Mary Chamberlin. 10am - 4pm
April
13 - 17 Three days of silent prayer and reflection at the beginning of Holy Week. Every morning there will be an introduction to prayer, reflection and silence. You are welcome to join the Evening prayer of the community. With Sister Christiane and Sister Regula.
May
10 "Consider the Lilies" A Quiet Day to celebrate the beauty of Creation. Facilitated by Mary Lean. 10am - 4pm
23 - 26 "Journeying with Icons" A themed silent retreat. Each morning there will be an input introducing one or two icons to feed the day of prayer and silence. With Sister Marie-Christine.
June
14 "Sacred Sculptor" A quiet day using the sculptures of Imogen Stuart, who was deeply influenced by Celctic spirituality. Facilitated by Kathleen O'Sullivan. 10am - 4pm.
July/August
27 July - 5 August "An Urban Oasis Silent Retreat" A silent retreat with personal accompaniment . 3 to 8 days;
3 days minimum.
September
27 A Quiet Day of prayer and reflection in the Season of Creation, with Sister Regula. 10am - 4pm.
October
24 - 26 "Stepping Stones into Silence" A silent retreat for beginners with personal accompaniment.
November
8 "The Drama Triangle and the Winner's Triangle" A workshop day with Sister Christiane. 10am - 4pm.
30 " St Andrew’s Open Afternoon". Come any time between 2.30pm and 5.30pm
December
6 "Anticipating Hope" . A Quiet Day to reflect on the promise of hope in Advent. Facilitated by Sheelagh Daly. 10am - 4pm
9 "Meditative Evening prayer" including Taizé Chants (no Prayer on the last Tuesday of December)
7.30 to 8.30pm.
Retreat Centre Location
99 Belmont Hill, Blackheath, London SE13 5DY, UK