A retreat is your chance to step aside from life for a while, to rest and just 'be' in a welcoming, peaceful place.
Holy Rood House, Centre for Health and Pastoral Care
10 Sowerby Rd, Sowerby, Thirsk YO7 1HX, UK
Contact Details
Contact Name:
Carolyn Williamson, Community Bookings Manager
Email:
Telephone:
01845 522580
Retreat Centre Description
We are an intentional, therapeutic and educational community in our 32nd year, welcoming people of all ages and backgrounds, including clergy, carers, seekers and groups, those on the margins of society and the church. Inclusive liturgies, feminist and pastoral theologies, a safe space for inclusive expressions of identity, our professional approach and community life, all help our guests to feel safe enough to allow the unsafe to be held tenderly. We accompany those with trauma, mental and physical ill health, relational and other concerns, through our counselling and psychotherapy service, chaplaincy, creative arts and gardens, pastoral care, spiritual direction and rhythm of prayer and good hospitality. We work for justice, peace and an ‘Ecology of Health’ through the Centre for the Study of Theology and Health, our annual Hildegard Lecture, Summer School, library, sabbaticals, publications and research.
‘Holy Rood sits with the complexities and tangle of the lives that come to it, rather than preaching a simplicity or suggesting it can easily be straightened out and sorted ’.
Accommodation on Offer
Residential for 20 (single, twin, double, en-suite); Access and Carer's ground-floor suite leading into the gardens and the chapel. Chair lift and ramp. Comfortable lounges. Facilities in Juliet House for meetings and gallery space. Large art room and library. Large garden with labyrinth, pond, hens and goats and quiet chapel. Parking spaces.
Retreat Centre Facilities
Please see website for retreat centre facilities
Types of Retreat Offered
Please see website for retreats offered
2024 Events
February
6 Relaxing Wellbeing Day for body, mind and spirit Helen Warwick
16-18 Lent Retreat Revd Jan Berry
March
1-3 Community Companions Revd Elizabeth Baxter and Community
7 Spring Garden Day Helen Warwick and Mike Hall
19 On-line Lent Creative event Helen Warwick
27 - 3 April Holy Week and Easter Retreat Revd Elizabeth Baxter and Community
May
31 - 2 June Men's Spirituality Retreat Urs Mattmann and team
June
11 Summer Garden Day Helen Warwick and Mike Hall
21-23 Celebrating the Solstice Retreat The Holy Rood Community
July
6 Open House and Gardens
18 Relaxing wellbeing day for body, mind and spirit Helen Warwick
August
17-24 Self-Catering Holidays for groups, families, individuals
September
19 Autumn Garden Day Helen Warwick and Mike Hall
October
4-6 Community Companions The Holy Rood Team
25-27 Wisdom Retreat – ‘Exploring Wisdom of the Earth’ Helen Warwick
November
1-3 Men's Spirituality Retreat Urs Mattmann and team
29-1 Dec Advent Retreat Holy Rood Community
December
3 Advent Garden Day Helen Warwick and Mike Hall
10 On-line Advent Creative event Helen Warwick
13-14 Mini Christmas Retreat Holy Rood Community
23-27 Christmas Houseparty Holy Rood Community
30-3 Jan New Year Houseparty Holy Rood Community
2025 Events
Our theme for 2025 is, “Life in all its fullness”
In addition to the dates below, we are planning a support session for young activists; library days around contemporary theological issues and weekend retreats on the themes of hospitality and sanctuary for all and photography and spirituality. We are in the process of rebuilding our website and from the autumn that’s where all the latest information can be found.
Sue & Sibylle
January
3-5 New Year Retreat
24 – 26 Richard Rohr inspired retreat – The Divine Dance
February
13th – Wellbeing Day on Love
March
18th – Creative Lent Day
April
17th – 22nd – Holy Week and Easter Retreat
May
13th May – Spring Quiet Garden Day
16th – 18th – Men’s Retreat
June
3rd – Wellbeing Day
20 – 22nd – Solstice Retreat
July
24th – Summer Quiet Garden Day
September
17th – Autumn Quiet Garden Day
October
17th – 19th – Wisdom Calls Retreat
November
11th – Remembrance Quiet Garden Day
21st – 23rd – Men’s Retreat
28th – 30th – Advent Retreat
December
9th – Creative Advent Day
23rd – 27th – Christmas Retreat
Retreat Centre Location
10 Sowerby Rd, Sowerby, Thirsk YO7 1HX, UK