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Below are residential retreats with significant time in silence or which relate to developing this spiritual practice. |
At the top of the page is information about silent retreats or with a related, specific theme.
Lower down are details of and links to retreat centres that offer frequent silence-based retreats and Ignatian Guided Retreats (IGRs), from weekends to 30 days.
Silent Retreats or retreats with a specific theme
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WCCM's two-year training:
WCCM Academy with Sarah Bachelard, Rowan Williams, Cynthia Bourgeault, Laurence Freeman and others, from April 2025 A programme of inter-disciplinary study in the context of contemplative practice, grounded in the Christian contemplative tradition, particularly as passed on through the WCCM. Inspired by meditation as a universal and unifying source of wisdom, it believes this wisdom can be enacted and applied across all of human life-experience and society. Based in ecumenical, interfaith and inclusive values. |
Cost: from £1700 per yr
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Week-long individually guided retreat
Going Deeper Friday 4th-Friday 11th July, House of Prayer, East Molesey Led by members of the House of Prayer team A silent individually guided retreat for those seeking a longer break from the busyness of the world to spend time in quiet prayer and reflection. A trained spiritual director will be available for daily individual meetings to accompany you through the retreat. Above all, this retreat is a time of listening to God who is present in the experiences of prayer and daily living. |
Cost: from £670
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WCCM's Bonnevaux Retreat
The Summer School: Dive Deep with Laurence Freeman, Stefan Reynolds & Briji Waterfield 13th-20th July, Bonnevaux, France Daily teaching on meditation from Fr Laurence Freeman will help you reach a deeper silence. Dive deep into the surprising riches of the Christian mystical tradition led by Dr Stefan Reynolds through talks and discussions. Workshops including yoga and breath-work, cooking and the labyrinth. Open to all whether you are new to meditation or not. |
Cost: from €840
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Weekend creative retreat
Knitting Retreat Friday 19th-Sunday 21st September, House of Prayer, East Molesey Led by Sr Cathy Edge Spend time knitting together and praying together, and in quiet reflection and prayer while exploring how our creativity can help us connect with God who created each one of us in love. For those who know the basics of knitting. Bring your own project to work on. There will be the opportunity for a ‘knitalong’ together. Yarn and needles will be provided for the ‘knitalong’ and some other small projects. |
Cost: from £210
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Taught retreat, Bonnevaux
Wisdom School with Cynthia Bourgeault Tues 30th September-Sun 5th October, Bonnevaux, France The Wisdom School offers movement from prayer to work, from intellectual stimulation to silence—and back again. It has more talking than a meditation retreat: the Wisdom model suggests that it is not through specialisation in any one mode (contemplative silence, thinking, bodywork) that one learns Wisdom, but through moving smoothly & rhythmically through all three, without getting stuck in any one of them. |
Cost: from €600
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WCCM's 2025 Monte Oliveto retreat
Be Still and Know that I Am God with Laurence Freeman Sun 5th-Sun 12th October, Abbazia de Monte Oliveto Maggiore, Italy Fr Laurence will guide the retreat and give a short teaching each morning after breakfast. There will be eight periods of meditation together, contemplative walking with good, healthy meals in convivial silence. Each participant meets with their mentor-guide daily and shares in a simple contemplative Eucharist in late afternoon. |
Cost: from €1,330
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Weekend silent retreat
Longing for God: A Silent Retreat Friday 3rd-Sunday 5th October, House of Prayer, East Molesey Led by the House of Prayer team A silent individually guided retreat for busy people, those who have not made a retreat before, or for anyone who needs time away to stop, breathe, and pray. A trained spiritual director will be available for daily individual meetings to accompany you through the retreat. Above all, this retreat is a time of listening to God who is present in the experiences of prayer and daily living. |
Cost: from £210
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Weekend silent retreat
Contemplating Earth: The Ecology of the Heart with Jim Green, Fri 14th-Sun 16th November Hyning Monastery, Carnforth LA5 9SE Christian Meditation Cumbria's Autumn retreat (WCCM). This will be a silent retreat but with input about meditation and ecology from author, meditator and retreat leader, Jim Green. More info to follow. |
Cost: tbc
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Weekend WCCM silent retreat
A wakening the Heart Friday 14th-Sunday 16th November, House of Prayer, East Molesey Led by Briji Waterfield, from WCCM Meditation in the Christian tradition has been called ‘the prayer of the heart’ which leads to the core and essence of who we are. In the silence, stillness and simplicity of meditation we uncover our deepest reality and our connection to all that is. Suitable for those who are on their journey of meditation and would like to go deeper and those wanting to learn to meditate in the WCCM tradition. |
Cost: from £220
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Weekend silent retreat
Longing for God: A Silent Retreat Tues 25th-Thurs 27th November, House of Prayer, East Molesey Led by the House of Prayer team A silent individually guided retreat for busy people, those who have not made a retreat before, or for anyone who needs time away to stop, breathe, and pray. A trained spiritual director will be available for daily individual meetings to accompany you through the retreat. Above all, this retreat is a time of listening to God who is present in the experiences of prayer and daily living. |
Cost: from £220
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Centres for regular silence-based retreats & IGRs
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SCOTLAND
Ignatian Guided Retreats (IGRs), or self-directed silence The Bield at Blackruthven, near Perth On an individually guided retreat, your guide is there to help you listen to and find God’s presence in the circumstances of your life. You will usually have a daily meeting with your retreat guide. Alternatively, you may choose to be in silence or part-silence during your retreat. You may wear a 'Silence' badge available from reception so others will know that you are in silence. |
Cost: from £70 a night
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SOUTH of ENGLAND
Ignatian Guided Retreats (IGRs), Centering Prayer and more! The House of Prayer, East Molesey, KT8 0PB This well-loved retreat centre in Kent has a huge range of residential retreats planned throughout 2023, from mid week or weekend silent retreats to 8 day more intensive silent retreats. Some are led by Centering Prayer practitioners, others by people from the WCCM tradition and others by the House of Prayer's own ministry team. These retreats are always in demand so do book early. |
Cost: £200-£700
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SOUTH WALES
Self-guided and IGR Retreats, from a weekend to 30 day Llanerchwen Retreats, Brecon, Wales Llanerchwen is known as a special place by all who go there, often over many years. It is almost unique in the UK, offering individual hermitage spaces, some in wooden cabins and others in small buildings. All are set in beautiful surroundings and in a very quiet location in the hills above Brecon. Each hermitage has its own self-catering facilities. There is a newly built art cabin and a chapel. Spiritual accompaniment is available where requested. |
Cost: £55 a night
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NORTH WALES
Weekend, 4 6, 8 and 30 day retreats St Beuno's, Flintshire, Wales Availability from early October. New dates being added. St Bueno's have resumed residential Retreats. Some will be fully guided Ignatian Guided Retreats (IGRs), from weekend retreats to the full 30 days Ignatian Exercises. Other different retreats, from walking to art, are also planned. Early booking is advised. Their programme listings also include ON LINE retreats. |
Cost: from £130 but
bursaries are available |
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You can search the entire website here.
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