Tag Archives: Launde Abbey

Saturday Quiet Day: Walk In The Light

Walk In The Light

This Quiet Day presents an opportunity to discover the work of the Holy Spirit in the human heart, according to the Fathers of the Eastern Church.

A Quiet Day for Pentecost, the day will invite participants to engage the heart through a morning session entitled ‘The Purifying Light’ and an afternoon session entitled ‘The Glorifying Light’.

The day will start and end with informal versions of Orthodox Morning and Evening Prayer.

Dr Jim Wellngton

Dr Jim Wellington is a member of the Antiochian Orthodox Church and will lead this Quiet Day.

For over forty years Jim was a Church of England priest. He holds a doctorate from the Archbishop’s Examination in Theology for a thesis relating to the origins of Jesus Prayer, an MPhil from the University of Nottingham and an MA from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He is a conductor of retreats and quiet days on the Jesus Prayer and other aspects of spirituality.

Jim is the author of Christe Eleison! The Invocation of Christ in Eastern Monastic Psalmody c.350-450 (Berne: Peter Lang, 2015), Praying the Psalms with Jesus: A Journey of Discovery and Recognition (Cambridge: Grove Books, 2015), Beguiled by Jesus: Faith and the Language of Intimacy (Cambridge: Grove Books, 2017)., and Journeying with the Jesus Prayer (Oxford: SLG Press, 2020).

Quiet Day price: £44 includes lunch and coffee and tea throughout the day.
Why not think about extending your time at Launde by staying overnight before or after the event or even both! Check for availability and a quote when you contact us.

Yes – I’d like to take part in this Quiet Day! (Please complete this form to request a place.)

Saturday Quiet Day: Praying and Planning the Year

For many of us life happens so fast that there is little time to think and suddenly we find ourselves at the end of another year. So this is a day intentionally set aside at the start of the year, in which you will be gently guided to take time to pray about and plan elements of the year ahead.

This Quiet Day will be led by Alison Myers, the Warden of Launde Abbey.

Revd Alison Myers

Alison came to Launde Abbey having been a Team Rector in rural ministry in Cambridgeshire. She has crafted and led many reflective services and gatherings using spoken word, music, silence and creative prayer stations. She is also an experienced workshop leader and mentor, combining spirituality and theology with the practical challenges of leadership, team-working and managing change, informed by her working life before she was ordained as well as theological study and lifelong faith. Alison loves praying outdoors, a good cup of coffee, noticing the cycle of the seasons and encouraging a wondering faith. She lives with her family onsite at Launde Abbey.

Yes – I’d like to take part in this Quiet Day!

Beginners Retreat * FULLY BOOKED *

This retreat is now fully booked. Please complete the form on this page if you wish to be placed on the waiting list and our booking team will contact you shortly.

Are you someone who has been away on a parish weekend, perhaps been to a quiet day or two, but never experienced a residential retreat? Are you unsure how you might cope with a retreat, what you might do with your time, or whether you can cope with the silence? Then this is the retreat for you!

The aim of this semi-silent retreat weekend is to help you enter the world of silent retreats gently and with plenty of support. There will be guidance on how to use the time; periods on your own and with the other retreatants, and the opportunity to share your experience with others if you wish to do so. During you stay at Launde you can join in with the community’s rhythm of prayer and worship; walk, paint, potter or simply rest, as the spirit takes you.

Revd Chris Webb

Chris Webb, Deputy Warden of Launde Abbey and Diocesan Spirituality Adviser, is an Anglican priest who has ministered as president of a spiritual formation ministry in the USA, as a parish priest in Wales and in a church for the homeless. He is the author of two books: The Fire of the Word (2011) and God-Soaked Life (2017).

Revd Alan Humphrey

Alan Humphrey, Resident Chaplain at Launde Abbey, is an Anglican priest who came to Launde from a new monastic community where they were warden and house manager after being in parish ministry for several years. His enthusiasm for sharing his love of God stems from experiences throughout his varied earlier careers alongside many years of serving on team at New Wine.

Retreat price: £295 includes en-suite accommodation, all meals, and all retreat resources.
We offer an ‘Early Bird’ price of £275 if you pay in full before 17th January 2023.
It may be possible for you to extend your stay by arriving early. Why not check on availability and ask for a quote when you contact us.

Please complete this form to request a place on the retreat.

Quiet Day: Tools for Digging

TOOLS FOR DIGGING; finding wellsprings of hope in a parched land.

‘The Lord says, “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground.” ’ (Isaiah 44.3)

Against the backdrop of the overwhelming of contemporary life & global currents, and our ever greater risk of spiritual aridity, this Quiet Day will explore ‘Tools for digging’, including contemplative prayer, Lectio Divina, Kingdom praying, and various spiritual disciplines for contemplative living, drawing on the spiritual practises of Jesus of Nazareth, as well as centuries of Christian spiritual tradition. The metaphor of digging relates to Jesus’ parable of treasure hidden in the field, and the approach of Gerard Hughes SJ, in ‘God of Surprises’.

This Quiet day will reaffirm opportunities to live more deeply rooted in prayer, contemplative practise, and recovering a more prophetic spirituality.

Revd James Shakespeare

Revd James Shakespeare will be leading this Quiet Day. He is a local parish priest in Cambridge, as well as Bishop’s Spirituality Adviser for the Diocese of Ely. Previously James served in the Diocese of Leicester, developing a close link with Launde Abbey, and regularly assisting with Quiet Days. James is a regular spiritual director, as well as a tertiary Franciscan. James’ particular interests include contemplative spirituality, the religious life, church-community engagement, and working cross-culturally. James enjoys walking, novels and relaxing with his family.

Quiet Day price: £44 includes lunch and coffee and tea throughout the day.
Why not think about extending your time at Launde by staying overnight after the event. Check for availability and a quote when you contact us.

Yes – I’d like to take part in this Quiet Day! (Please complete this form to request a place.)

Quiet Day: Mother Julian’s Vision of Love

We try to avoid offering our popular Quiet Days on Bank Holiday Mondays but this May presents a bit of a challenge- there are three Bank Holidays! So we’re offering our usual Quiet Day on the first Monday of the month because we know that many folks rely on having an opportunity to escape to the beautiful serenity of Launde for a day with God.

Towards the end of the fourteenth century Mother Julian of Norwich had a vision of Christ crucified which shaped the rest of her life – and has been deeply influential on the lives of countless others since. She came to understand her vision as a revelation of God’s boundless and irresistible love for all creation: “He has made everything that has been made for love.”

During this Quiet Day we’ll ponder together a few small parts of Julian’s vision and explore the impulse of love underlying them all. And, of course, we’ll take time to pray and worship, and immerse ourselves in plenty of silence and stillness.

The Quiet Day will be led by The Revd Chris Webb, Deputy Warden of Launde Abbey.

Chris Webb is an Anglican priest, author, speaker and teacher dedicated to helping people experience a richer walk with God by growing in prayer and the spiritual life. He has ministered in a wide variety of contexts: as president of Renovaré, a spiritual formation ministry in the USA; as parish priest in Welsh farming communities and steelworking towns; and even in a church for the homeless. Chris is the author of two books: The Fire of the Word (2011) and God-Soaked Life (2017).

Yes – I’d like to take part in this Quiet Day! (Please complete this form to request a place.)

Icon Painting Retreat * FULLY BOOKED *

This retreat is now fully booked. Please complete the form on this page if you wish to be placed on the waiting list and our booking team will contact you shortly.

Join us for this five day icon painting course with experienced iconographer, Peter Murphy.

The course takes place in the prayerful and meditative atmosphere of one of the oldest and most beautiful retreat houses in England, which has its own medieval chapel. Over the course of the week, students will learn to gild and paint on a specially prepared wooden panel using traditional medieval techniques and materials.

This Byzantine Christ Pantocrator Icon, recently completed by Peter himself, will be available for participants to produce for themselves.

All materials, including gold leaf and pigments are included in the fee. Each course starts with an Anglican Eucharist, which all course participants are welcome to attend, and there is an opportunity to join in other services if required.

Peter Murphy

Peter Murphy was born in Leeds and was educated at the University of East London. He trained with iconographer Guillem Ramos Poqui in London. He was Vice Chairman of the Society of Tempera Painters and is a member of the British Association of Iconographers. He has been commissioned by a number of churches in the UK and has also been employed by a number of museums and has recently undertaken three major commissions for Hereford Cathedral. For more information about Peter and his work please visit: petermurphyicons.co.uk

Retreat price: £850 includes en-suite accommodation, all meals, and all retreat resources.
It may be possible for you to extend your stay by arriving early or leaving later. Why not check on availability and ask for a quote when you contact us.

Please complete this form to express interest in the retreat – we’re fully booked, but we do keep a waiting list in case of cancellations.

Look at the Birds * FULLY BOOKED *

This retreat is now fully booked. Please complete the form on this page if you wish to be placed on the waiting list and our booking team will contact you shortly.

Jesus told his followers to “look at the birds of the air” and Mark Winter as a keen birdwatcher has spent a lifetime following that teaching. Since 2004 Mark has helped others to look at birds on his Even Sparrows retreats on Holy Island, and he continues to marvel how birds teach us about God’s love. This May we welcome Mark back to Launde for a second birdwatching retreat; last year retreatants discovered that there were many exciting birds to see, hear and learn from. Come and enjoy a time of quiet Celtic Christian worship, biblical reflections and guided birdwatching walks.

Mark’s recent book, Look at the Birds of the Air, brings to life the role of birds in the Bible. He explores their importance to individuals like Noah, Moses and Elijah and their frequent mention in prophecy, wisdom literature and the psalms. Above all, Mark considers the significance of birds like the raven, dove and hen to Jesus himself.

Retreat price: £425 includes en-suite accommodation, all meals, and all retreat resources.
We offer an ‘Early Bird’ (!) price of £405 if you pay in full before 9th March 2023.
It may be possible for you to extend your stay by arriving early. Why not check on availability and ask for a quote when you contact us.

Please complete this form to request a place on the retreat.

Quiet Day: Unforced Rhythms Of Grace * FULLY BOOKED *

This Quiet Day is now fully booked. If you wish to be placed on our Waiting List please complete the form at the bottom of this page and our booking team will contact you regarding future availability. You may also wish to book on one of our future monthly Quiet Days on Mondays or our occasional Saturday Quiet Days.

In ‘The Message’ translation of Matthew 11: 28 -30 we read these words:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”

In this quiet day there is an invitation to slow down and, as we reflect on the greatest commandments, to consider how we might more fully live in these unforced rhythms.

The quiet day will be led Rhona Knight. Rhona was a GP and medical educator for 25 years. She was ordained in 2016 and led on teaching pastoral care at Lincoln School of Theology. Although now retired she continues to research, write and teach particularly in the area of boundaries and trauma in ministry. She is a retreat leader, spiritual director and pastoral supervisor. She enjoys reading, theatre, art, creativity and the outdoors.

Yes – I’d like to take part in this Quiet Day!

Lent Retreat: Images of Grace

We often hear the story of God’s relationship with us told in big abstract words: sin, repentance, forgiveness, atonement, grace. But the Bible describes each of these concepts with poetry, metaphor and images that link with our human senses, giving us a deeper understanding. On this retreat, led by author Amy Scott Robinson, we will be unpacking the boxes of those big abstracts to find the treats inside: real experiences of God’s love and of his plans for us.

Why have I always been wrong about Jonah? What happens when we forget that sin is a noun and not an adjective? What’s God hiding behind his back? What do two sticks have in common with the song of the angels? Find out the answers to all these and more as we encounter God in the tastes and touch, sights and sounds of life through the rich metaphors in scripture.

(The retreat will follow the structure of Amy’s Lent book, Images of Grace, but there is no need to have read the book, or to intend to read it – everything will be covered in the sessions.)

Amy Scott Robinson

Amy Scott Robinson is an author, poet and performance storyteller. She studied English at Christ’s College, Cambridge, trained as a primary school teacher and then founded a business for storytelling in education. She has written devotionals and liturgical resources, as well as five children’s books, and also works freelance as an editor. Amy is married to a vicar in Suffolk and they have two children.

“In Images of Grace, Amy opens the door for us to understand abstract concepts in concrete ways, ushering us into the presence of God.” – Amy Boucher Pye, author

“Images of Grace invites us into a refreshing journey of restoration and transformation…a warm and soothing welcome into God’s story of love over us, with fresh and enticing insights that take us to new places of intimacy and purpose with God.” – Liz Carter, author

Retreat price: £425 includes en-suite accommodation, all meals, and all retreat resources.
We offer an ‘Early Bird’ price of £405 if you pay in full before 6th January 2023.
It may be possible for you to extend your stay by leaving later. Why not check on availability and ask for a quote when you contact us.

Please complete this form to request a place on the retreat.

Quiet Day: The Light of Life

In one of the most memorable moments in the Bible, the old prophet Simeon takes the infant Jesus in his arms and offers a prayer of praise for the light coming into this world:

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace : according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen : thy salvation;
Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles : and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

During this Quiet Day we’ll reflect on the dawning of that life-giving light into our own lives – how it enlightens us, challenges us, renews and inspires us, and draws us into the presence of God. And, of course, we’ll take time to pray and worship, and immerse ourselves in plenty of silence and stillness.

Launde Abbey, Deputy Warden, Chris Webb The Quiet Day will be led by The Revd Chris Webb, Deputy Warden of Launde Abbey.

Yes – I’d like to take part in this Quiet Day!