But what does that mean?
A book on Cistercian Christian spirituality puts our ethos very well:
“Decentering the self, making room for the Other of God through humility and obedience, entails the discipline of hospitality. It means making room in oneself for all who challenge us to move beyond the narrow confines of self-absorption, self-fixation, self-preoccupation. Through constant hospitality the monk is able to make room for the other: the other person, other people, and the Other who is God.”
At Holland House, as suggested by Rowan Williams https://www.hud.ac.uk/news/2017/july/spiritualityinhealthcareconferencewelcomesformerarchbishop, we believe that spiritual nourishing happens not in isolation, but in the connection of our bodies, minds, spirits and our enviromnemt. We, therefore, seek to engage with life as it is, and in the vision Jesus shared with us of life as God means it to be: in harmony with all creation, and with other human beings of all faiths and none, so that God’s reign is reflected, a reign characterised by justice, peace and concern for those who are especially vulnerable or oppressed.
We seek to hold a space where people are free to explore their own and societal issues, their living and being, in the context of God’s love ‘which is unbounded and eternal’ and is for all of us. Central to this is the concept of hospitality, not only in offering our care to guests through comfortable accommodation, good food, a beautiful house and gardens to enjoy, and in friendly conversation, but also in recognising that each guest, and each staff member, is a beloved child of God. We seek to welcome everyone as if they were our beloved sibling Jesus, as if they were strangers who are becoming friends.
To take stock, discern, take time to pay especial attention your life, and life with God.
It is possible to book an individually guided retreat for 2 or 3 days, where after an initial conversation with your accompanist to clarify your focus, you would be given some guidance and the opportunity to meet with your accompanist once a day to discuss what was emerging from your reading/ thinking/ praying/ looking.
Costs will be for a standard overnight stay plus a donation for accompanists, depending on the length of your stay. AS with other retreats, bursaries are available.
To book, dates can be negotiated with the Warden and other accompanists via Reservations.
Currently we have two accompanists for IGRs…
Emily Miller is an Ignatian-trained Spiritual Director working in Worcestershire and London. She enjoys supporting people with busy lives to find God in all things. Emily is a member of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis and has a background in business and mediation. Emily is an Anglican laywoman.
Helen Stanton is a theologian and spiritual director, and currently works as the Warden of Holland House. Helen often uses the arts as part of her ministry of spiritual accompaniment. For the last 25 years she worked in theological colleges and courses preparing Anglicans and Methodists for ordination. Helen is a Catholic Anglican laywoman.
Emily Miller is an Ignatian-trained Spiritual Director working in Worcestershire and London. She enjoys supporting people with busy lives to find God in all things. Emily is a member of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis and has a background in business and mediation. Emily is an Anglican laywoman.
Helen Stanton is a theologian and spiritual director, and currently works as the Warden of Holland House. Helen often uses the arts as part of her ministry of spiritual accompaniment. For the last 25 years she worked in theological colleges and courses preparing Anglicans and Methodists for ordination. Helen is a Catholic Anglican laywoman.
Make a prayer request
Part of our calling at Holland House is to pray for our fragmented world, for those who suffer and are oppressed; for God's creation and for all those who request our prayers. We offer these prayers at Holland House during Morning Prayer and the Eucharist, and we have a small network of those who share in offering these prayers remotely.
