The Association for Promoting Retreats (APR) was founded in 1913 to promote the development of the Christian life through retreats, particularly within the Anglican Communion.

Today the APR works in partnership with the Retreat Association, serving alongside each other in strengthening the understanding and importance of retreats within our own Church traditions and to promote the value of retreats: for individuals, for the Church, and for society as a whole. Take a look around and discover how a retreat could be just what you are looking for.

We support Retreat Houses across the UK (and beyond) by promoting their work and individual retreats, and through our cycle of prayer. This week, do join us in praying for Sheila Cotterill (Warden), and all who live, work or seek refreshment at Llangasty Retreat House, near Brecon.

A selection of members’ events is shown below – find more by clicking the Retreats and Events heading.

Noticeboard

Our NHS Bursary Fund is now closed

As the APR’s way of saying ‘thank you’ to NHS Staff and care-workers for their tireless care throughout the pandemic, we made a number of additional bursaries available for them to go on retreat at any of the APR Retreat Houses across the UK. Thanks to some generous donations, we were able to run the scheme for 2 full years.

In total, we spent almost £20,000 supporting 240 NHS- and care-workers’ retreats, at UK retreat houses from Cornwall to Inverness, Pembrokeshire to Norfolk. You can read a fuller review of how much this scheme was appreciated here.

Our centenary Bursary Fund continues to support retreats for people who might not otherwise be able to afford them. If you would like to contribute to this, and help even more people take a much-needed retreat this year, please follow this link.

Virtual ‘Oasis Days’

‘Oasis Days’ offer quiet reflection for people who need a day to re-charge their spiritual batteries and enjoy the stimulation of an excellent speaker.

Currently offered online via Zoom, the next one (entitled ‘Hildegard of Bingen: Finding God in all things’, led by Jane Franklin) is to be held on Tuesday 13th September, 10.45am – 3.00pm. Please email APR member, Jane Franklin on janefranklinretreats@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

‘Taster’ Retreats

Do you want to go on retreat, but are anxious about what might be expected of you?

Many people are nervous about going on retreat for the first time – but there’s really no need! All retreat houses welcome ‘first-timers’ through their doors, for all their retreats, but some also offer retreats specifically for people who haven’t been on one before.

This year, you could choose from the Coach House Kilmuir (near Inverness) or Launde Abbey from 16-18 September?

Or Penhurst Retreat Centre in East Sussex from 28 Nov – 1 Dec?

And many of the individually guided retreats at the House of Prayer, East Molesey, are suitable for beginners too – including retreats from 9-13 Sept or 7-9 Oct.