Journeying | Pilgrimage Holidays | Christian Walking Holidays | Christian Short Breaks

Cost

£475

Description

A refreshing break at the Convent of St Mary the Virgin, Wantage, with short walks and time to simply be… The perfect opportunity to recharge and renew in peaceful surroundings.

Walks and Excursions

Situated on the edge of the Berkshire Downs, within beautiful grounds, the Convent offers community and space. We will immerse ourselves in both. Our days, two full and two part, will follow a pattern of gathered worship with the Sisters, time out walking as our own group, meals and the freedom to do as much of your own thing as you like: read, reflect, walk...

Within the Convent grounds we will be able to enjoy the Silent Garden, Orchard and Water Garden. There is also a labyrinth which we can walk around, to help us find our centre and connect with God. On the Tuesday afternoon we will visit the nearby John Betjeman Millennium Park, an oasis of calm on the edge of the town.

On Wednesday and Thursday we will do a short walk each day, no more than four miles long. These will be at a leisurely pace, pausing for reflections and readings on the Way. On Friday morning we will have a Prayer Walk around the Convent - a special time just for you and God. There will be stopping points to pause and consider a question or thought suggested, and then when you are ready - there is no hurry - walk slowly to the next. A Prayer Walk is an opportunity to ask God what he wants of you and for you to offer yourself to God. Many find this to be a time of peace and encounter.

Accommodation

St Mary’s Convent has been refurbished to a high standard and the large grounds are big and well looked after. They include a lovely apple orchard, the fruit from which is sent elsewhere to be made into juice and then returned to the Convent for serving to guests and is also available to purchase. There is a library, several sitting rooms and a fully equipped art room for guests to use if they wish.

Accommodation is in single, ensuite rooms in the Convent Retreat Wing. Good quality, simple meals are taken in the Retreat Refectory, comprising a continental breakfast, cooked lunch and light supper. Tea and coffee making facilities are available throughout the day. Any dietary requirements can be catered for. Our first meal together will be lunch on Tuesday, our last, lunch on Friday.

Getting there

Please arrive mid-late morning. Car parking is available at the convent and there are electric car charging points. The nearest railway station is Didcot Parkway, from where a bus service runs to Wantage.

Contact

With Sue Peachey and Robin Westwood. For more information please contact:
Sue: sue9.peachey@gmail.com /+44 (0)7586 478848 or
Robin: rawestwood@sky.com / +44 (0) 7443 493943

After you have contacted the leader to check that a place is still available, to secure your place please pay your £200 deposit by clicking on the "Book Today" button below and then select the blue "View Details" button.