What is a typical CARM retreat? Can there be one, given the different disciplines?

To begin with, whatever themed retreat you go on, you will arrive at an impressive retreat house, either out in the countryside or with large gardens of its own. Peace descends as you enter the grounds. The house is in order, clean and polished.  Tea or tea making facilities will be at hand, then there is time to settle into your individual room.  Rooms are increasingly ensuite.

Time to unpack and admire the view from the window, then time to go downstairs, into a comfortable sitting room and meet the retreat leaders. For now it will just be, hallo, have you had a good journey. This isn’t school. Appreciate - or puzzle – at the strange experience of not having to do anything or rush anywhere. Find the chapel if you like. There will be one of those as well.

After the evening meal everyone meets in one of the sitting rooms. This may be where the retreat house warden tells you about fire safety and what to do if you’ve forgotten your toothbrush. The leaders will explain about how the retreat will go, times of meals and meditations, and free time for yourself and your own communion with God. A form of evening prayer at takes place about 9pm, after which everyone is in silence until after the meditation next morning. Breakfast is usually in silence as well, which most people appreciate.

There is typically a meditation and a service each day. This may be traditionally Anglican, possibly Celtic or one of the chaplain’s own making. Chaplains tend to base them on how they perceive the retreatants and their needs. Then the leaser responsible for the creative side of things will start people in their art or craft work or give a talk in which retreatants are encouraged to be interactive; it’s not a lecture.  There is usually enough space to have a sitting room and anotherwhere creative work can be done. This provides variety; the sense of working in one place and sitting over coffee in another. And then there are the grounds to roam in, and the chapel.

There is a midday meal and another one in the evening, all meals will be well served and substantial. A cup of tea is also provided at 4pm, sometimes with cake as well. We do not go hungry. Fortunately the houses are much larger than the usual semi detached, so moving from room to room works off the calories!

Afternoons are usually free. People can continue with their work if they like. There are also opportunities to talk to the leaders if people wish to. Retreatants tend to support each other as well, but where people come away with a lot on their minds it is better if they speak to the leaders, as other people need their retreat space too.  No-one is obliged to take part in everything. No-one has to speak up in meetings. Most of all this is not a soul bearing place – there is privacy, respect and no embarrassment. On a more practical level, retreat houses provide downstairs rooms for those who are disabled, and special diets if they know in advance.

At the end of the retreat there is a final service, possibly a Holy Communion, in which the needs and atmosphere of the time together are offered to God. We can let the time go and return home, refreshed, knowing that we have met with God and moved on.

Ann R Parker

The photograph shows the back garden at the Ammerdown Retreat Centre,Bath ©. Click here for more information: www.ammerdown.org