United Reformed Church Retreats Group

The URC Retreats Group seeks to draw together those people in the United Reformed Church of Great Britain who share an interest in promoting silence and retreats.

Membership of the Group is open to all, subscription of £10 (£20 for congregations, retreat houses, other groups) brings Windows, the Retreat Association’s Retreats and other information.

The Core Group, which is represented on the Doctrine, Prayer and Worship committee of the Church, co-ordinates activities and offers support to Synods. It seeks to foster the following aims:

to create and make known opportunities for silence, quiet days and retreats, recognising that within the Church there is a need for both celebration and contemplation
to encourage an ecumenical sharing of the resources of spirituality
to deepen the spiritual life of congregations within the Church
to excite others about Silence

Three times per year it publishes a journal, Windows, and makes available leaflets and a starter pack, Exploring Stillness.

There are link persons or co-ordinators for silence and retreats in each of the thirteen Synods of the Church who seek to promote the use of silence and retreats in the individual and corporate life of the Church, initiate training opportunities, quiet days and retreats within the life of Synods, Districts and local congregations liaise with the national core group, with members of the Group within the Synods, and with those involved in training in the Synods. The United Reformed Church Retreats Group is a founder member of and closely associated with the Retreat Association.