Individual Retreats

Individually-guided retreats enable a deep spiritual encounter to happen in solitude, helped by daily meetings with a guide, where there is an opportunity to talk about the day's experiences, and clarify the next step of the prayer journey.

Ideas for a Successful Retreat

Abbey House offer a range of individually guided retreat plans to help you - topics include Nature, Spirituality, Time to Think and Pray and The Benedictine Way.

The library has a good collection of books on Spirituality, prayer, icons, painting, embroidery, Martin Israel, Glastonbury, calligraphy and more. We also have a selection of arts and craft materials available.

There are some board games and jigsaws too.

Additional Ideas to Enhance Your Retreat

We can help you to book the following:

• Guided tour on foot of Glastonbury's Sacred sites
• Therapies (book and pay in advance) - massage, cranio sacral, reflexology and acupuncture
• Visits to local village churches
• Visit to the Bird Reserve at Westhay - acknowledged for successfully breeding Bitterns and in winter for amazing aerial displays by starlings coming to roost.

Prayer Services, Communion & Spiritual Direction

• There are several churches in Glastonbury - St John's, St Benedict's, St Patrick's and St Margaret's are all Anglican. Also there are a United Reformed Church, Methodist church, St Mary's Roman Catholic Church and the Community church.
• Morning Prayer is said and communion celebrated somewhere within walking distance on most days of the week.
• There is a Quaker Meeting in Street - a 20 minute walk or a short bus ride.
• Wells Cathedral is 6 miles away served by a regular bus from just outside the retreat house.
• Spiritual direction can be arranged - please ask when making your booking.

What to Bring?

Abbey House is situated in the centre of town but within minutes of good country walks and the Tor.

• Walking gear
• Dressing gown
• Slippers
• Camera (we get some spectacular sunsets over the Abbey ruins!)