ammerdown

Make Your Own Silver Jewellery

Led by: Pauline Payne

Pauline Payne is a freelance jewellery designer. She studied at Portsmouth College of Art and Design and has gained a number of prestigious awards for her work. She has also been a popular tutor for...

Make Your Own Silver Jewellery

Led by: Pauline Payne

Pauline Payne is a freelance jewellery designer. She studied at Portsmouth College of Art and Design and has gained a number of prestigious awards for her work. She has also been a popular tutor for...

Understanding Islam 2018

Led by: Dr Chris Hewer

The Understanding Islam course offered by Ammerdown as part of its commitment to inter-faith relations has been developed over decades by Chris Hewer and delivered at Ammerdown for several years....

Alive- Living Fully, Living Happily, Living Fearlessly

Led by: Isabelle Gauthier

“Can you imagine a life that flows, a life filled with meaning, energy and purpose…?” Isabelle Gauthier Too often we go about our lives trying to achieve, acquire, and cope. We...

Spirituality of Jane Austen

Led by: Rev Paula Hollingsworth

We will use the lens of spirituality to explore the life of Jane Austen, as well as some of the plots and characters of her novels – and we will find some interesting overlaps! As well as talks...

Embroidered Pincushions

Led by: Annette Bolton

Annette Bolton is a gifted Textile and Bead artist who loves to share her art with others.  Annette says: “Regardless of the type of sewing project, pincushions are always very...

Chinese Brush Painting 2018

Led by: Maggie Cross

You will learn about the symbolism attached to this fascinating subject and you will be able to mount your work, ready for display. Suitable for all levels of ability. “Plenty of course...

Mindfulness Amongst the Christian Desert Mothers and Fathers

Led by: Liz Watson

We are pleased to welcome Liz Watson, (a friend and colleague of Kim Nataraja, who previously led retreats at Ammerdown). The mindfulness practices now popular in a secular context can be the...

The Loving Kindness of Your Youth

Led by: Rabbi Rachel Montagu

What do Jeremiah and Huldah teach us about truth and conveying God’s words to those who listen and those who don’t? During the weekend we will study Jeremiah and Huldah and see what their...

Bind Your Own Journal

Led by: Josie Brown

Whether for writing your memoirs, recording a journey or a year in your garden, or as an artisit’s sketchbook – this three-day course will provide the materials and practical...

Playing in the Presence of God

Led by: Revd Anna Garvie

In the busyness of life where time is often spent serving others, it is all too easy to forget the childlike delight and wonder essential to appreciating the gift of the Kingdom of God. Stepping away...

Living Theology - Our parish as a place of divine encounter.

Led by: Dr Michael Kirwan SJ & Dr Clare Watkins

Living Theology enters its fifth year at Ammerdown with a weekend residential course entitled “This grace dissolved in place.”  Our parish as a place of divine encounter. The...

The Poetry of the Psalms

Led by: Rabbi Howard Cooper

Do the Biblical poems we call the ‘Psalms of David’ still speak to us? Can we use them as part of our spiritual life? We welcome back to Ammerdown, Rabbi Howard Cooper who will lead...

Silk Shading

Led by: Clare Clensy

Clare Clensy trained on a three-year apprenticeship at the Royal School of Needlework, and has been teaching hand embroidery for more than 15 years, gaining much experience and a wealth of stitching...

Soft Pastels with Dawn Oliver

Led by: Dawn Oliver

Artist and Tutor Dawn Oliver has already led four Art courses at Ammerdown and received superb feedback each time. “Openness, kindness, flexibility, the knowledge and experience of the subject,...

Breathe Deep

Led by: Ian and Gail Adams

It’s a demanding thing to be a human being in these times. This weekend will be an opportunity to pause and breathe deep - to imagine the divine breath Yahweh breathing life in us, and through...

Seeds of Hope in Troubled Times

Led by: Margaret Silf

Reasons for hope can be hard to find when so much that is happening in our world feels hopeless. During this weekend we will reflect on some of the many seeds of authentic hope waiting to be planted...

Seeds of Hope in Troubled Times

Led by: Margaret Silf

Reasons for hope can be hard to find when so much that is happening in our world feels hopeless. During this weekend we will reflect on some of the many seeds of authentic hope waiting to be planted...

The Way Of Compassion - Jewish Christian Study Workshop

Led by: Sr Margaret Shepherd NDS & Johnathan Gorsky

The Catholic Jewish rapprochement which emerged from Vatican II is part of a profound process of transformation. It continues to inspire the radicalism of Pope Francis and is a challenge for all our...

Individually Guided Retreat 2018

Led by: Sr Felicity Youn LSU

This Individually Guided Retreat offers the opportunity for up to five people to spend several days in silence with Sr Felicity Young, an experienced Spiritual Director who will guide them in their...

The Stories That Shape Us

Led by: Margaret Silf

Human beings have the precious gift of imagination, which enables us to shape stories, myths and narratives in our search for meaning and understanding in our lives. These deep narratives have a more...

The Healing Power of VocalSound

Led by: James D'Angelo

Our essential nature is vibration, pulsation of consciousness. When we are in the flow, the vibrations of our subtle and physical bodies are in tune, sounding their true notes through the energy...

Wild Weaving - A craft in nature weekend retreat

Led by: Jess Tanner

During this course, participants will learn the basic principles of hand-weaving whilst working with a variety of looms, from simple back-strap style looms, miniature card looms and your own hand...

Moses, Prophet and Leader

Led by: Sr Maureena Fritz NDS

The most beloved person in the Hebrew Scriptures is Moses who became a prophet, a leader, and a friend of God. Of him it is said, “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face” (Ex....

Poetic and Prayerful Journey

Led by: Malcolm Guite

Poet-Priest Malcolm Guite focuses on the beautiful and mysterious ‘I AM’ sayings in St John’s Gospel, exploring new and refreshing ways to re-encounter these familiar texts. Malcolm...

Ammerdown Autumn Break

Led by: Gwyneth Evans & Revd Anna Garvie

Enneagram-Spiritual GIfts 2018

Led by: Karen Webb

The spiritual journey assisted by the Enneagram can be seen as freeing Essence from personality type, thereby animating the wisdom of the three centres of spiritual awareness, which are recognised in...

Stained Glass Window Workshop

Led by: Sarah Finch

Teaching people of all abilities, including complete beginners, how to make a stained glass window and ensuring that everyone leaves with a hand-made masterpiece of their own design is undoubtedly a...

Living in Fulness

Led by: Libby Dobson and Sarah Chabowska

"I(Jesus) came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance, to the full, until it overflows." (John: 10 v 10) This weekend will be a chance to reflect on ways in which we...

Make Your Own Silver Jewellery

Led by: Pauline Payne

Pauline Payne is a freelance jewellery designer. She studied at Portsmouth College of Art and Design and has gained a number of prestigious awards for her work. She has also been a popular tutor for...

Poetry, Prayer and Silence

Led by: Sue Glanville

Does poetry make your heart sing? Do you feel more and more drawn towards silence? Do you long to pray and meditate more creatively? This course is led by experienced teacher, retreat leader, life...

Watercolour and Drawing

Led by: Jos Blake

This will be a friendly and informal course, aimed at complete beginners and those with some experience. Among other starting points, you will use the beautiful environment of Ammerdown as an...

Calligraphy for All Levels

Led by: Josie Brown

This very popular course is led by expert tutor Josie Brown whose teaching abilities have been described as “beyond the excellent!” by one of our guests. Josie has been a professional...

Just Passing Through

Led by: Sue Brayne

This weekend workshop provides an opportunity to take time out from our hectic world so we can explore the challenges of growing older, the major themes that often unconsciously run our lives, and...

Bobbin Lace Making Autumn Workshop

Led by: Pompi Parry

Pompi says. “Bobbin lacemaking is fun, creative, and stimulating. Especially when like-minded students come together to extend their knowledge and learn new skills in a relaxed atmosphere. This...

The Art of Memoir Writing

Led by: Rosie Jackson

Following on from a very successful weekend in 2017, Rosie Jackson is back to lead a longer course in 2018. Rosie says: “Writing your own story is a wonderfully healing and fulfilling process....

More or Less About Jesus

Led by: John Bell

If we want to be more like Jesus, we have to do more than sing praise songs or concentrate on his birth and his death, which are separated by thirty three years of life. In this retreat, we will look...

Stumpwork Autumn Workshop

Led by: Annette Bolton

Annette Bolton says, “Stumpwork, or raised embroidery, is a lovely subject for this time of year.” Inspiration could be taken from the beautiful grounds of Ammerdown or from a variety of...

Is Christianity Wild?

Led by: Mary Colwell

A short course on the relationship between Christianity and the natural world. Many see Christianity as an urban faith, rooted in communities, carried out in buildings, focused on people. It can seem...

Praying with Handel's Messiah- Unto us a child is born

Led by: Euan Tait

Euan Tait returns to Ammerdown, as part of our Advent time of praying and preparation for Christmas, to explore the joyful transformation of heart and spirit that Handel’s Messiah’s Part...

Come and Sing for a Weekend with Pat Dowling

Led by: Pat Dowling

 ‘Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.’ Plato So come to Ammerdown and be part of a weekend filled with joyous and...

Advent Retreat with Fr Daniel O'Leary

Led by: Daniel O'Leary

‘AN ASTONISHING SECRET: The Love-story of Creation - the Wonder of You’ (Daniel O’Leary) Reflections on the beauty, challenges and pain of all life, and of our own in particular. An...

Ammerdown Christmas Houseparty

Led by: Ammerdown Volunteers

This is what came back to us:- “Christmas at Ammerdown was as wonderful as ever, thanks to the love and dedication of all who helped make it happen – plus the food was better than...