A place for retreat and reflection

Our guest area is integral to our convent home, creating an atmosphere which is relaxed, quiet and comfortable.

We hope that your stay with us will offer an opportunity to step back from the rush of life into a place of reflection and prayer.

You are welcome to join us in our daily worship and to enjoy our chapel, library and extensive garden.

INDIVIDUAL RETREATS

We welcome anyone who would like to come for an individual retreat. What might this involve?

1. •shared times of silence
   

2. •silent prayer
   

3. •joining the Community for Worship & Liturgy
   

4. •meals together, both silent and talking
   

5. •browsing in our library
   

6. •enjoying our garden & also walks by the river Thames or in Richmond Park
   

7. •fellowship with afternoon tea space to breathe, to sleep, to rest
   

We also offer opportunities for you to have spiritual accompaniment during your stay. We aim to be fluid and  flexible with this as we use the tools of our training and our experience to adapt to where you are in your journey.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Spiritual Direction (sometimes called spiritual accompaniment). We offer Spiritual Direction for those staying with us as well as for those wishing to have on-going direction. We find that those coming for spiritual direction usually offer something between £10 and £30 per session depending on their means.

Reflexology, Massage, etc A variety of complementary therapies are available with an appointment.

Counselling/Psychotherapy For those who would value support in exploring the inner world, in depth, on a regular, ongoing basis, a Sister is qualified as a Counsellor and Psychotherapist and is available by appointment. Please contact Sr Susan on 07801 282 810

Suggested donation for guests.

£15 for the day with a meal or £10 without a meal £35 for 24 hours (residential guests) Those who are unable to pay this amount may apply for help from a bursary fund resourced by those who are able to pay more - please contact the Hospitality Office. Additional donations for the Community’s work are always welcome! Cheques: please make payable to the ‘Church Extension Association’.

Household details Bedrooms are simply and comfortably furnished. Each has a wash hand basin. Bathroom and kitchenette facilities are located on guest corridors. The house is centrally heated. We are pleased to cater for vegetarian and special diets provided that we are given the information at the time of booking. Residential guests are asked to bring with them their own towel and soap; this helps us to keep costs down.

Arriving: our preferred times for arrival are between 10am-12noon or 2pm-4pm, if these times are not possible special arrangements can be made.

Access A small lift gives access to the guest area and the large meeting room on the first floor. Two external doors can be accessed by ramps. Wheelchair access in the house is limited.

When we are open and closed Unfortunately it is not possible for us to accommodate guests or groups on Mondays. Weekend guests normally leave by 3pm on Sunday. There are also times of the year when we are closed: usually the first part of January, immediately after Easter, and most of August.

PROGRAMMED EVENTS

no booking required for:

Termly Lecture Programme Thursday morning lecture, 10am-12noon, usually one series each term (three times a year). Exploring a variety of aspects of Christian education. Spring Term: Feb 3 & 17, Mar 3 & 17 “Telling our Story: The Gospel as Narrative”, The Rev’d Imogen Nay Suggested donation £3.50 per lecture.

Open Garden in support of the National Gardens Scheme and their charities Sunday 10 April 2 - 5pm £3 (children free).

Quiet Garden Days Come and enjoy our beautiful garden 12 April, 17 May, 21 June, 26 July, 6 Sept. Suggested donation £4.

evenings that require notice given:

Thursday Evening Liturgy Sung Eucharist following Common Worship. On the 4th Thursday of each month different styles of worship are explored. All are welcome to join the Community for supper afterwards. Please book by email or telephone. 6pm in Chapel. Donations welcomed.

Advent Meditation Poetry, prose, music, sketch and song enabling us to meditate on the Advent of Christ. Led by the Sisters. Please apply in writing during October and November indicating which dates you would prefer and enclosing an SAE. Admission free by ticket only. Retiring collection for charity. 8pm in the Chapel. Wednesday 7, Thursday 8 and Friday 9 December.

residential retreats which require you to book in advance:

Holy Week and Easter 17 - 25 April £35 for each 24 hours. £15 per day, 10am - 4pm. Our time together will include the liturgy of Maundy Thursday, including the foot washing ceremony. We enter into the deep silence of the Good Friday liturgy, and the quiet and waiting of Holy Saturday. We will gather on Sunday for the dawn Vigil, the lighting of the new fire and Paschal candle and the liturgy of Easter Day. Morning Office, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, is based on the ancient monastic rite of Tenebrae in which psalms and lessons are sung.

Why Community? Sr Sue and team 10-12 June No donation required. “A growing community must integrate three elements: a life of silent prayer, a life of service and above all of listening to the poor, and a community life through which all its members can grow in their own gift.” Jean Vanier (Community and Growth)

This weekend is open to men and women who want to explore how prayer and community life can deepen our awareness of God, each other, the world and ourself.

First Time Retreat Sr Catherine 17-19 June £100 A weekend of reflection and quiet, suitable for those who have not previously been on retreat.

6-day Individually Guided Retreat Sr Aileen & team 23-30 July £270 Scripture based silent retreat, with one-to-one guidance.

how to apply for programmed events:

For residential retreats, please send your name and contact details, together with any dietary requirements or anything else you feel it would be appropriate for us to know about you. Residential retreats usually begin by 6pm. A 50% deposit is required as confirmation of your booking. A bursary fund is available to help those unable to manage this amount (please contact the Hospitality Team). Any donations towards our bursary fund would be gratefully received.

Please make cheques payable to the ‘Church Extension Association’, registered charity no. 200240, and enclose a stamped addressed envelope if confirmation and/or a receipt is required.

Early booking is advised on all retreats, as numbers are limited. For events with no need to book, please pay on the day.

ABOUT US

The Sisters at St Michael’s Convent are members of the Community of the Sisters of the Church, a worldwide Anglican religious order with ministries as far afield as the Solomon Islands, Australia and Canada as well as those in the UK.

Hospitality is an important part of our ministry and we are committed to this aspect of our work. We have space for group and team meetings, and members of the house are available for spiritual accompaniment. We are committed to renewing interest in the religious life and welcome enquiries from those interested in joining us or in living alongside the Community without lifetime commitment.

Our history is associated with education and social work. Today many who come here for a time of quiet reflection are themselves involved in outreach to others. We welcome groups and individuals of any faith. Our convent home offers space in which to rest and re-charge the spirit, find new directions or maybe confirm a present path. Pleasantly situated on Ham Common, close to the River Thames and Richmond Park, we think you will find this an ideal location for retreat and reflection. We are easy to get to as travel connections from London are good. Come and enjoy some God time!

SMALL RESIDENTIAL GROUPS

We are pleased to welcome small residential groups wishing to make a retreat. Our house is popular with cell groups and parish teams seeking a few days of reflection and renewal. A good group- size for us is between 3 and 8. A separate room is made available as a meeting space.

Suggested donation for small residential groups: £35 for 24 hours for each person, and a minimum of £20 per day for use of a meeting room.

How to Contact Us

Enquiries and bookings may be made by telephone between 9 am and 12 noon, Monday to Friday, or, by email by clicking here.

Hospitality Team

St. Michael’s Convent

56 Ham Common

Richmond, Surrey

TW10 7JH

020 8940 8711 ext 102

For further details relating to our ministry of hospitality, please contact us by clicking here.

How to Find Us

By Public Transport from Central London 

District Line (London Underground) or train (from Waterloo or by the North London Line) to Richmond Station then Bus No. 65.

From Richmond

Bus No. 65 (towards Kingston) from outside Richmond station to Ham Gate Avenue. Takes about 15 minutes and costs £2 (less with a Travel or Oyster card). There is also a taxi rank at Richmond Station: approximate cost to convent is £10

From Kingston 

Bus No. 65 (towards Ealing Broadway or Brentford) from the centre of Kingston to Ham Gate Avenue. Takes about 10 minutes and costs £2 (less with a Travel or Oyster card).

By Car 

We are on the A307 between Richmond and Kingston-upon-Thames. We have ample parking.