‘All Shall Be Well’: A Retreat with Julian of Norwich

Fri 15 – Sun 17 May, Cliff College, Derbyshire

Event description

This special event is offered by St Hild Theological College, in partnership with The School of Contemplative Life. The retreat is led by Revd. Dr. Janet Williams (Vice Principal of St. Hild) and Chris Whittington.

Julian of Norwich is one of the most treasured of English spiritual writers. The first woman whose writing in English survives to this day, Julian’s Revelations of Divine Love distil an astonishing promise from the crucible of Christ’s Passion and the complexities of everyday life: ‘All Shall be Well’.

Increasingly recognised as an extraordinarily sophisticated and original theologian, it is perhaps Julian’s ability to guide us into a wholly new way of seeing – contemplative awareness – that explains her immense appeal to so many today.

With startling directness and radiant warmth, Julian turns many familiar ideas about God and prayer on their head.

‘I saw no anger in God…’

‘I saw that he is to us everything that is good and comforting for our help. He is our clothing that out of love enwraps us and wholly encloses us, surrounding us for tender love, so that he can never leave us.’

For Julian, ‘The love of God creates in us such a unity that when it is truly seen no person can separate themselves from another.’

Over this weekend, we will have time and space to reflect individually and together on some of Julian’s core teachings about the nature of God, the reason for human suffering, and the overwhelming love of Christ. Regular opportunities for group meditation (silent, contemplative prayer) are also built into the programme.

All sessions on this programme are for you to ‘opt in’ if you choose. You will have a private room with study facilities, use of the Chapel and areas to gather socially for conversation and for art & craft, and access to Cliff’s lovely grounds, with opportunities for further walks nearby.

Who is this for?

This retreat has been carefully crafted to be inclusive and accessible, welcoming anyone seeking truth, peace, and spiritual renewal, regardless of their faith, beliefs or previous experience of meditation.

What to expect

Friday May 15th 

• From 3pm – Time to explore the site and settle in
• 5.30pm – Evening prayer
• 6.00pm – Dinner
• 7.00pm – Welcome and introduction

Saturday May 16th

• 8.00am – Morning Prayer
• 8.30am – Breakfast
• 9.15am – Reflection: Julian’s God, followed by 30 minutes silent prayer
• 11.15am – Reflection: God’s Kinde Love, followed by 30 minutes silent prayer
• 12.45pm – Lunch
• 1.30pm – Reflection: The Servant and the Lord, followed by 30 minutes silent prayer
• 4.30pm – Group Discussion
• 5.30pm – Evening prayer
• 6.00pm – Dinner
• 7.30pm – Reflection: Sin is Behovely, followed by 30 minutes silent prayer

Sunday May 17th

• 8.00am – Morning Prayer
• 8.30am – Breakfast
• 9.15am – Reflection: Love was his meaning, followed by 30 minutes silent prayer
• 11.15am – Reflection and group discussion: All Shall be Well
• 12.15pm – Eucharist
• 1.00pm – Lunch
• 2.00pm – Final prayers, depart

Venue, accommodation, meals and costs

Cliff College is a peaceful venue, nestled in the Derbyshire countryside. It offers a quiet and spacious setting ideal for stillness, reflection, and spiritual renewal. Prices include retreat delivery, accommodation and meals.

The retreat cost is £300.

Event leader

Janet Williams is Vice Principal of St Hild College in Yorkshire, where she is responsible for Anglican ministerial formation and leads the St Hild Centre for Christian Spirituality. Her academic interests include Christian and Buddhist spiritualities, with a particular focus on the apophatic tradition. She has taught in universities and colleges in both Japan and the UK; among her publications are Denying Divinity: Apophasis in the Patristic Christian and Soto Zen Buddhist Traditions (Oxford, 2000) and Seeking the God Beyond: A Beginner’s Guide to Christian Apophatic Spirituality (SCM, 2018).

Chris Whittington is the Founder of The School of Contemplative Life. He was introduced to contemplative practice during several years of formation when he lived at the Benedictine monastery of Prinknash Abbey in England. Chris’ monastic teachers taught meditation as a universal wisdom found within all the great spiritual traditions, a pathway to peace and solidarity with people of all faiths and none. Chris regularly delivers talks, workshops and retreats and has introduced the practice of meditation in the Christian tradition to thousands of people in the UK and abroad. Chris is the author of The Missing Peace – Meditation as a Spiritual Path to Peace, Community and Oneness published by Canterbury Press.

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