Corona virus update: Holland House is committed to working within Government Guidelines along with Health & Safety best practice to ensure the safety and comfort of all our guests and staff. We have no plans to cancel events from the House Programme at present and are honouring our commitments to groups that are currently booked to come. We continue to encourage future bookings.
Cancellation Insurance: Please consider taking out cancellation Insurance before booking. One-off events can be insured for as little as £6 covering up to £3500 of cost – more than adequate for any event at Holland House. This does not affect our cancellation policy, which will be applied in 100% of cases. For more details go to the “About” tab on the home page.
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Wed02Dec20201:00 pm
Holland House is delighted to welcome Revd Dr Bonnie Thurston to lead our on-line retreat, looking into the wonderful legacy of Interfaith Dialogue that Thomas Merton pioneered.
The retreat begins 1pm and closes at 5pm GMT (9am - 1pm EST), and comprises of two talks by Bonnie, time for discussion, Q&A and with comfort breaks in-between.
This is a unique opportunity to hear a leading expert on Merton's spirituality and thinking on a subject that is surely of growing importance in our multi-cultural yet increasingly fragmented world.
Cost is just £20 - once booked a link and programme will be emailed to you.
Thomas Merton OCSO (13/01 1915 – 10/12 1968) was an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist, and student of comparative religion. Merton was deeply committed to Interfaith dialogue, corresponding with Monks and Religious Leaders all over the world. Indeed it was on such a trip to engage with the Buddhists of Thailand that he tragically died on December 10th 1968. Bonnie Thurston is a native of southern West Virginia, lives quietly near Wheeling, WV, having resigned the William F. Orr Professorship in New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 2002. She earned the B.A. in English (First Honors) from Bethany College, and the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Virginia.
She was ordained in 1984 and has served as co-pastor, pastor, or interim of five churches and twice in overseas ministries. She is an experienced spiritual director and retreat leader. Her poetry frequently appears in religious periodicals, and she has authored six volumes of verse. Bonnie is a widow, an avid walker, reader, gardener and cook, enjoys classical music (especially the opera and liturgical music) and loves the West Virginia hills.
Thomas Merton Connection: Bonnie wrote her doctoral dissertation on Thomas Merton and is particularly interested in his poetry and his inter-religious thought. She was a founding member of the International Thomas Merton Society, served as its third president, and received a “Louie” award for service to the Society. She has written over 50 articles or contributions to books on Merton and given retreats and lectured on Merton widely in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Europe
To secure your place on this fabulous one-off event, click on this link https://www.hollandhouse.org/product/2496/
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Fri04Dec202010:00 am
Get out of the House without going to the shops!Come and have a lovely day at the beautiful Holland House in Cropthorne - 4 acres of gardens and cosy rooms to relax in.
Come on your own or bring a friend - bring a book, bring your sketchpad, bring your knitting, do a puzzle, start the novel you've been meaning to write!
Whatever makes you happy.
Refreshments and lunch include - dont miss the opportunity, places limited due to Covid-security (relax in a safe place!)
Here's the link to the shop to purchase your quiet day.... Pop-Up Quiet Day
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Tue08Dec2020Fri18Dec202010:00 amOn Line
This is an on-line retreat lasting 7 days (Dec 8,9,10, 15,16,17,18) but carried out in your own time within a loose framework. It's not necessary to come to every day, just pick the days you can come.Run via Zoom this retreat is designed to fit into peoples busy and now even more complex lives - allowing us to make the most of having to live more solitary lives and yet being together to contemplate the wonder of Christmas.
This is Holland House's gift to all those who'd normally come here during the Christmas season, and all who are suffering separation or loneliness due to the Covid pandemic. Do join us for this very special retreat.
Here are the days and the stations:
Dec 8: Zecharia & The Annunciation. Dec 9: The Visitation & The Birth of The Baptist Dec 10:Josephs Dream & The Nativity Dec 15: Shepherds and Angels & Adoration of the Shepherds Dec 16th: Naming of Jesus & Visit of the Magi Dec 17th: Presentation of Christ & Flight into Egypt Dec 18th: Massacre of the Innocents & The Return to Nazareth.
Each day we will look at 2 Stations of Advent (Pictures), one in the morning and one in the afternoon, such that over 7 days we will have journeyed through all 14 stations.
The retreat is just £10 per day - when you purchase the item just change the "quantity" in your "basket" to reflect how many days you'd like to purchase. Or you can offer more than £10 in the same way, even if you only come to (say) one day. You will receive the Zoom link (which will valid for all the days) once your purchase has been verified.
A typical day is explained below.....
10.00am Registration
10.15 Prayer
10.30 Introduction to first Station (Picture)
10.45 Quiet time
1.30pm – Introduction to Second station (picture)
1.45pm Quiet time
3.00pm – Plenary (sharing time - reflections on the stations)
3.30pm – Prayer
4.00pm (latest) End
Click here to be taken to the shop if you'd like to purchase one or more days .....Stations of Advent On-line
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Wed09Dec20206:30 am
Join us for a delicious traditional two course mid-week roast dinner (roast pork, roast potatoes, fresh cooked seasonal vegetables all the trimmings), followed by pudding and coffee / tea: Service is at 6.30pm. These book-out very quickly to follow this link to get your place at the table! Delicious mid-week Roast!Tables to be booked in accordance with current Government Guideline
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Thu10Dec202010:00 am
A Quiet Day in Advent: “Who and what is coming?”
Two short addresses, a simple seasonal Eucharist and at least three and a half hours of quiet time for you to spend as you wish.
9.30 coffee for 10.00 start; lunch; closing with tea at 16.00.
Peter
will lead us in a seasonally inspired quiet day to help us engage more thoughtfully and richly as we enter the mid-point of Advent.The day includes refreshments (tea / coffee / home-made biscuits & cake) as well as a two course lunch
The House itself will be decorated for the season too, so come and enjoy a lovely day as we approach the wonder of Christmas....
Here's the link to book your place on this inspiring Advent Retreat: Who and what is coming?
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Fri11Dec202010:00 am
A beautiful day at Holland House designed to combine body, mind & spirit in a restful and enjoyable way, through chanting, breath-work and meditation.The benefits of chanting have been understood for millennia as the vibrational element releases tensions, knots and anxieties throughout the body, and calms noisy erratic minds.
Likewise, working with our breath provides a way of routing energy around our bodies, working with the autonomic nervous system to either calm us or provide more energy.
Meditation harnesses the benefits of both chant and breath, bringing them together in an intentional way to heal and unify
Led by Ian Spencer, (Warden of Holland House) the day will comprise of chants from a variety of traditions, along with gentle breath work and periods of meditation. The day includes refreshments and vegetarian lunch. Just 10 places available due to Covid-security, so book early! Here's the link to the on-line shop: chant, breathe, meditate
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Sat12Dec202010:00 am
The freedom from “lock-down” feels to many of us like its created more problems than it’s resolved – life just got even more complicated.Juggling family responsibilities and work commitments while looking after our own health (mental and physical) is getting increasingly difficult.
This day is for anyone that needs some space to re-collect themselves, sooth body and mind, and enjoy some “me” time – a time to re-balance.
The yoga postures will be accessible to everyone (all body-shapes and sizes) and meditation / mindfulness practice suitable for all.
The day will be led by the Warden of Holland House, Revd Ian Spencer – a trained Hatha Yoga teacher and Zen meditator and includes lunch and refreshments
The day concludes at 4pm
Here's the link if you'd like to book: Gentle yoga post lock-down peace
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Sun13Dec20201:00 pm
Join us for a delicious 2 course Roast Pork Sunday lunch with all the trimmings followed by tea or coffeeLunch is served at 1pm but you are welcome to arrive from 12.30pm onwards to enjoy the gardens or a drink from the bar
Maximum table of 6 to be booked in accordance with COVID guidelines
Just click on this link to get your place at the table and enjoy a great pre-Christmas Sunday treat! Sunday Lunch December 13th
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Wed16Dec20201:00 pm
Head Chef Aimee is "pulling out all the stops" to create our only Christmas lunch event this year.Due to Covid restrictions and shut-down, Holland House can only offer one Christmas lunch event this year - so don't miss it!
Come and enjoy lunch in our 17th century dining room with log fire, exposed beams, and fabulous atmosphere...
Join us for a two course traditional Christmas lunch with all the trimmings, followed by coffee and Holland House home-made mince pies.
To help us celebrate the season, enjoy a glass of hot non-alcoholic fruit punch when you arrive - on us!
Lunch will be served at 1pm
Maximum table size of 6 in line with current government guidelines
Here's the link to get your place booked ........Its Christmas Lunch!
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Fri15Jan2021Mon18Jan20214:00 pm
Due to “lock-down” removing our ability to host this event in November, we’ve moved it to a new date in January. The good news is, that means a few more places are available!For many years Holland House has hosted a residential retreat based on the books and spirituality of Fr Richard Rohr.
Always popular, this year despite Covid we’re holding our 2020 retreat as planned but working within the safety guidelines set out by Government.
The Warden (Revd Ian Spencer) will be hosting the retreat along with his colleague Urs Mattmann and will include talks, discussion, meditation, worship and free time.
Using Rohrs book “Hope against Darkness: The transforming vision of St Francis in an Age of Anxiety”, and his latest book “The Wisdom Pattern”, we’ll be exploring what Rohr see’s as the most pressing issue of our age, a “crises of meaning … so many people have lost heart today feeling both confused and powerless – many have lost any over-arching meaning [to life]”. Rohr turns to the life and vision of St Francis in order to articulate the problem, and then catch the vision (and practical application) of St Francis’s spirituality in order to redeem it (e.g. the pattern of “order – disorder – reorder”)
If you’re looking at the world and feeling powerless to help heal it, or just feel hopeless – this retreat will put a spring in your step once again.
Arrival from 4pm onwards, retreat concludes at 11.00am Monday
If you’re looking at the world and feeling powerless to help heal it, or just feel hopeless – this retreat will put a spring in your step once again!
Arrival from 4pm onwards, retreat concludes at 11.00am Monday
Here's the link to book a place : Hope Against Darkness - the Rohr Retreat
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Sat30Jan202110:00 am
Following on from Diarmuid O'Murchu's hugely successful debut for Holland House in November, a second on-line retreat is now available.In Diarmuid's words:
Entering Springtime with Creation Spirituality
"Spring 2020 marked the onset of Covid 19. Spring 2021 invites us to review the deeper meaning of this virus and the now indisputable link to our irresponsible interference in nature. While experts invest huge hope in a vaccine, people of faith also need to discern what an earth-centred spirituality would look like, and how it can enhance the well-being of person and planet alike".
The day will run from 10.00am - 3.00pm, and as before will include your questions asked via the chat facility, break-out rooms for small group discussion, a plenary for wider discussion, and a time of meditation to close. Don't miss it! Here's the link to purchase your place Entering Springtime with Creation Spirituality Minimum price is £25, normal "in-person" price would be £40.
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Fri29Oct2021Sun31Oct202112:00 pmHolland House
International Aramaic scholar Neil Douglas-Klotz returns to Holland House in 2020 to guide us through the Beatitudes following the path to "ripeness".Breathing with Unity, Living with Blessing
Chant, Movement and Contemplative Prayer with the Aramaic Jesus
This year at Holland House, we will return to the heart-awareness of the present moment with a journey through the Beatitudes of Jesus in Aramaic. Through chant, simple circle movement and contemplative prayer, we will re-enter the state that Jesus calls tub, “blessedly ripe—at the right time and place” We will follow the journey of one of the most profound aspects of Jesus’ teaching, the Beatitudes in Matthew. This is a healing journey that takes us to deepest part of ourselves and then resurrects us in power and joy. Whether or not you have joined in these Aramaic retreats previously, this is a wonderful doorway into Jesus’ native spirituality and way of meditation.
