Minsteracres Retreat Centre
Retreats to inspire all
Minsteracres
A spiritual place providing hospitality & Spiritual Wellbeing
Minsteracres Retreat Centre is a Christian place of prayer with a resident community of Roman Catholic Passionist priests and lay people.
We welcome people who share our values and we invite you to enjoy our hospitality, food and accommodation. Minsteracres is set in a beautiful 110 acre estate in the North East of England. Within our historic buildings and estate we have spaces for prayer and rooms to hire for retreats and events.
Have you ever wondered what it is like to go on retreat? Click here to find out.
Retreats & Events
From Individuals to groups we can inspire you
Founded in Italy in 1720, the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ “The Passionists” have a special ministry to promote the Memory of the Passion of Jesus by both word and deed for the Passion of Jesus is truly the greatest story of God’s love for humanity and His creation.
In 2024, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the first Passionists at Minsteracres. So, our retreat theme for 2024 is “The Saving and Transforming power of the Cross” in which we will explore what The Passion of Jesus means for each of us as Christians today because it is through the story of the Cross that Jesus touches us and brings us His salvation.
Minsteracres
Use our venue
We welcome groups who support our ethos and want to use Minsteracres as a venue for an event or workshop.
We can accommodate up to 72 people for residential or day events. We offer warm hospitality and good home cooking, using organic and locally sourced foods.
Our youth centre is self-catering, with dormitories and separate accommodation for group leaders.
Minsteracres
Explore The Northern Saints
Minsteracres is set within a landscape in which many visitors sense “something” – as if the landscape has absorbed countless stories and traditions and holds them in its memory. There may be some truth in this. There are, for example, rock carvings dating from the Neolithic period that speak of an early sense of the sacredness of this part of the world.
The Romans created a border (Hadrian’s Wall) and there is often a feel of this being a threshold place – a “thin place” as the Celtic people would call it. Physically and historically, it is a region that has been fought over for generations but which, in the end, truly belongs to no-one but itself. Spiritually, it can be seen as a region where the gap between heaven and earth is tissue paper thin.
There are many such places within easy reach of Minsteracres but, for Christians, a greater pull is the call of the Northern Saints. The period after the fall of Rome is sometimes known as the Dark Ages – this was not the case in Northumbria! Christian artefacts have been found on Hadrian’s Wall (Vindolanda), but it was the victory of King Oswald at Heavenfield that opened the way to a re-evangelising of the North-East.
Many people come to this area to walk in the footsteps of these Saints. These saints lived long before the great divisions in Christianity and so are people who can speak to Christians of all traditions.
We have organised retreats “In the Footsteps of the Northern Saints” (usually in May & September) but can offer advice about itineraries with supporting reflective material for individuals or groups who would like to arrange their own pilgrimage.
early Christianity in Northumbria
The Passionists
Minsteracres & The Passionists
Minsteracres Retreat Centre is a Christian place of prayer with a resident community of Roman Catholic Passionist priests and lay people. We welcome people of all faiths and none who share our values and we invite you to enjoy our hospitality, food and accommodation. Minsteracres is set in a beautiful 110 acre estate in the North East of England.
Within our historic buildings and estate we have spaces for prayer and rooms to hire for retreats and events. You can choose an individual or group retreat from our own programme of retreats, organise your own event, or simply enjoy this beautiful place.
Our World
Devoted to conservation & the environment
Protection and care for the environment is one of the three key aims of the Minsteracres Retreat Centre charity, established in 2012. Learn more in these pages about how we go about this.
Minsteracres
Our Latest News...
Here, we share news about our upcoming retreats, designed for spiritual renewal and growth. Our programs range from silent retreats to workshops that aim to harmonize body, mind, and spirit, inviting moments of reflection and connection.
Our commitment goes beyond retreats; we actively work within our community, fostering a space of inclusion and support. Through our blog, you’ll find stories of how we’re making a difference locally and beyond.
We’re also dedicated to protecting our environment. Our blog highlights our efforts in conservation and sustainability, showcasing how we care for the land that hosts us.
Stay with us for regular updates and insights into Minsteracres Retreat Centre’s life, where we journey together in spirituality, community engagement, and environmental care.
Exploring Mindfulness: Benefits and Practices for Stress Relief and Improved Health
Discover mindfulness: a simple practice for everyone to reduce stress, improve health, and enjoy the moment. Learn how on our blog.
Notice of Minsteracres Retreat Centre AGM
Notice of Minsteracres Retreat Centre AGM
Thursday 24th September 2024 at 2.30 p.m
The Feast of Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael
Discover the wisdom of Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, and explore how Minsteracres Retreat Centre offers healing, guidance, and renewal in today’s busy world.
Christian Meditation : A Journey of Spiritual Deepening
Explore the power of Christian meditation to deepen your faith at Minsteracres Retreat Centre. Join us for spiritual renewal and peace.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers at Minsteracres
Amid a backdrop of uncertainty and hardship for refugees and asylum seekers Minsteracres Retreat Centre emerged as a sanctuary of hope and welcome last week.
Day of Reflection and Nature: Walking Retreat at Minsteracres
Join us at Minsteracres for a one-day Walking Retreat on Sept 14, 10am-5pm. Enjoy nature, reflection, and prayer. Suggested donation £15. Register now!
Testimonials
What Our Guests Say...
Retreat with us and be spiritually renewed
Retreats at Minsteracres
Situated in the land of the northern saints in beautiful countryside on the borders of Northumberland and County Durham, our Passionist retreat centre is ideally placed to support you on your journey of faith.
2023/2024 Programme
We offer a varied programme of day, weekend and week-long events throughout the year. Please see the programme details below.
Individual Retreats
We offer individual retreats and are happy to provide guidance, or you can have space to yourself for reflection. Please use the enquiry form below.
Welcome to Our 2024 Programme
Welcome to our Retreat Programme for 2024 where you will find details of various residential and day retreats we have on offer in the coming months.
Welcoming guests of all faiths and none, this Passionist retreat centre is set in 110 acres of gardens, park and woodland and is situated in beautiful countryside on the border of Northumberland and County Durham
Founded in Italy in 1720 by St Paul of the Cross
, the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ “The Passionists” have a special ministry to promote the Memory of the Passion of Jesus by both word and deed for the Passion of Jesus is truly the greatest story of God’s love for humanity and His creation.
In 2024, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the first Passionists at Minsteracres. So, our retreat theme for 2024 is “The Saving and Transforming power of the Cross” in which we will explore what The Passion of Jesus means for each of us as Christians today because it is through the story of the Cross that Jesus touches us and brings us His salvation.
We hope that this programme will be able to offer ways in which we can all connect with the consoling power of the Passion of Jesus as we journey together in exploration of what St Paul of the Cross describes as both a sea of sorrows and an ocean of love.
Minsteracres’ mission
Minsteracres Retreat Centre provides a space where people feel welcome, can be themselves and are enabled to find healing and wholeness in their relationship with God, with themselves, with others and with creation. During all of our retreats we will be invited to consider new ways of attending to and living out the Gospel. We look forward to welcoming you!
It costs approximately £1,500 per day to run Minsteracres Retreat Centre. The suggested offerings indicated help us to cover our costs, but no one should feel excluded for financial reasons and concessions are available.
We look forward to welcoming you
The suggested offerings indicated for each event help us to cover our costs. However, no one should feel excluded for financial reasons and concessions are available through our Bursary programme.
Disclaimer: Please note that for each of our retreats to take place we need a minimum number of attendees to make them viable. The running of all retreats is subject to achieving this minimum. We endeavour to do everything we can that is within our control to ensure that retreats run, but when we are unable to achieve these numbers, we may have to cancel. We will of course give notice in such circumstances
Calendar for 2024
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive calendar displaying all of our retreats. Each listing is clickable, allowing you to explore detailed information about the retreat you’re interested in. This includes specific features, schedules, and available amenities. Additionally, you can conveniently book your chosen retreat online directly from this calendar. We’ve designed it to be user-friendly and informative, ensuring you have all the necessary details at your fingertips to make an informed decision.
Winter
February 2024
Spring
March 2024
April 2024
May 2024
Summer
June 2024
July 2024
August 2024
Autumn
September 2024
October 2024
November 2024
Have you ever wondered what it is like to go on retreat?
Retreat Questions
A retreat is exactly what it sounds like — the chance to step aside from life for a while, to rest and just ‘be’ in a welcoming, peaceful and inspiring place like Minsteracres.
Retreats are for ordinary people at any time in their lives. There are no expectations on anyone going on retreat and you don’t need to be a churchgoer – we welcome people who share our values.
Do you:
- Wish for some quiet time to reflect on things that matter most to you?
- Need some time away from work or family?
- Want to deepen your spiritual life?
- Want to simply pray?
- Want to develop a particular interest? …then a retreat might be just for you.
Retreats offer the opportunity to:
- Find space
- Reflect
- Pray and worship in peaceful and comfortable surroundings
We offer a wide variety of retreats including retreats:
- For the beginner
- With a theme such as Holy Week, Pentecost, Advent,
- Structured with a programme
- For individuals or groups who wish to deepen their faith
- Free form where you can do your own thing
Thanks to the presence of the resident community there is always a warm welcome and a real sense of being a guest in their home. The community is the guardian of the Passionist ethos of Minsteracres, which is expressed through a life of prayer, presence and hospitality.
- We offer a warm welcome to all
- We have beautiful Grade II buildings set in an 110 acre estate of gardens and woodland
- We have a wide range of meeting rooms from small (up to 10 people) to large (up to 90 people)
- We have a library, various prayer spaces and an art room that are available to use
- We offer overnight accommodation—from simple rooms with shared facilities to a few en suite rooms
- We provide tasty, home-cooked food and can accommodate special dietary needs with advanced warning
- We cater for those with disabilities
Yes, we welcome people who wish to spend some time alone.
Yes, we offer the opportunity to talk to someone in complete confidence. We can also provide individually guided retreats where someone is assigned to listen and guide you whilst on retreat.
A retreat varies in length but is usually anything from two to seven days. We also offer one-day retreats such as quiet days and walking retreats throughout the year.
Yes. It costs over £1,000 per day to keep Minsteracres Retreat Centre running. We do not have another principal source of income and so we charge our visitors a competitive rate to cover our costs (but not to profit) that include:
- Maintaining the Grade II buildings and 110 acre estate
- Providing food and accommodation for all our visitors
- Paying for staff and retreat leaders
