2017

Diocesan House for Durham and Newcastle Dioceses Peace...

2 Dear Friends, What a busy year it has been! We celebrated our 70th Anniversary at a lovely garden party in June and it was a joy to share the day with so many of our friends and to see the house and grounds looking so beautiful. The Stirling Newall family, who gifted the house to the church 70 years ago, had a clear vision of what they wanted the house and grounds to be used for and I hope that we continue to hold true to that vision today; a place of retreat, refreshment and peace which is used both by church groups and by the wider community. With the approach of Autumn comes the changing Jane Easterby, Warden, the Ven. , , the of colours in the gardens of Shepherds Dene and the Rt. Rev. Christine Hardman, Bishop of Newcastle, Campbell Grant, Chair bringing together of ideas for our new programme of of Trustees and the Rt Rev Frank White, recently retired Asst. Bishop of Newcastle, at the 70th Anniversary Celebration Garden Party in June. events for the end of 2016 and 2017. Our programme last year was the most successful to date and I hope that our offer for 2016/17 has something of interest to you, be it the return of John Bell from the Iona Community, our Access for all Northern Saints Pilgrimage in April or our first Individually We do everything possible to enable access for all at Guided Retreat in July. Shepherds Dene. The ground floor is fully accessible, and Whether it is for a quiet day, family celebration or a we have a lift from the ground floor to the first floor. One retreat, I hope you will come and sample our hospitality at first floor en-suite bedroom is adapted for a wheelchair some point during the year. user and there is a ramp for access to the main entrance. With love, prayers and thanks for your continuing support, The grounds immediately surrounding the house have level access; however, other parts of the grounds are Jane reached by steps or inclines. 3 The gardens About Tended with love and care by our gardener, Kim, and our team of committed volunteers, the grounds and woodlands extend to 26 acres. Shepherds Dene... Highlights include a walled garden and orchard, Built in 1906 in the ‘Arts and Crafts’ style, Shepherds Dene a quiet garden, rock garden and formal lawns is an Edwardian country house, full of original features. In leading from the terrace. There are quiet places to recent years, the house has been refurbished, with new sit throughout and a network of paths to explore in bathrooms, disabled access and Wi-Fi throughout. the natural woodlands bordering the March Burn.

Food and drink All our food is home made in our kitchen and ingredients are sourced from local suppliers as far as possible. Morning coffee and afternoon tea are included in our full board prices and our cakes, biscuits and puddings are legendary. We can provide a range of options during the day, from light lunches, celebration dinners or traditional Sunday lunch and we guarantee you won’t go hungry! A wide selection of drinks is available from our bar and we do our best to cater for every dietary requirement! 4 Worship Our Chapel is a peaceful space, with open views across the valley. East of the house, a former gas house has been converted into a simply-decorated, hexagonal stone prayer house. Guests are welcome to pray there or in the chapel, join staff in the regular rhythm of prayer and worship or hold their own worship in the chapel.

Accommodation Shepherds Dene has an impressive, wood- panelled entrance hall (where guests like to congregate in front of the wood-burning stove), a comfortable sitting room, an atmospheric dining room with Arts and Crafts fireplace, a welcoming, well-stocked bar and a first floor seminar room with interactive whiteboard and speakers. There are 20 bedrooms, including two in our cottage, sleeping up to 33 guests.

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O Fri 25th Nov 2016, 9.30am - 4pm Sat 11th March, 9.30am - 4pm Quiet Fridays in Lent Christmas Study Day Refreshing Preaching Day N Ruth Grayson Revd Dr Kate Bruce 3rd March 9.30am - 4pm Revd Lesley Chapman A day aimed at those working with Stuck in a preaching rut? Lost for Adviser for Spirituality, E young children. words? Feeling stale? This is your Newcastle Diocese Ruth has spent many years exploring solution: a day designed to refresh, and sharing meaningful ways of inspire and renew your preaching. 10th March 9.30am - 4pm D celebrating Christmas. Revd Dr Kate Bruce is Deputy Warden Revd Vince Fenton of Cranmer Hall, . Area Dean, Stanhope Deanery £20 A £25 17th March 9.30am - 4pm Sat 11th Feb 2017, 9.30am - 4pm Revd Canon Clare Maclaren Y Canon for Music and Liturgy, Felt Labyrinth-Making day Newcastle Cathedral Revd Dr Miranda Threlfall-Holmes Explore the spirituality of the Labyrinth 24th March 9.30am - 4pm E by walking the Shepherds Dene Revd Canon Judy Hirst Labyrinth with Miranda and make your Local Church Growth and V own felt labyrinth. Materials provided Development Adviser, Miranda is Area Dean and Vicar of Durham Diocese St Mary Magdelene, Belmont and 31st March 9.30am - 4pm E St Laurence, Pittington. The Venerable Peter Robinson N £30 Archdeacon of Lindisfarne 7th April 9.30am - 4pm T Revd Rupert Kalus Adviser for Spirituality, Shepherds Dene Gift Vouchers Durham Diocese S now available. Contact us on 01434 682212 to order. £20 day or £95 for all 6

6 Sat 25th March, 10am - 4pm Wed 26th April, 9am - 3.30pm O The Pilgrimage of the Spring Ramble Suffering Soul Revd Jeremy Chadd N Revd Canon Peter Kenney A 6-8 mile country walk, led by Jeremy, and Ms Anne Morrell starting and finishing at Shepherds E On the feast of the Annunciation and Dene and with prayerful reflections at the heart of Lent you are invited along the way. Breakfast, packed lunch to join Peter and Anne for this day of and afternoon tea included. Sturdy D prayerful and poetic reflections. Peter footwear is advisable! will reflect on the journey of Mary to Jeremy Chadd is Vicar of St. Chad’s, the cross of her Son. Anne will present Sunderland. A personal and poetic reflections from her recent book ‘Bread and Stones: £15 Y Genesis of a soul’. There will be opportunities for silence, journalling Wed 27th September, 9am - 3.30pm and contemplative conversations Autumn Ramble E around the theme of the suffering (Details as above) soul. At the heart of the day will be the celebration of the Eucharist of the Friday 29th September V Annunciation. Refugees Welcome? Revd Canon Peter Kenny is an Adviser E in Pastoral Care and Counselling and The Rt Revd Ministry Development Officer. Anne A day of reflection and discussion that Morrell is now retired, working from focuses on the reality of the refugee N home on literary projects with a crisis and the church’s and society’s spiritual focus, response. T The Rt Revd Paul Butler is Bishop of £20 Durham and co-chair of the National Refugee Welcome Board. S £20

7 L Mon 28th November 2016 5pm using the elemental outside spaces ‘Hymns are an underrated spiritual - Wed 30th 2pm and the warmth of the house. You resource in the church. We sing them may bring your own creative materials frequently and have our favourites, but O Light in the Shadow of eg paints, writing etc. There will be rarely pay close attention to their origin Bereavement - Sharing time in the Chapel which will be Celtic, and what they are saying. In this week N the Journey contemplative and embodied. we will explore, sing and pray through Revd Janet Jackson and Irene Mothersill Tess is an Anglican priest and writer hymns often sung in Lent, to renew our own spirituality through their message G Time and space to remember, reflect of prayers and liturgies, including her book ‘The Celtic Wheel of Prayer’. and the story of those who wrote and share; time for YOU and time to them’. relax - an opportunity to meet other £175 E bereaved people in a beautiful and £285 peaceful setting. There will be optional Mon 20th Feb 5pm - Fri 24th 2pm R opportunities to be creative and to join Sat 31st March - Sun 2nd April in worship. Suitable for those who have Clergy reading week Relax with Colour been bereaved for six months or longer. A week to catch up with your reading Fiona Cox and Barbara Stewart Revd Janet Jackson is an Anglican and preparation, to take time in a quiet A relaxing weekend with Fiona and E priest and retired hospice Chaplain; space to become refreshed, revitalised Barbara, reflecting on how colour Irene Mothersill is a retired hospice and renewed. This week is aimed at V bereavement services coordinator working and retired clergy. and essential oils can be used for any and practitioner. problem whether, physical, mental, £185 subsidised rate emotional or spiritual and for relaxation E £165 therapy. Holistic therapies will also Mon 6th March 5pm - Fri 10th 10am available at an additional cost, to be N Wed 8th Feb 5pm - Fri 10th 2pm ‘Lent through Hymns and booked in advance. Following the Green Heart their Authors’ - Silent Lent £210 T of the Snowdrop Retreat Revd Tess Ward The Rt Revd John Packer Shepherds Dene Gift Vouchers S In this retreat, we will look at what is John Packer has been an honorary green and growing in our hearts as Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of now available. Contact us on the earth re-awakens. We will spend Newcastle since retiring as Bishop of 01434 682212 to order. silent time with earth air wind and fire, Ripon and Leeds in 2014. He writes,

8 Fellowship and Friends... L Sun 2nd April 5pm - Fri 7th 2pm Mon 29th May 5pm Sun 2nd – Thurs 6th July Northern Saints Pilgrimage - Thurs 1st June 2pm Cross stitch week O Jane Easterby Knitting, Crochet and Barbara Thompson Follow in the footsteps of the Northern Felting Retreat The 22nd year for this popular creative N Saints, visiting Heavenfield, near Hexham Revd Elizabeth Brown cross stitch course. Suitable for both (the site of Oswald’s battle), Lindisfarne Come along for chat and crafting, beginners and the more experienced, G (Holy Island), Bamburgh to see the times of quiet and worship. There will this is a great opportunity to develop castle of St Oswald and the shrine of be a swap-shop, rummage bin and your cross stitch skills in a supportive St Aidan and , the informal skills-sharing. Early booking and relaxing atmosphere. E shrine of St Cuthbert. Join Jane Easterby, advised. For an application form and Barbara is a long-established cross Warden of Shepherds Dene and local to book, please contact Revd Elizabeth stitch designer and teacher based R experts, on this fascinating exploration Brown directly ([email protected] in Riding Mill. For bookings, e-mail of our Christian heritage. or on 01670 515556). [email protected] £495 to include all trips Revd Elizabeth Brown serves as an NSM priest in the United Benefice E Wed 17th May 5pm - Fri 18th 2pm of Bedlington, Cambois & Sleekburn ‘Reclaiming the Bible’ in Newcastle Diocese. She is an John Bell experienced workshop and retreat V leader and this will be her third crafting John Bell reflects on how to enable retreat at Shepherds Dene. E lay people to feel comfortable with the Bible. He will explore and develop £220 strategies of reading and sharing the N Bible, which are different from more ‘cerebral’ approaches. T John Bell is a member of the Wild Goose Resource Group. He is a renowned hymn-writer and broadcaster, working S for the renewal of congregational worship at grass-roots level. £245

10 Mon17th July 5pm - Fri 21st 2pm Mon 7th Aug 5pm - Sun 13th 2pm L Individually Guided Week in the Country Retreat Revd Audrey McCartan O Revd Stephen Herbert, A chance to chill and relax or explore Revd Rupert Kalus and Hadrian’s Wall country. We will spend N Bridgett Hewitt time walking a section of Hadrian’s Wall Our team of experienced spiritual and will travel through the scenic Tyne G directors will accompany you on a Valley to the city of Carlisle, established silent, guided retreat, meeting with Sun 23rd July 5pm - Thurs 27th 2pm by the Romans, primarily to serve the you daily in a one-to-one session. forts on Hadrian’s Wall. In the 12th E Art and Photography week century, King Henry I allowed the This individually guided retreat is Paul and Mary Judson tailored to provide personal direction: founding of a religious establishment, R each day your retreat director meets Another opportunity to relax, with later making the town a diocese, and with you to help reflect on and examine time to explore drawing, painting and thus making the Priory into a Cathedral. the ways in which God is working in photography at any level. Expert help Audrey is House-for-duty priest at St your life. There will be time for quiet available should you need it. Andrew’s Church, Heddon-on-the-Wall, E reflection in the peaceful surroundings Paul Judson is former Director of of Shepherds Dene. Communications for Durham Diocese £345 and is an accomplished artist and V Revd Stephen Herbert is Vicar of Byker, photographer. Mary Judson is a retired Newcastle and Co-ordinator of Mission Fri 15th – Sun 17th September vicar from Durham Diocese and will be Initiative Newcastle East (MINE), Revd E chaplain for the week. Godly Play Weekend Rupert Kalus is Vicar of Lanchester and Mary Cooper and Rachel Bainton Bunhope and Adviser for Spirituality in £310 Durham Diocese and Bridget Hewitt Time and space to reflect and explore, N has an interest in Christian Meditation through the media of story, wondering, creative resources and silence. Trained and the contemplative tradition within Fri 4th - Sun 6th August T Christianity. spiritual direction available. Friends weekend Mary and Rachel are both trainers £365 A weekend of volunteering in the house for Godly Play UK. For further details, S and grounds. Free of charge. contact Mary on cooper.mary@ blueyonder.co.uk

11 L Weds 18th Oct 2pm - Fri 20th 2pm Mon 20th November 5pm Knitting, Crochet and – Weds 22nd 2pm O Felting Retreat Advent Preparation Time Revd Elizabeth Brown A chance to spend a few days at Shepherds Dene, with time for personal Another opportunity to enjoy this N reflection and study at your own pace. popular retreat. Early booking advised. Mon 9th – Thurs 12th October This retreat is aimed at working and See page 10 for full details. G Creating the Freehand retired clergy. Celtic Knot and using it £175 £130 E in prayer Mon 23rd – Thurs 26th October R Mary Fleeson, Lindisfarne Scriptorium Learn how to create the Freehand Celtic Footsteps Knot, using a technique developed The Rt Revd David Thomson, over 20 years by Mary. Learn also how Bishop of Huntingdon E to use it in prayer and meditation. No Follow in the footsteps of Jesus during experience necessary; all materials this Autumn retreat, looking afresh at provided, but bring along favourite the Gospel stories in the Scriptures, V pencils, pens and papers if you wish. in art, and in their setting in the Holy Mary Fleeson is a Christian and well- Land. There will be plenty of time to E known visual artist. Her workshop, the pray, to walk, to write, and to make your Lindisfarne Scriptorium, is on the Holy own art too (bring your own materials). N Island of Lindisfarne. Mary’s creative David has been Bishop of Huntingdon expressions show the influence of early since 2008, and has written on the manuscripts and ancient calligraphy; Gospels and art and guided tours T her exuberant, bright colours, strong in the Holy Land. lines and use of Scripture capture the energy and relevance of Celtic £250 S Christian faith for our time. £325

12 Celebration... O Have you considered bringing your parish T or church group to Shepherds Dene?

H Shepherds Dene is used by a wide Day rates include lunch, morning and variety of people, of all faiths and none. afternoon tea or coffee with homemade E We welcome parish groups, family biscuits and cakes. groups, walking groups, musical groups, Our church rates/charity rates for 2017 respite groups of carers… Our facilities are set out below. R provide a peaceful and inspiring setting Individual guests and for day conferences, individual retreats Mid-week Day guests private bookings are or week-long pilgrimages for groups 24 hrs: £70 £20: 2-course light B wanting to follow in the footsteps of 2 days: £135 lunch, morning welcome too... the Northern Saints. 3 days: £195 and afternoon tea Many individuals and groups book O If you would like to stay in the house 4 days: £250 or coffee independently for a quiet day or short with exclusive use, we would ask you to 7 days: £390 £25: 2-course full break at Shepherds Dene. In addition O pay for a minimum of 17 people. Weekend lunch, morning to the main house our lovely, two- Residential prices are full board with Fri-Sun: £155 and afternoon tea bedroomed stone cottage is available homemade biscuits and cakes at break Fri-Mon: £225 or coffee on a self-catering basis. Meals can be K times. Thurs-Sun: £225 taken in the main house if preferred. I N G S

14 Carlisle 45 miles Become a Friend of Brocksbushes Fruit Farm A69 A69 Shepherds Dene We have a regular group of Friends Newcastle 17 miles A695 who volunteer at Shepherds Dene Corbridge 2 miles Hexham 5 miles A68 and support us in other ways. If River Tyne you wish to become a Friend, a subscription costs £20 per person,

Slaley £30 for a couple and £40 for a Bus Stop group or organisation. Contact Slaley A695 [email protected]

A695 for an application form. Riding Mill Gateshead 16 miles Shepherds A68

Slaley 4 miles Dene

Make a donation Shepherds Dene is in an ideal location to explore Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne and Wear. The house is situated close to the A69 and A68, Have you considered a regular 2 miles east of Corbridge, where you can explore the historic village and the site monthly donation or one off of the Roman garrison town and 5 miles from Hexham, with its Abbey dating donation to Shepherds Dene? We back to Saxon times. Hadrian’s Wall is only a few miles to the north, Holy Island, have many ongoing maintenance Bamburgh and Alnwick are an easy drive up the A1 and the Lake District just projects and aside from those, over an hour away by car. we are trying to raise funds for a new carpet to replace the existing We are easily accessible by public transport, with regular buses from Newcastle William Morris inspired ‘Oakleaf’ and Hexham passing through Riding Mill, and a regular train service from carpet. Any contributions would Newcastle to Carlisle stopping at Riding Mill station. Newcastle Airport is only be greatly appreciated. Please 20 minutes away by car. If available, a member of staff will collect you from the contact us on 01434 682212 or village, however local taxis are also available if booked by us in advance. e-mail [email protected]

Thank you to all those who have given permission for their artwork and photographs to be used in this brochure 15 ‘time to reflect, inspiration to grow’

‘time to reflect, inspiration to grow’

Riding Mill, Northumberland NE44 6AF Tel: 01434 682212 Email: [email protected] www.shepherdsdene.co.uk Registered charity no: 1138224-1 Find us on Facebook @ShepherdsDene