July 2026 Whitby Residential Retreat on the theme of Rewilding the Heart

A time to slow down to the rhythm of the earth and welcome all that arises, whatever the season of our hearts. Listening to the sea, the land, poetry, our bodies, so we may call our spirits home in the wider-than-human-world.

The retreat will be led by Tess Ward, a writer, spiritual accompanier and retreat leader living in Northumberland and author of The Celtic Wheel of the Year and the forthcoming Rewilding the Heart. Tess worked as hospice chaplain and celebrant before going freelance.

The retreat will be at St Mary’s-on-the-Cliff in Whitby owned by the Sisters of the Congregation of Jesus, and will run from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime.

There are seven single rooms – none of the rooms are en suite but each has a sink and there are three bathrooms. The Chapel looks out onto the sea and there is a large lounge/dining room and garden.

Meals will be cooked for you but washing up and other tasks will be shared. The retreats are not silent as we will be working with the theme and content of the days together.