Autumn Retreat

Friday 10th October -  Sunday 12th October 2025

Space is available on this event

This Autumn Retreat has a theme of racial justice and diversity. It is an opportunity to reflect on Being and Belonging and what this means in your own life. Who are you - the real you?  What labels do we put on people, what labels are on you?  True belonging is found in embracing the full spectrum of human existence and seeing that we are all interconnected, a mosaic of identities, irrespective of our ethnicity, race, colour, class, creed or language.  Spend some time in the beautiful setting of Othona, pondering on the essence that is you, the you God has made you to be.

The retreat is being led by the Revd Sharon Quilter, Racial Justice Officer for Chelmsford Diocese and Associate Priest in the Halstead Area Team Ministry, and Helen Sherfield, Licensed Lay Minister in the Halstead Area Team Ministry. 

Bios

The Reverend Sharon Quilter currently serves as an Associate Priest within the Halstead Area Team in the Colchester Episcopal Area of Chelmsford Diocese, and is the Diocesan Racial Justice Officer. Before ordination, Sharon worked in retail banking before qualifying as an Internal Auditor and later a Financial Services Compliance Manager. She is married to Chris, a retired banker, and lives in a north Essex village where she experienced her call to ordained ministry. Sharon enjoys spending time with family and friends, films (she runs a local film club), Ballroom and Latin dancing, and cruising holidays when she gets the time! 

Helen Sherfield is a Licensed Lay Minister within the Halstead Area Team and works as a Teaching Assistant at one of the local primary schools in the area.  She is also training to be a Spiritual Companion and loves Ignatian and Franciscan Spirituality.  Both her children are grown up and she's looking forward to figuring out who she is as a newly Licensed Minister.  She loves beach walks, coffee, campfires and star gazing, her ideal holiday would be a shack on the beach or a cabin in the woods with a beautiful view but in the meantime loves city breaks full of history.

Arrivals: from 3pm Friday - first meal is dinner at 7pm

Departures: 3pm Sunday

Costs: adults £100 (Basic Rate) £125 (*Benefactors Rate). If you are able to afford the Benefactor rate this helps to support the work of Othona and enables us to provide bursaries to support those who cannot afford to come. Normal child rates apply- Child rates. We may be able to offer a bursary if needed. Please contact us to find out more.

*(Find out about our Benefactor Rate)