...Stunningly beautiful 16th century moated Hall set in 10 acres of gardens in the tranquil Suffolk countryside
Quiet Days
Otley Hall Quiet Days are a wonderful chance to enjoy our beautiful grounds whilst having an opportunity to reflect and grow spiritually.
The Quiet Days were put together by Revd Catherine Beaumont, the owner, who is a practising Christian and feels that Otley Hall was given to her to share with others.
Quiet Days each have a different theme and are led by different speakers who guide you through the day. The days include discussion, occasional individual excercises to work on and time for silence. Throughout the day you are free to enjoy our award winning gardens, which are the perfect environment in which to spend a day of reflection. We have areas of water and plenty of wildlife including ducks, peacocks and a swan.
The cost to attend an Otley Hall Quiet Day is £20 in 2012, unless otherwise stated. This includes refreshments and a light ploughmans lunch. Booking is essential, please contact us for a booking form or pay for your place by credit or debit card by using the 'buy now' buttons below.
All days start promptly at 10am and complete by 4pm, unless otherwise stated.
Please scroll down to find the day you are looking for.
2012 Programme
Our 2012 programme consists of both Quiet Days, Deep Silence Days and Workshops.
Deep Silence Days have more time for quite, therefore there will be no talking between sessions and during lunch. Workshops have more time for studying and discussion, with less 'quiet time'.
Tuesday 13th March
Elizabeth Moore
Preparing for Lent through the Psalms
Traditionally Lent is a time for checking our spiritual health.
We shall do that by exploring some Pslams that Jesus used.
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Tuesday 27th March
Bishop Clive Young
'And God saw that it was good'.
Creation as God's risk of Love
'If we learn to love the Earth, we will find labyrinths, gardens, fountains and precious jewels.
A whole new world will open itself to us. We will discover what it means to be truly alive.'
St Teresa of Avila 1515-1582.
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Tuesday 17th April
Rev Gordon Melvin
Self Enquiry - Who am I?
A day of deep silence.
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Wednesday 25th April
Magdalen Houlihan
'Go to your inner room and close the door'. (Matthew 6.6)
A Day on Silent Prayer also known as Centering Prayer or Christian Meditation.
Magdalen is a Roman Catholic lay Christian committed to
promoting silent prayer as a regular daily practise.
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Thursday 10th May
Rev Dr Brian Raistrick
Coping with Grief
A day of deep silence and reflection with an opportunity to discuss issues with the Quiet Day leader.
Brian is a retired Anglican priest who prior to ordination worked in education both in this country and Tanzania. He is an experienced Retreat giver; a trained Counsellor; an ex Hospice Chaplain and for the last 10 years has worked in the field of Spiritual Direction.
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Tuesday 29th May
Suffolk Inter Faith Resource - SIFRE
'Commitment, Compassion and Co-existance'
an interfaith day of study and reflection.
This Quiet Day will be based around the Dalai Lama's book 'Towards a True Kinship of Faiths'.
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Tuesday 12th June
Rev Jane Hall
'Wander and ponder with St Columba'.
Celebrating St Columba's Saint day: 9th June
Jane is a priest in the Otley benefice who is inspired by Celtic spirituality
with a love of walking in Suffolk's countryside.
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Tuesday 26th June
Rev Gordon Melvin
Meditation
A day of deep silence working with body attention practices so as to be more present
in the moment and create 'Presence'. The day will centre around meditation and contemplation,
with formal times of sitting and times to ponder and reflect individually in-between.
Open for all visitors regardless of whether you attended Godon's 2011 day on meditation.
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Friday 6th July
Rev Joyce Willis
Exploring Pain
Joyce Willis has lived in Hadleigh all her life and worked for many years as a social worker
for Suffolk County Council, both in the hospital and the local community. She was one of the first
women priests to be ordained in 1994 and continues to serve as 'retired' NSM within the Hadleigh Benefice. In her spare time she enjoys being creative using mixed media - making felt, beading & painting.
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Tuesday 17th July
Rev Andrew Dotchin
'God Won't Make Your Brown Eyes Blue' - a journey with Amy Carmachael
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Thursday 9th August
Rev Jackie Sears
'Being Christ's Beloved: Spiritual living in a secular world.
Some thoughts for our spiritual journey with reference to the book by
Henri Nouwen
A Quiet Day with opportunity for deep thought on being The Beloved of God.
This may involve times of silence, and some music.
Recently retired, Jackie is a tutor for the Diocesan Ministry Course,
and has an interest in the healing ministry.
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Tuesday 14th August
Canon Sylvia Chapman & Dr Ann Spalding
A day of complete silence with creation
A day of deep silence.
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Tuesday 11th September - WORKSHOP
Canon Andrew Vassey
Prayer and Painting: reflecting on the water at Otley Hall
Bring your own painting and sketching materials.
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Thursday 27th September
Rev Liz Kirby
Meditation on scripture and expressing it through art
A day of deep silence letting the Holy spirit work through you creatively.
Bring your own art materials, some also available including clay.
Liz is a parish priest and artist.
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Wednesday 10th October
Rev Hilary Le Seve
Icons. 'Window on the Kingdom'
With a creative afternoon. Hilary is a parish priest.
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Tuesday 16th October
Rev Martin Davies
Hymn Writers and their stories
An opportunity to explore the stories behind particular hymns and hymn writers -
and to enjoy their well-known compositions.
Martin has arranged this day following a popular one on hymn writers last year which was
enjoyed by all who came. Martin is vicar of Harefield, Middlesex; he also organises monthly
Quiet Days ("Oasis Days") in central London.
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Saturday 27th October - WORKSHOP
Rev Gordon Melvin
Enneagram Two
(£22 per person, 10am-5pm)
A deepening of the study of the nine personality types and map of the soul in the context
of contemplation and mediation. Workshop designed for those that have attended an
Introduction to the Enneagram day and already know their Enneagram Type.
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Wednesday 14th November
Elizabeth Moore
'All Desires Known':
exploring the spiritual riches of the Book of Common Prayer
2012 is the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Prayer Book, which still feeds prayer and worship.
This Day explores its prayers through words and music.
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Saturday 24th November
Rev Catherine Beaumont
The Women that sat at Jesus' feet
A day of deep silence.
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Friday 7th December
Canon Christopher Chapman
'Christ be our Light'
A day of deep silence for Advent.
Christopher has been in full-time Anglican ministry for over 50 years. After Ordination he served
on a south London new housing estate, before being appointed Vicar of the parishes of Corton
and Hopton in the Diocese of Norwich, and served as Rural Dean of Lothingland for six years.
He then moved to London in the same Diocese, where he again served as Rural Dean,
area Warden for Readers, and was on the Bishop's Council, eventually being made an Honorary
Canon of Norwich Cathedral. He retired in 2003, and now spends time visiting his grandchildren, gardening, leading retreats and quiet days, and helping out in local churches on Sundays.
Bring your own Quiet Day to Otley Hall
We welcome groups of 10 or more
to bring their own Quiet Days or Away Days
to Otley Hall for £19 per person.