Easter Retreat 2026 – “From Shadow to Singing: Walking the Easter Way”
Led by Revd Lawrence Basham – Rydal Hall, Cumbria
Good Friday afternoon – Easter Sunday lunchtime
“The resurrection is not loud. It is first noticed in gardens, in names spoken gently, in the waking up of the soul.”
An Easter Journey of Silence, Stillness, and Song
As Holy Week gives way to Easter, Rydal Hall becomes a place of quiet awakening — a sacred landscape in which sorrow and hope intertwine.
This retreat invites you to walk slowly through the mystery of Easter: to dwell in the shadows of Good Friday, wait with the stillness of Holy Saturday, and rise with the dawn of Easter morning.
Led by Revd Lawrence Basham, this three-day retreat offers a contemplative rhythm of worship, reflection, and creative response. Together we will listen to scripture, poetry, and the voice of nature — discovering that resurrection is often found in the gentlest of ways.
The Rhythm of the Retreat
Each day flows with prayer and reflection, including:
• Morning worship with poetry, scripture, and silence
• Themed reflections with time for journaling or creative expression
• Guided walks through the natural beauty of Rydal and Grasmere
• Music, chant, and candlelit evening liturgies
• Shared meals and companionship in silence and conversation
Good Friday – “The Place Where All Is Broken”
We begin in silence, gathering at the foot of the cross.
Through scripture, music, and symbolic action, we honour the brokenness of the world and our shared longing for healing.
“It is finished…” — and still, love remains.
Simple supper and night prayer close the day in quiet reflection.
Holy Saturday – “The Silence That Holds”
A day of stillness, waiting, and hidden hope.
Morning prayer by the stream opens into a silent pilgrimage to Rydal Caves, where we rest in the mystery of the tomb.
Afternoon invites gentle creativity — poetry, art, or journaling — before the Easter Vigil Fire, where darkness gives way to flame and the first Alleluia is whispered.
“This hollow space is not empty — it waits.”
Easter Sunday – “He Called Her by Name”
At dawn we walk the Coffin Trail to Grasmere, joining others in a sunrise service — greeting the day as the risen light breaks through.
After a joyful breakfast, we share Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church, Rydal, followed by closing reflections and a simple blessing in the chapel.
“He is not here — he is risen.”
A Retreat for the Heart and Senses
Through poetry, prayer, stillness, and song, we follow the Easter Way — from sorrow into song, from darkness into dawn.
This retreat welcomes all who seek a quieter, deeper celebration of resurrection. You do not need prior retreat experience, only a willingness to rest, listen, and be renewed.
Practical Details
Cost per day: £50 (include dinner for an extra £22.50)
Cost per day plus 1 night accommodation: £80 single or £115 double (include dinner for an extra £22.50)
Easter Sunday Lunch: 2 courses at £22.50 or 3 courses at £28.50
“The Quiet Rising”
Come and walk the Easter Way.
Through silence and story, shadow and song, discover again the tender power of resurrection — the God who calls us each by name, and makes all things new.
