A Warm Welcome to Sycamores Christian Retreat
What is a Retreat?
According to the Northumbria Community, 'In its simplest form ‘Retreat’, means ‘to withdraw, to drawback.’ Throughout the ages, the Christian tradition has understood Retreat to be an important part of spiritual formation. That is, time consciously set aside for God, a change of focus, a deliberate act of stepping outside of normal routine by withdrawing (not running away) from the noise and pressures; the immediate and insistent claims of our social, domestic and workaday responsibilities in order to be in a quiet place where all our senses are open and ready to listen to God.'
About Sycamores Christian Retreat
Our Mission
Why Sycamores?
Accommodation
This is a place of rest and renewal for all who want to live an authentic life. For us that has been through faith in Jesus Christ. The house is intended to be warm, welcoming and safe and allow people space to reflect and draw inspiration from nature, scripture and each other.
Accommodation
Why Sycamores?
Accommodation
Sycamores is a relatively small retreat house with residential space for up to 10 people; five bedrooms, 3 double and 2 twin. It can accommodate up to 14 for day retreats .
Contact us if you are interested in any of the listed retreats on this website or in discussing using Sycamores for a small group retreat, either residential or for a day.
Please note that there is no wheelchair access and there are 56 steps with a handrail to the main house front door.
Why Sycamores?
Why Sycamores?
Initial Contact
At one level this is very easy, there’s a Sycamore tree in the corner of the garden and several further up the valley. However, at another level it has a deep resonance with the experience of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) and the change that Jesus brings as we spend time in His presence.
Initial Contact
Preparation for Retreat
Initial Contact
Once you have made initial contact by email (see Contact Us), we will ask for a call, preferably on ZOOM so we can check out your expectations and that Sycamores is the right fit for you. If it is, we will ask you to complete an application form and will begin to plan with you how your time at Sycamores might be best spent.
Preparation for Retreat
Preparation for Retreat
Preparation for Retreat
Prior to arriving on retreat, it will be important to begin to consider your priorities, for example, do you need rest and relaxation, space to just be with God, or do you need something more directive? Are you looking for specific answers to prayer and need time away from the business of life, to listen?
Living in Community
Preparation for Retreat
Preparation for Retreat
Whether you choose to come on a themed or an open retreat, you will be sharing the house with others who you may not have met before. Tim and Liz will remain in the house throughout and will endeavour to put everyone at ease, respecting privacy and confidentiality at all times. However, in our experience, we can be richly blessed through encounters with new, fellow travellers.
About Us
Liz Bryan
Liz is a palliative care nurse and palliative and end-of-life care educationalist. Qualified also as a counselling psychotherapist, Liz is interested in how adults use experience to raise self-awareness and consciously change behaviours that might have been damaging to themselves and others. Liz has worked as a lecturer for Macmillan Cancer Support and in the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care at Kings College London. From 2013 to 2019 she was Director of Education and Training at St Christopher's Hospice in London. Liz now works mainly from home delivering online training for end-of-life care practitioners around the world.
Liz is married to Tim. She became a Christian when she was training to be a nurse in the late 70s. It hasn't always been plain sailing but without her faith in God, through Jesus Christ, Liz admits her life would have been without meaning or purpose.
Tim Bryan
Tim was ordained in 1996 at Southwark Cathedral, whilst employed as a detective inspector for the Met Police. During a police career of 27yrs he undertook significant roles running a large child protection team in South London and then later on secondment to the National Probation Service designed and implemented MAPPA, the national system for the management of high-risk offenders in the community. In 2006, having held honorary curacy roles in local churches within Southwark Diocese he became a prison chaplain in response to God’s prompting. He was the lead chaplain at HMP Wandsworth for over 10years before becoming a senior chaplain for the Prison Service and overseeing several chaplaincy teams across the North of England, Midlands and Wales. He retired from the Prison Service in 2020 but maintains his involvement with prison chaplaincy and resettlement by being an Adviser to the Bishop of Southwark on Prison Chaplaincy, a trustee for the local charity Yellow Ribbon, and chairing the working group for Prisons Week. He holds a Permission to Officiate for Hereford Diocese and is part of the ministry team in Church Stretton.
Tim is married to Liz. They have three adult children. They moved to Church Stretton five years ago with the intention of using their new home to welcome friends and others for refreshment and retreat. Although delayed by full-time work and the impact of COVID they have begun this year to invite people to participate in short retreats.
Split Rock
When He led them through the deserts, they did not thirst. He made water flow from a rock for them. He split the rock and water flowed out. Isaiah 48:21
In 2023 it was our great pleasure to welcome Martha and Tim Bhajjan to Sycamores. This has led to a shared vision and exciting partnership between the four of us. Through June and the first part of July 2025, we have invited them yet again to be resident at Sycamores, to participate in the already scheduled retreats and to provide their own, distinct programme of art retreats and deep discipleship experiences.
Tim and Martha are easy to approach and use their combined God-given strengths and discipling skills to facilitate these unique discipleship experiences .
Tim
6 yrs. professional Christian Ministry Leader Coach Professional Watercolour Artist
9 yrs. ministry work in England and Israel
14 yrs. in the pastorate; M.Div.; Th.M.; Doctor in Ministry
Martha
6 yrs. professional Christian Discipleship Coach
30 yrs. designing & facilitating discipleship experiences
9 yrs. ministry work in England and Israel
B.S. Public Admin.;M.S. Family Relations; Bible School
Split Rock - Fully His
A challenging deep discipleship experience for teams from Christian organisations who are already earnest followers of Jesus Christ.
Dates: To be negotiated
Cost: £300 (per person full board)
Description: FULLY HIS is an experience of the Kingdom of God together with fellow Christian workers. Oneness in Christ, with all our God-given differences, is possible and is highly stimulating and powerful. And this, according to Jesus, is the evidence to the world, that the Father sent His Son (John. 17:21).
Time will be spent in engaging interactions, with options for resting and walking local paths. You will leave having been built up through our time together, and enabled to pass on to others, what you have learned and experienced about the reality of oneness in Christ.
Paul Hobbs Art Retreats 2025
Art Workshops at Sycamores with guest, Paul Hobbs
We will enjoy the beauty of creation, with options to draw and paint outside (weather permitting) or bring material or photos back to the house. You may paint from the landscape, or make a still life relating to it. You might work directly from nature, or more symbolically in relation to one of the reflective worship sessions each day, which will involve some of Paul’s own work. You might also experiment using natural materials to paint and draw, e.g. with sticks, mud, ferns and crushed leaves.
Paul Hobbs
Paul is a conceptual artist who explores the Christian faith in relation to contemporary life, and who also makes semi-abstract images from natural and man-made forms such as flowers, water, metalwork, architecture etc—finding beauty in patterns and movement.
Timings and Costs
Weekend 1 - 3rd to 6th April 2025
Weekend 2 - 6th to 9th November 2025
Arrival by 4pm on Thursday
Leave after 11am on Sunday
Cost - £300 per person for single occupancy (full board)
£250 per person if sharing a room (full board)
Skill and experience may vary. Come and enjoy experimenting!
Koinonia for Women
Meaning of Koinonia
Koinonia means “fellowship, sharing in common, communion.” It is a Greek word that occurs 20 times in the bible. The first occurrence of koinonia is Act 2 v 42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers in Christ are to come together in love, faith, and encouragement. That is the essence of koinonia.
Jesus's Encounters with Women
Beginning in September (2nd Wednesday of every month from 9.30am to 12.00 followed by lunch), we will be studying the encounters Jesus had with women, recorded in the New Testament . What do these accounts tell us about our worth and significance to the work of the Kingdom? This is for women of faith who are wanting to yield completely to the will of God, to know Jesus and be known by Him and to share His grace with other women who are broken and struggling.
Days of Fellowship and Prayer - Saturday 8th March and Saturday 11th October
These day retreats will be for all women who are searching for peace and purpose through Jesus Christ. They will be held at Cornerstone (a nearby location in Church Stretton) which has easier access for those with mobility issues.
One in Christ! (Koinonia Weekend) - 4th to 6th July 2025
Our guest speaker will be Martha Bhajjan from Split Rock. There will be a limited number of residential places on this weekend but the majority who attend will live locally and join the programme from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime as non-residents.
Contact Us
If you would like to know more and think any of these events may be right for you, please do contact us using the contact form and tell us what, in particular, has caught your eye.
Reviews
Tola
Chrissie
Justin
This is the third time I've attended this retreat and I have had the most amazing experience. It is so tranquil here, and Tim and Liz are some of the most lovely 'spiritual practising' people I have had the pleasure to meet. They have a way of explaining God which is so inclusive, that I and many members of our group are able to open the
This is the third time I've attended this retreat and I have had the most amazing experience. It is so tranquil here, and Tim and Liz are some of the most lovely 'spiritual practising' people I have had the pleasure to meet. They have a way of explaining God which is so inclusive, that I and many members of our group are able to open the door and allow God to enter. The Sycamores is such an amazing place! This my third time here, and I have experienced a sense of community and togetherness which I can sometimes find difficult to experience elsewhere.
I LOVE this place. It is the epitome of tranquility... I always feel at peace here.
Justin
Chrissie
Justin
Sycamore retreat is located in a beautiful valley, perfect for contemplating and reflecting with Gods beautiful countryside literally on your doorstep (bring your walking boots).
The house is fantastic and very comfortable with enough space to be with others or find some solitude.
Tim and Liz were perfect hosts and made me feel very welcom
Sycamore retreat is located in a beautiful valley, perfect for contemplating and reflecting with Gods beautiful countryside literally on your doorstep (bring your walking boots).
The house is fantastic and very comfortable with enough space to be with others or find some solitude.
Tim and Liz were perfect hosts and made me feel very welcome and at ease straight away. Food was fab too!
As facilitators of the retreat I attended, Tim and Liz were excellent. We had a clear agenda for the weekend, which was flexible and tailor made to my individual needs as the weekend progressed. I took a lot away with me from the weekend and feel that bit closer to God as a result. I would definitely recommend and will be back!
Chrissie
Chrissie
Chrissie
It was such a blessing to be able to take some time out on a retreat at Sycamores at a transition period in my life. The house and Liz and Tim were so warm and welcoming, it made it easy to feel relaxed and focus on listening to God. It is situated in such a beautiful area, being immersed in amazing natural beauty with great views and
It was such a blessing to be able to take some time out on a retreat at Sycamores at a transition period in my life. The house and Liz and Tim were so warm and welcoming, it made it easy to feel relaxed and focus on listening to God. It is situated in such a beautiful area, being immersed in amazing natural beauty with great views and walks from the door, just enhanced the whole experience. Liz and Tim were really helpful in supporting the retreat and provided delicious meals too. The time at Sycamores provided a special time, an oasis in a busy world, which helped give me some precious time of close connection with God. I highly recommend Sycamores Christian retreat to others thinking about taking a retreat.