Retreats and Quiet Days

We are delighted to be able to offer Madingley as a venue for retreats, quiet days, “away days” and similar events. Our unique setting on the edge of Cambridge means that we have the best of both worlds – great transport links and conference facilities in locations that are historic, peaceful and sacred.

We offer groups the use of the church, set within the grounds of the beautiful Madingley Hall. You can use this as a base for worship and reflection and then choose from a range of options for meeting rooms and other space.

Facilities

Situated within the grounds of Madingley Hall, the church offers a perfect venue for a church quiet day, PCC away day, or retreat. Madingley Hall offers a number of different sized conference rooms that can cater for anything from small groups to gatherings of 100 people.

For your catering requirements, Madingley Hall is able to offer meals and other refreshments to meet whatever your needs may be. Contact them at 01223 746222  or  conference.enquiries@ice.cam.ac.uk

For those on more of a budget we’re pleased to work with Madingley Village Hall to provide you with a base for the day. This lovely traditional village hall has plenty of space to meet as a group and good, simple servery facilities. Car parking is available too. Perfect for a self-catered away day for up to 60 people.

As a rough guide the cost of a day’s use of the church and hall is £150.

Residential Retreats

Madingley Hall is able to offer residential accommodation for longer retreats. If you would like to explore residential accommodation then we recommend contacting Madingley Hall directly first to make enquiries.

In 2021 we were delighted to welcome the Diocese of Ely’s ordination retreat to Madingley as another cohort of people prepare for curacy and priesthood. The church was the centre of worship as 35 enjoyed the space to reflect and pray.

Private retreats?

The church is open during the hours of daylight most days and so people are always welcome to spend time here in prayer and quiet. Madingley Hall is usually open for coffee and nice walks too. By arrangement we can make sure you have access to the toilet or tea-making facilities. If you want to arrange something properly then please get in touch by emailing retreats@madingleychurch.org

Held in Prayer

Madingley Church has an active prayer ministry team and you can be assured that during your time in Madingley you’ll be held in prayer, whatever the reason you’re here.

What people say…

I felt Madingley Hall, the grounds and the Parish Church made for a perfect setting for a Retreat. Even being close to a main road, it was very peaceful; the stunning Hall & grounds provided a beautiful setting, and I felt a particular sense of peace in the cosy yet spacious Parish Church. Wonderful – thank you so much!

Will – July 2021

I was indulged by my diocese to have a time of retreat and prayer before my ordination at Madingley Hall and it was a refreshing, invigorating experience. The exquisite delicacy of the place (especially its gardens and welcoming chapel) was only surpassed by the quality of the staff and their service.

Sam – July 2021

Madingley, both the Hall and the Church are a good place for a retreat. The church provides a place of quiet calm, a place of contemplation. The gardens surrounding the Hall are magnificent and equally provide a place of quiet into which to escape, with the walls, hedges, trees and the carefully placed seating. The views are stunning and forget how close you are to civilisation, accessible but with a feeling of being in the middle of nowhere.

The food [at Madingley Hall], for a some a necessary part of the retreat, was excellent, catering for all tastes and dietary requirements. If you are planning on staying the rooms are simple and comfortable.

Ruth – July 2021

The church is quiet and calm, just right for peaceful thought. I could feel the angst drain out of me as I sat. It is a place for anyone, of faith or non-faith, to take a moment to reflect and contemplate.

Helen – June 2021

I walked down to the church and was delighted to see the welcoming purple flowers and purple door (my favourite colour). I immediately felt the peace within the building as I entered and the calm atmosphere did me so much good. It’s a beautiful building and you can sense the many years of prayer and worship that have taken place there. I was extremely grateful for the WC facility within the church itself ( and accessible for disabled folk too) it was clean and welcoming too. 

 It is my ideal kind of place to go, I couldn’t believe how perfect it was. I had my picnic on the lawn and fell asleep for a good while under the partial shade of a tree – such bliss.

Jackie – May 2021

Interested? Get in touch!

If you’d like to explore spending some time in Madingley (whether it’s 6 people getting away for a day of planning, a creative writing retreat for 30 or a church weekend away for 100) we’d love to help you.

A good place to start is by filling in this form [PDF version / Microsoft Word version] and returning it to retreats@madingleychurch.org

If you want to make a more casual enquiry then please just email retreats@madingleychurch.org