Submitted by george.somers@… on

At some point, everyone needs to take the time to step away from the stresses of everyday life, to recharge and rebuild. Ministry is a calling, but it's not always easy, and clergy too need the chance to briefly escape the pressures that come hand in hand with the joy of serving their communities.

Holy Rood House in Thirsk, North Yorkshire offer retreats to clergy and/or their spouses/partners, especially at times of stress, crisis, burnout or breakdown. We have been privileged to provide an Organisation grant to Holy Rood for many years now, to support their ongoing mission to provide safe space for rest, reflection and recovery.

Image
A red-bricked building, with bay windows and a long driveway.

How they've helped

Last year, Holy Rood House's 30th anniversary year, they supported 79 clergy, their partners and children, through counselling, spiritual direction and guided retreats.

They have a varied, expert staff offering a range of activities, including a Head of Chaplaincy, Child Psychiatrist and a live-in Art Therapist, as well as a chapel, library, study area, art room, and quiet garden space.

Holy Rood never wants finance to be a barrier to seeking support. Sometimes, clergy are able to make a contribution towards the cost of their stay, or they have been referred directly by their diocese, and the diocese have met the cost.

On other occasions, a grant from Clergy Support Trust has been awarded to cover the shortfall. We were privileged to provide Organisation grants of £20,000 in 2023 and in 2024, to help them do what they do best.

"What does Holy Rood House mean to me?"

"Very hard to put into words but my first thought is that it is a warm hug when I most need it. As I walk through the door I can feel my stressed-out shoulders drop and relax. Knowing I am in a safe embrace of love, care and support."

"There is nowhere else I know where such healing, comfort and genuine care are evident - like open arms to welcome me in and make me whole again away from all the difficulties and pains of life."

- An anonymous guest

Organisation grants

An Organisation grant, unlike some of our other individual grants, is a grant awarded to an organisation or, in some cases, a diocese, where multiple clergy households may benefit from the grant.

These grants can support anything from retreat centres to activity days, care homes to sheltered housing, and even projects like Family Max, an afternoon of campfires and tobogganing for clergy children in the Diocese of Bath and Wells.

If you feel able to make a donation through the link below, to help us continue to serve the people who spend their lives serving others, it would be very greatly appreciated.

Find out more     Donate today

NOTES FOR EDITORS
Photo credits: Holy Rood House.
Clergy Support Trust is the largest and oldest charity focussed on the wellbeing of clergy and their families. In 2024, we supported almost 2,800 households, with more than £6m across over 6,700 grants. This is the highest annual number of people ever supported by the charity.
The Trust, originally founded in 1655, provides confidential help for Anglican clergy and their families across the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, and Diocese in Europe. The Trust are confidential, independent, inclusive, and impartial, and we support clergy from training through to retirement.
For media enquiries, please email our External Relations team at hello@clergysupport.org.uk.