Retreat Houses

As Mike and I sat in Morley Rectory this week we took a moment or two to gaze round the room we had been given in which to meet. Since the aim of most people in a retreat house is to get away from busyness it seemed remarkable to us that the room was so, well, busy. Striped wallpaper (I'm not normally averse to blue and white stripes as you know, long-suffering followers) over orange/brown carpets next to three or four differently patterned comfy chairs and sofas. Walls had shelves with an array of old books and some ornaments.

Mike said, rightly, that even if you didn't know where you were you'd know you were in an Anglican retreat house. He's right. We call, jointly (although I haven't told him yet), on retreat houses to declutter.