This 17th Century Jacobean Manor House is situated in the heart of an "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" in the High Weald at Penhurst, East Sussex, next door to the beautifully restored 14th Century church. The retreat centre provides a haven of tranquility in an historic setting, yet it is only 90 minutes from London and 1 hour from Gatwick airport and the M25.

The house was for many years the home of Paul and Rosalind Broomhall who offered hospitality to missionaries and guests from all over the world.

The historic town of Battle is three miles away. The Abbey has huge significance in English history as it marks the site where Harold fell in the Battle of Hastings. It is an attractive town with many places of interest to visit.

The house is only seven miles from East Sussex coast.

Accommodation

Bedrooms:

1 double bedroom
5 Twin bedrooms

The 6 comfortable bedrooms can accommodate up to 12 guests. Alternatively the bedrooms can provide single occupancy. Most rooms are south facing and all have pleasant views. Three of the rooms have wash basins and all are situated close to a bathroom or shower room. All linen and towels are provided and tea and coffee making facilities are available in each room.

Bathrooms:

2 large bathrooms
2 shower rooms

Ground Floor:

There is a large comfortable sitting room with an open fire, a dining room and ground floor cloakroom facilities. The large room on the lower ground floor also doubles as a second sitting room when it is not being used as a bedroom. Drink making facilities are available throughout the day in the dining room.

In the future we are hoping to provide ground floor accommodation for the guests who are unable to manage the stairs. However, this is still only in the planning stage at present and we would welcome any prayerful and practical support as we seek to obtain funding and planning permission for this project.

Chapel:

The house has a peaceful chapel on the second floor that is open to all guests. The Wardens are usually on hand to lead morning and evening prayers if desired. Groups are welcome to bring their own leader and arrange their own worship programme.

Outside:

The house is surrounded by attractive gardens including a duck pond and orchard. The church across the lawn [featured in "England's Thousand Best Churches"] holds regular Sunday services and is open to visitors daily. The area is very peaceful and the views are stunning. The house overlooks Tent Hill where William the Conqueror is reputed to have camped on the night before the Battle of Hastings. The 1066 Way runs near to the house and there are some excellent circular walks close by.

Catering:

Meals are freshly prepared on the premises and special diets can be catered for by prior arrangement. All of our meat and most of our fruit and vegetables are sourced from local farms and Janet, our cook, specializes in nutritious home-style cooking.

Accommodation is full-board. Occasionally, guests may choose to miss certain meals [e.g. if they are fasting or eating out] in which case a reduction of £4 is offered for each missed meal [not including breakfast] when this has been agreed with the Wardens in advance.

What We Offer

The centre offers guests opportunities to encounter God within a warm, peaceful and relaxing environment. The wardens are on hand if requested to offer a 'listening ear' or prayer support. For some people their greatest need is just to "be" and enjoy quiet space, free of any demands and this we have in abundance.

We also offer access to resources and support facilities to meet the particular needs of those working overseas.

Throughout the year there is a varied programme of led retreats and workshops on offer. We welcome individuals and groups either for rest and relaxation or with their own planned programme.

Who We Are

The Trust

Penhurst Retreat Centre Charitable Trust was formed in l996 by members of the extended Broomhall family, two of whom had served overseas as missionaries. The vision to found an ecumenical Christian retreat centre at Penhurst was inspired by the words in 2 Corinthians "for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God".

Trustees:

Chair: Martin Lee, Executive Director of Global Connections
Vice-chair: Marion Myers, BCP Registered Psychotherapist. .
Josephine Clarke
David Greenslade, F.C.A.
John Ford
Daphne Hughes

Honorary Treasurer:

David Wright

The Trust seeks to address the needs of people who have been deeply affected by their experiences of humanitarian and mission work. It was recognised that there are many long term workers from the UK and overseas in situations of deprivation and spiritual need who may well be suffering from stress and exhaustion and feeling in need of extra personal support.

The Trust also recognises the enormous challenges facing many people in the UK today and it seeks to offer hospitality and a warm welcome to any individuals or small groups who understand and respect the Christian ethos of the retreat centre.

The centre aims to provide a quiet and contemplative environment, giving opportunity for reflection, recreation and renewal.

The Staff

Wardens: Richard and Storm Hann
Relief Warden: Vanessa
Cook: Janet
Gardener: Gary
Housekeeper: Viv
Administration Assistant: Linda

Staff at the Penhurst Retreat Centre

Volunteers

We have a small band of regular volunteers including a retired Librarian who organises our small library, two office assistants, several lovely people who help out in the kitchen and around the house one-day-a-week and a volunteer gardener who assists Gary.

Volunteer Relief Wardens

We also have a growing band of individuals and couples who offer their services as Volunteer Relief Wardens. They stand in for Richard and Storm or Vanessa when they are taking time off or working away. This is not an easy task and we are blessed to have so many people to call upon.

We couldn't manage without the gift of time, skills, creativity and energy we receive from our volunteers who add so much to our staff team.

We welcome any voluntary support - on a regular or one-off basis.

If you would like to offer your support in the garden, with maintenance tasks, with domestic duties or in the office we'd love to hear from you. For short stays we are sometimes able to offer free accommodation in exchange for the work you do.

The Patrons

Rev Dr John Stott
Preacher, evangelist and distinguished author
Mrs Marlis Bickersteth
Co-founder, with her late husband, of the Ashburnham Conference and Prayer Centre
Rt. Rev Simon Barrington-Ward
Retired Bishop of Coventry who led the Church Missionary Society for many years
Dr Esther de Waal
Anglican laywoman and author of several books on Benedictine and Celtic spirituality
Rt. Rev Ken Barham
Formerly Priest-in-Charge of Ashburnham and Penhurst and Bishop of the Diocese of Cyangugu, Rwanda
Sister Sharon Peters, P.C.J.
Pioneered the Olde House Retreat at Southam, Warks. Widely used by all denominations; involved internationally in the Retreat Ministry

The History

The House

It is likely that there has been a dwelling and a church at Penhurst since Saxon days and the site of the original house was enclosed by a moat. Penhurst "Head of the Wood" is recorded in the Domesday book: "In Penehurst, which Osborn holds of the Earl of Eu, the Abbot has half a hide, and there are two villeins with two ploughs and one acre of meadow and wood for two hogs".

The present house was built in 1640 by William Relf, a local ironmaster. The iron industry had flourished in the Sussex Weald from the end of the fifteenth century and became the industrial heartland of Elizabethan England. The Manor House contains two fine examples of cast iron fire backs made at nearby Ashburnham forge, the final remnant of the Wealden iron industry which closed in 1809. One of the fire back designs is believed to be based on Psalm 104 'The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises, they withdraw and lie down in their dens'.

The Broomhall Family

Paul Paul and Rosalind Broomhall bought the house from John Bickersteth, founder of the Ashburnham Christian Trust in l956. Paul established the Friends of Ashburnham and Penhurst Churches and both the church and the house were restored at that time. A Thanksgiving for the restoration of the church of St. Michael the Archangel, Penhurst was held on Sunday October 16th l960, a year before Paul and Rosalind finally moved into The Manor House.

Born in China and India respectively, Paul and Rosalind did much to support overseas missionary work, travelling to India and Nepal five times between l950 and l974 on behalf of Interserve. Their travels involved riding and walking over the Himalayan mountains often at great personal cost and danger - to visit and encourage isolated missionaries. For some 35 years The Manor House was an oasis of warm hospitality - for family gatherings, for the refreshment of overseas workers on furlough, for the homeless, for church members and for casual visitors from many parts of the world. Until Paul's death in l995 a prayer meeting was held monthly to support the many people who had gone to work overseas from the parish. The Trust was formed in l996 by members of the extended Broomhall family, two of whom had served overseas as mission partners. The vision to found a Christian retreat centre at Penhurst was inspired by the words in 2 Corinthians "for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God".

Paul Broomhall was the great nephew of James Hudson Taylor and the house contains many fascinating artefacts associated with the history of mission, including original portraits of Amelia Hudson Taylor and Benjamin Broomhall, first Secretary of the CIM and brother in law to James Hudson Taylor, the 19th century pioneer missionary to China.

"In this place I will give peace"

This text is also inscribed over the door of the late Mary Cundy's house in the mountain village of Paimey, Nepal. Mary, a medical social worker, was one of the many Interserve partners who was a frequent visitor to the Manor House. During her lifetime she encouraged the Trustees to persevere in their vision

Registered Charity
No: 1060817

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