Spiritual Direction

Julia specialises in spiritual direction training and supervision, pastoral supervision and vocational and life coaching. She is the author of Listening to your Soul (Nov 2022) and Listening To Your Life: Creatively Discerning Your Calling (2016).

See Julia’s full profile

The Revd Mark Godson

Tutor in Spiritual Direction

Mark is a priest in the Church of England, a psychotherapist, spiritual director and supervisor.

Rooted in the contemplative wisdom tradition, he lives in the shadow of the Black Mountains on the Welsh border as a rural communities priest. Mark is chair of the (Ignatian) Society of Retreat Conductors, and a Director of The Mind Clinic. Mark has taught on formation programmes in spiritual direction since 2012, and developed a programme for the Diocese in Europe.

The Revd Ray Andrews

Tutor in Spiritual Direction.

A priest in the Diocese of Europe based in Spain, Mark serves as the Diocesan Spirituality Advisor for the Diocese in Europe and is a spiritual director, vocations advisor and retreat conductor.

He has a background in Mental Health and worked for many years as a psychiatric social worker and addictions counsellor in London.

He was ordained in Southwark Diocese in 2003 and served in London parishes before relocating to Spain in 2015.

The initial focus is on personal experience; participants are invited to hone their self-awareness and listening, as preparation for listening to others with discernment. Students work in triads throughout the course.

Course days include learning input, space for personal reflection and working in smaller groups. Participants are asked to prepare for, and reflect after these sessions. There are some assignments which may include reading, writing a reflection, or sharing something which has been prepared.

As the course progresses, participants continue to develop their practice, paying particular attention to their skills, good practice, and a growing sense of what their own vocation may be in this area.

Towards the end of the course, participants submit some written evidence of learning – reflections rather than lengthy academic essays. Tutors expect course members to engage with the learning at a depth which is appropriate to their own capacity and experience. Our expectation is that whatever your background, Sarum can offer the context and resources to discern and prepare for the next chapter.

The initial focus is on personal experience; participants are invited to hone their self-awareness and listening, as preparation for listening to others with discernment. Students work in triads throughout the course.

Course days include learning input, space for personal reflection and working in smaller groups. Participants are asked to prepare for, and reflect after these sessions. There are some assignments which may include reading, writing a reflection, or sharing something which has been prepared. Although there is work to do, there is a ‘retreat-like’ quality to the time onsite and we ask course members to leave their emails and other concerns behind in order to engage fully with their experience and one another.

During the second year, participants continue to develop their practice, paying particular attention to their skills, good practice, and a growing sense of what their own vocation may be in this area.

Towards the end of the second year participants submit some written evidence of learning – reflections rather than lengthy academic essays. Tutors expect course members to engage with the learning at a depth which is appropriate to their own capacity and experience. Our expectation is that whatever your background, Sarum can offer the context and resources to discern and prepare for the next chapter.

The 2023-2025 course schedule 

Residential modules will be held on the following dates, supported by online resources

Course dates  (beginning 10 am on the first day to 4pm on the final day)

YEAR ONE (2023-2024)

2023

28, 29 September

30 November & 1 December

2024

1, 2 February

21-22 March

19, 20 & 21 June

YEAR TWO (2024-2025)

2024

19, 20 September  2024

7 &8 November 2024

2025

16,17 January 2025

13,14 March 2025

Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction (online)

The Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction (online) shares the same values, ethos and approach to learning, adapted to the online environment. It includes teaching, small group work and spiritual direction practice, supported by access to resources on Sarum Learn, including library support, with our growing range of ebooks, journals  as well as  a postal service.

There is an optional, additional retreat module (September 18-21 2023) for those who would like the opportunity to visit Sarum College. This module supports the Course but is not necessary for completion of the Course.

The course will be held in two parts, each consisting of four two-day modules online.

Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction Online Course begins in March 2023
This course is delivered via Zoom, supported by access to online resources.
Course dates (beginning at 9am on day one to 3:30pm on day two)

Part one

2023
March 2-3
May 18- 19
July 6-7
September 14-15

Part two

November 16-17, 2023

2024
Jan 11-12
March 7-8
May 16-17

There is an optional residential retreat module from 18-21 September 2023 at Sarum College.

If you need financial support, contact Julia Mourant (jmourant@sarum.ac.uk / +44 (0)1722 424822). Sarum College may be able to help through our membership in the Association for Promoting Retreats which offers bursaries to encourage people to experience the benefits of retreats.

Mixed Mode Course

The Mixed Mode option offers an opportunity to visit Sarum College for a week at the beginning of the Course in October 2023 and again at the end of the Course in March 2025. These two residential sessions  will ‘bookend’ the course, enabling us to meet onsite to take advantage of the College  and Salisbury Cathedral, as well as the medieval city of Salisbury.

You may choose to extend your stay either side of the course dates if you wish and there is a preferential B&B rate for this.

Between these two residential gatherings the group will meet for a day on Zoom every 4 to 6 weeks. As with all our courses, you have support resources on our Moodle (virtual learning) site SarumLearn.

This format is ideal for those who want an onsite component to their study but aren’t able to travel frequently.

Alongside the group meeting at Sarum College in Salisbury there will be a group meeting at The Coach House in Inverness at the same time and the groups will join together for the Zoom days.

If you’re interested in the course, in the first instance, please complete the application form and we will invite you to attend a Zoom meeting to explore the different course options to discuss which format might suit you best.

Mixed Mode Course Dates

2023

Oct 2 to 6
Residential in Salisbury OR  Inverness  (4 days)

Nov 23 online day

2024
Online days
Jan 25
Feb 29
April 18
June 6
July 11–12
Sept 12
Oct 17
Nov 28

2025
Online days
Jan 23
Feb 27

Residential in Salisbury OR Inverness (4 days)
March 31 to April 4

Application for Spiritual Direction 

The course is designed to model and reflect the nature and values of spiritual direction at every level throughout your time at Sarum.

• Within a framework with this intent at its heart, this course will enable you to:
  • Understand and process your own faith experience in an open and mature manner;
  • Better understand the process and dynamics of working with others;
  • Develop confidence to undertake the shared journey of life with others;
  • Have the capacity to listen empathically while observing a contemplative and respectful stance towards the experience of another;
  • Gain insight, recognise your strengths and your limitations and appreciate the importance of supervision and referral;
  • Understand the dynamics of the accompaniment relationship, and be alert to unconscious factors;
  • Maintain appropriate boundaries within the relationship;
  • Deepen your awareness of the rhythm of the spiritual life;
  • Notice factors that might facilitate or block the process;
  • Take increasing responsibility for your own learning, growth and development, in the context of a supportive community.

Some of the themes we will explore during the course include:

• • What is spiritual direction?
  • Movements in the personal spiritual journey
  • Naming and imaging God
  • Sacred space
  • Riches and rhythms of the Christian tradition
  • Stages of faith
  • Vocation
  • Discernment (including the Ignatian approach)
  • Supervision (including supervision groups in the second year)
  • Good practice
  • Skills, interventions and feedback

Sarum is blessed with one of the most beautiful locations in the country, underpinned by a warm welcome, generous hospitality and great food.

Our location in Salisbury Cathedral Close, in buildings where theology has been taught for more than 160 years, along with a supportive community of learning allows time for reflection and contemplation, which is such a rarity in our otherwise busy lives.

Visit our hospitality site to see more images of classroom, bedroom, dining and public spaces.

Those participating in the online version of the Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction have the option to join an optional, additional three-day retreat module which supports the Course but is not necessary for its completion.

The course is ecumenical and we welcome applications from all those interested in pursuing it. The course draws on the Christian tradition in particular but applications are not limited to those who follow this tradition.

You will receive a short application form which asks for a little background information.

Please complete this as a Word document and send it via email to cwhimpenny@sarum.ac.uk (no handwritten applications please).

You will then be invited to a taster session and/or further conversation to explore and discern.

Completing an application form does not commit you but opens a conversation and secures your place in the application process. Applications are considered in the order in which they are received and there is no deadline or competitive interviewing. Early application is therefore advised. After further conversation, if we are able to offer a place, this will be for the next available and appropriate course in the light of all relevant factors.

Download an application for a Spiritual Direction Programme

At the end of the course, students who have completed the requirements will receive a Certificate of Attendance. This is not a licence to practice, qualification or accreditation. There is currently no mechanism for this in the UK. However, the Certificate of Attendance from Sarum College is readily accepted by Anglican dioceses and other church networks as evidence of proper training. Individual churches will have their own structures for good practice and safeguarding. If you exercise a ministry of spiritual direction you must follow the guidance and requirements appropriate to your own context.

The 2023-2025 onsite course

The course fee is £1,988 per year for two years (£3,976 total).

The course price includes the residential and online components and resources, all accommodation and catering, access to wifi in college, basic support in using the SarumLearn student learning portal, and library membership.

Additional B&B may be booked at a discounted educational rate, subject to availability.

Participants commit to one year at a time and it is possible (though not usual) to defer the second year. Some students access grants for financial support of course costs.

2023-2025 Mixed-Mode Course in Spiritual Direction 

The course fee is £1,799 per year (£3598 in total) which does not include accommodation charges for the two residential sessions October 2 to 6, 2023 and March 31 to April 4, 2025.

2024 (Online) Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction 

The course is delivered in two parts, each consisting of four two-day online modules.

The course fee is £1,498 for Part 1 (March – September 2024) and £1,498 for Part 2 (November 2024 – May 2025). The total course fee is £2,996.

There is an optional, additional retreat module in Autumn 2024 (dates tbc) for those who would like the opportunity to visit Sarum College. This module supports the course but is not necessary to complete it successfully.

 Visit our page on grantmaking trusts for a list of potential sources

‘Having gained and used skills in listening and counselling in an informal way during my ministry, I welcomed the opportunity to put these into practice and to learn new skills to add to my ‘toolbox’.  I felt called but uncertain that I would become a Spiritual Director at the outset, but the two years helped me to grow in confidence and to become a Director in a more formal way.’

— The Revd Gerry Baudains

‘When the pandemic meant we were unable to meet at Sarum I was really glad that the course could continue online.

Like so many others, I had quite quickly become familiar with zoom and found this an accessible and reliable resource. I missed not meeting with others in person and the interaction when you’re together in the same room. However, zoom did have advantages eg more time efficient, the comfort and familiarity of your own home, spaces between sessions and good rest breaks again in familiar surroundings. For those hesitant about an online course I would want to say: do give it a go, the leaders will make sure you have all you need and you’ll meet some really wonderful people in a kind, supportive and stimulating way.’

— Peter Seal