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 Life: Creatively Discerning Your Calling (2016).

See Julia’s full profile

Ellen has many years of experience of working with adult learners in Further and Higher Education and in various training and formation settings.

She is rooted in the Ignatian tradition and worked for 10 years as a tutor on the London-based Ignatian Spirituality Course.

Currently she is Associate Director at the House of Prayer in East Molesey, Surrey, and a visiting retreat guide at St Beuno’s Spirituality Centre in Wales.

Ellen offers spiritual direction, supervision for spiritual directors, and she offers the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life (St Ignatius of Loyola).

The focus of the first year 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.

Days at Sarum will include 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 2022-2024 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 (2022-2023)

29,30 September 2022

24,25 November 2022

2,3  February 2023

30,31 March  2023

21,22,23 June  2023

YEAR TWO (2023-2024)

21,22 September  2023

9,10 November 2023

18,19  January  2024

14,15 March 2024

Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction (0nline)

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 19-22 2022) 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 began in March 2022
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

3,4 March 2022
19,20 May 2022
7,8 July 2022
15,16 September 2022

Part two
3,4 November 2022
12,13 January  2023
9,10 March 2023
11,12 May 2023

There is an optional residential retreat module 19-21 September 2022 at Sarum College.

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. 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 the in-person course

Download an application for the online course

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 2022-2024 in-person course

The fee for this course hasn’t been set yet but as a guide, the 2021 course fee is £1,660 per year for two years.

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. Course members often access grant support.

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

2022-2023 (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 £1,250 for Part 1 (March – September 2022)  and £1250 for Part 2 (November  2022- May 2023)

There is an optional, additional retreat module (19-22 September 2022) for those who would like the opportunity to visit Sarum College. This module supports the course but is not necessary to complete it successfully.

‘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