Spiritual Direction

Dr Pollyanna Magne trained as a spiritual director at the Carmelite Priory in Aylesford, Kent where she then joined the course tutor team. She is a spiritual director supporting people from all walks of life, across the Christian traditions, and has a particular interest in accompanying people experiencing times of transition.

Polly holds a Professional Doctorate and a Masters in Education, Post Graduate Certificates in Higher Education and in Secondary Education, and a degree in Religious Education and Music. In her early career, Polly worked as a secondary teacher in faith schools where she led school worship and the design and facilitation of retreats for the young people and staff. Since 2000, she has worked in higher education as an associate professor and as head of academic practice. In this role she trained academic, health and charity sector professionals to deliver dynamic teaching, and to provide transformative learning opportunities. In recognition of her outstanding work and international reach across the HE sector, Polly was made a National Teaching Fellow in 2021.

As Director of the Centre of Spiritual Direction, Polly draws together her expertise in teaching, learning and retreat leadership and her ministry of Spiritual Accompaniment.

Bronwen Pearson 

Tutor in Spiritual Direction

Bronwen has part of the spiritual direction training team at Sarum College since 2021.

She is on the Salisbury Diocese Network of Spiritual Accompaniment register and provides spiritual direction through this and wider networks.
Bronwen also works as a psychotherapeutic counsellor (accredited by the BACP) and supervisor for spiritual directors, counsellors, clergy and a range of caring professions and holds senior accredited supervisor status with the Association of Pastoral Supervisors and Educators (APSE).

She has had experience of providing professional counselling and supervision training since 2012.

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.

Residential modules will be held on the following dates, supported by online resources. The course begins on 26 September 2024 (see full schedule below).

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

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.

This course is open to participants from outside the UK at no extra cost. The course will be held in two parts, each consisting of four two-day modules online.

The next online course will begin in March 2025. Each session runs from 10am to 4pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

If you’re interested in joining the spiritual direction course, in the first instance, please complete the enquiry 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.

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 enquiries from all those interested in pursuing it. The course draws on the Christian tradition in particular but course participants are not limited to those who follow this tradition.

If you’re interested in the course, please complete an enquiry form which asks for a little background information.

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

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

Completing an enquiry form opens a conversation and secures your place in the enquiry process without commitment. Enquiries are considered in the order in which they are received and there is no deadline or competitive interviewing. After further conversation, if we are able to offer a place, this will be for the next available and appropriate course.

Download an enquiry form for the Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction

We treat your personal information with respect and care according to the Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction privacy policy.

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 2024-2026 onsite course

The course fee is £2,125 per year for two years (£4,250 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.

2025 (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 £1,610 for Part 1 (March – September 2025) and £1,610 for Part 2 (November 2025 – May 2026). The total course fee is £3,220.

There is an optional, additional retreat module in Autumn 2025 (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.

There is no extra cost for international participation.

Bursaries and funding for the Spiritual Direction Programme

Funding Options

1. Funding is sometimes available from your own parish, diocese, church community or employer. We would encourage you to explore these avenues for partial or full funding, particularly if they offer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) funding, or have designated training, development or enrichment funds.
2. The Retreat Association has a small Fund available from which to make grants to provide training opportunities in spiritual direction to those who come from unorthodox situations.

Applications will be considered by the Board of Trustees who meet quarterly in March, June, September and December. Applications should be received no later than the last day of the month preceding such a meeting.

Requests for the ‘small grant funding application form’ must be made individually via email to info@retreats.org.uk. Visit their website

3. The Society of Retreat Conductors also provides some funding. People considering applying for a grant for spiritual direction training will normally be expected to have completed an 8-day individually accompanied retreat and to be able to demonstrate ample evidence of being in regular spiritual direction in recent years. Further information and the grant application form.
4. The Community of St Denys fund  five bursaries per annum for the Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction of up to £2,000 per annum.

Bursaries will be prioritised for those who are:

• on low income
• of Global Majority Heritage/BAME
• under 30
• disabled
• other under-represented group

The deadline for applications to the Community of St Denys fund @ Sarum College are by 10am on the following dates:

• Monday 6 January 2025 (Decisions by end of January – Avocet)
• Monday 30 June 2025 (Decisions made by end of July – Bittern)

Download the application form for the Community of St Denys fund here

 Visit our page on grantmaking trusts 

‘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