2026 - Julian Norwich Retreat

Julian Norwich – A 7-day silent directed retreat.

Julian of Norwich lived as an anchoress in 14th Century England.  She is recognised as the first woman to write in the English language.  Socially, this was a turbulent time with 3 waves of the bubonic plague, the Peasants' Revolt, and the first printing of the Bible in English.

When Julian was seriously ill and near death, she experienced 16 visions (or Showings) of Christ.  When she recovered, she entered her anchor-hold and wrote about her visions.  The manuscript was taken to France for safekeeping during the Reformation and was not rediscovered until the beginning of the 20th Century.  It has been translated into modern English many times since then.  

Julian’s writings are a combination of mystical experience and contemplative theological reflection.  Her book has been described as “one of the great works of medieval theology in any language by an author of either…