Our First CHNetwork Retreat in
From June 23–25, 2025, CHNetwork hosted our first UK retreat at the breathtaking Ampleforth Abbey in Yorkshire. It was a holy moment. Facilitated by Ken Hensley and assisted by Kenny and MaryJo Burchard, the retreat welcomed 17 participants from across the UK and Germany, including a former Anglican (now married Catholic) priest. Each attendee was navigating a different phase of their journey into the Catholic Church.
For many, that journey brings both profound joy and deep loss — strained friendships, vocational uncertainty, and the disorientation of leaving behind a familiar evangelical or Anglican world. Over three powerful days, participants gathered for five honest, heartfelt sessions, rich times of prayer, and laughter-filled meals that turned strangers into friends. Late-night wine and cheese gatherings sparked conversations that stretched long into the night—spaces where no one had to “translate” their story.
Participants repeatedly emphasized how vital it is to have retreats specifically for the UK—where the Catholic voice has long been quieted, and the social cost of conversion remains high. And yet, there are signs of revival: Catholic churchgoing in the UK has risen from 23% to 31% since 2018, with 41% of new Mass-goers under 35.
This retreat was just the beginning. The soil in Britain is ready.
REFLECTION FROM AN ATTENDEE:
The retreat was wonderful! It was everything I was hoping for and so much more. I met some incredible people and made some good connections. I also had time to pray and reflect. The location was beautiful and the hospitality was excellent.
Thank you very much for your help preparing for it, and thank you again for arranging the funding. I’m so grateful I could go. Please pass my gratitude to everyone involved in making that possible for me.
I think the experience will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you,
Katherine
