Many of us have special 'Pilgrim Places' - sites that are often beautiful, maybe historic, but which all give us a sense of belonging and perspective and of being closer to God. They are places to come aside, pause, reflect and find peace, hope, comfort and understanding to take us back into our everyday pilgrim journeys of life.
This summer, the Church of England has been highlighting some of the places around the country which have been made holy by those who have lived faithful lives there - reminding us that the church is always on pilgrimage and helping us to see God at work in every community and on every pilgrim journey.
We are spotlighting some of the places in our Diocese that are very special for many, both locally and from further afield, beginning with our own diocesan retreat house Parcevall Hall, near Appletreewick in Wharfedale.
Parcevall Hall, the Retreat House for the Diocese of Leeds, sits in its own little micro-climate on a hillside looking both up to the summit of Simon’s Seat and down the dale towards Bolton Abbey and Ilkley. The house offers comfortable accommodation and warm hospitality for guests, and the beautiful gardens surrounding the property are open to the public to visit, along with a tearoom. It is a peaceful place for rest and renewal at the heart of our busy Diocese which aims to encourage confidence by enhancing wellbeing and supporting spiritual growth.
Built on land which belonged to nearby Bolton Priory, the Grade II* listed hall has a long history, stretching back to 1586. There is evidence of older habitation too, with the old name and the site’s fresh climate suggesting it may have been a place where sick monks came to recuperate - an early form of the refreshing and restoration it still offers today. It was also thought to be a resthouse for those travelling the nearby highway from Fountains Abbey to Kilnsey in Upper Wharfedale, site of a monastic courthouse, an important route for pilgrims.
The hall was occupied by a succession of farmers and tenants for centuries but owes most of its present format to Sir William Milner who bought the house in 1927. An architect by training, he restored the Hall preserving many original features and influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement. He also planted the extensive gardens. One of the co-founders of Harlow Carr Gardens in Harrogate, Sir William had a passion for plants and created the gardens as they are today, including planting a number of rare species he collected on travels to the East.
Sir William died in 1960 and bequeathed Parcevall to the Guardians of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. They still manage the estate and gardens, while the hall is leased and run by the Anglican Diocese of Leeds, opening as a retreat house in 1963.
Today Parcevall opens its doors to groups of many kinds, religious and secular, who come to experience its peace and tranquility. Individual guests, looking for some rest and relaxation, are also welcome for private stays. It runs a programme of events throughout the year, encompassing faith retreats, wellbeing courses and retreats and Open Quiet Days, where participants bring their own lunch and payment is on an ‘as you feel’ basis, to make them as accessible as possible.
Dr Helen Reid, Director of Parcevall Hall, says that visitors often say coming to Parcevall Hall is like taking a step out of everyday life and into another time and place.
“It has a homely feel as it is run on traditional values of hospitality which give people time and space for the important things in life, like quiet and contemplation, that can get overlooked in the hustle and bustle of modern living,” she says.
Warm hospitality is a key focus so that anyone, even if coming alone, can feel at home. Helen explains a key part of a pilgrimage is often the other pilgrims met on the way - as in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. So, meals are served at communal tables in the dining room and guests congregate in the lounge - known as the Solar – for refreshments during the day.
However, peace and quiet are just as important at Parcevall and the cosy first floor writing room, with its desk placed beneath a window enjoying the glorious view across to the fell known as Simon’s Seat, is kept as a quiet space. Peace and solitude are also guaranteed in the garden Poustinia - originally built by Sir William Milner, inspired by the Desert Fathers and Russian Orthodox traditions. It is kept as a distraction-free space for solitary reflection, surrounded by the gardens and Wharfedale views. 
Highlight events coming up this autumn include open quiet days on the Spirituality of Celtic Crosses (Monday September 7) and Hexagonal Prayer (Friday October 23) and a day facilitated by the Fellowship of Contemplative Prayer on Seeking Stillness (Friday October 30).
Faith retreats include The Angel’s Question Retreat led by Rev Dilly Baker from September 28-30 and a Singing through Advent retreat with Revd Mike Leigh from November 30 - December 3. For those who love reading and talking about books, Inwardly Digest is a reading retreat, led by Hall Director Helen, from November 20-22. More detail on these and a range of other retreats, including wellbeing, literature and walking-based programmes, is available on their website here: www.parcevallhall.org.uk/events-calendar/
The hall has 17 comfortable bedrooms and five public rooms and can accommodate up to 26 people. There is a chapel in the house, and daily morning and evening prayer take place, as well as a weekly holy communion, led by Parcevall's Community Chaplains - all priests in the Diocese.
The Friends of Parcevall Hall are a substantial and active group who support the work of the hall through prayer, practical help and funding, both for upkeep and to offer bursaries to assist those who could not otherwise afford to come and enjoy the peace and tranquility. This work, along with the ‘Pay as you Feel’ quiet days, aim to make the Hall accessible to anyone wanting to make the pilgrimage there.
More information about Parcevall and details of more events is available on their website at: www.parcevallhall.org.uk
To make a booking, you can contact the office
By email at admin@parcevallhall.org.uk
or by telephone at 01756 720213
or download a booking request form from the website.