Poetry and creativity
Led by Martin & Meg Wroe
A low-key creative retreat exploring how to write our own psalms or, if the words can’t make it, how to draw them.
Each day there will be exploratory sessions in which we wonder about poems and prayers and psalms - reading them and hearing them, writing them and drawing them. A retreat in which we may be surprised by the psalms and prayers we carry with us every day.
Meg Wroe, a visual artist, will introduce the art of Zentangles, a form of meditative drawing inspired by the Book of Kells and Celtic patterns. The absorbing process of creating these ‘tangle patterns’ becomes a form of meditation. No prior experience or artistic ability is required. We’ll start by learning some basic patterns then also add coloured watercolour wash to the background.
Martin Wroe, writer and poet, will introduce some unexpected contemporary psalms and ask how we can write our own - psalms inspired by the biblical traditions but rooted in our own particular history and geography.
This will be a silent retreat culminating in a Eucharist on Thursday afternoon, after which silence will end. Retreatants are welcome to join community daily prayers. Martin and Meg will have some 1:1 sessions on offer.
Martin & Meg Wroe . Meg studied theology, became a children’s Occupational Therapist, studied again at Central St Martins University of the Arts London and now works as an artist. She is inspired by the natural world, and concerned about the climate crisis. She seeks to capture a sense of wonder, painting trees, sea and sky. She is a member of the Iona Community and visits the Isle of Iona each year, inspiring her work. In recent years she created a series of Icons of three angels, known as the ‘Trinity’ icon, in the tradition of the Russian iconographer, Andrei Rublev. One of these was used in St Pauls Cathedral before being permanently installed in a church in North London. Another is installed in Iona Abbey, another purchased by Southwark Cathedral.
Meg also runs creative workshops and most recently has created the ‘Fingerprint Labyrinth’ installation, commissioned by Amnesty International to highlight the rights of peaceful process. For more information go to www.megwroe.com
Martin fell into journalism while studying theology and ended up on the staff of the Independent and later the Observer. He has had longtime collaborations with the Greenbelt Arts Festival, the human rights NGO Amos Trust and the rock band U2. He contributes to BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day and accidentally became a volunteer vicar in the Church of England. His most recent book of poems is This Heart, Poems from the Universe Inside, which followed the earlier collection Julian Of Norwich's Teabag. With the painter Malcolm Doney, he wrote Hold On, Let Go, a collection of daily readings about keeping your feet on the sacred earth and taking off… at the same time.
This event is open to everyone.
Arrival: 3 - 5pm
Mon 6th July
2026
Departure: 10am
Fri 10th July
2026
Residential - £550 (20% ministry discount)
